leaving gas in the bilge after a fill-up. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has these ten tips to ensure a non-eventful refueling:
Disembark: As soon as you’re safely tied up to the fuel dock, everyone except the captain should hop off the boat.
Turn off everything: Shut down all engines, electric motors and galley stoves and turn off the battery at the main switch.
Button her up: Close all compartments, cabin doors, ports, windows and hatches.
Don’t smoke: Ensure all smoking materials are fully extinguished – and don’t leave a stogie smoldering up on the bridge.
No static: Keep the fuel nozzle in contact with the fuel deck fill to prevent static sparks (and don’t confuse the fuel fill with a rod holder, water tank or holding tank fill, which happens more often than you think). Stay with your boat, and don’t use the “hands-free” clip. Portable tanks should be removed and placed on the fuel dock before filling.
Don’t overfill: To prevent fuel from spewing from the fuel tank vent, don’t fill the tank to the very top – try to know how much fuel you need, and keep an absorbent pad handy. A tank that is overfilled can allow fuel to blowback or expand and be forced out of the tank vent as temperatures rise or seas kick up.
Clean up: Replace the tank cap, open all hatches and doors, wipe up any spills and dispose of any fuel soaked absorbents properly — hanging them on a rail to allow the gasoline to evaporate may seem like a good idea — until a guest decides to smoke.
Use the blower: Operate the bilge blower (if equipped) for at least four minutes.
Sniff test: Smell the bilge and engine compartment before starting the engine. Note that a bilge blower won’t remove vapors from spilled gasoline, so use your nose first before you turn the key.
Investigate any issues: If the engine won’t start right up after refueling, stop cranking and investigate. In most cases of refueling-related accidents, the operator tried multiple times to start the engine before an explosion occurred.
To learn more about fueling boats visit BoatUS.org/fueling-tips.
About BoatUS:
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS.com) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour dispatch, on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits including marina and service discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating and offers range of boating safety courses – including 33 free state courses – that can be found at BoatUS.org/courses.