Kaboom

[triumphrick]

Just read this one off BoatTest...seems like another inexperienced boater almost lost his life and the life of others. Some good points made in the article.

http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=2999

 

[Doc_Vegas]

Re: Kaboom

From reading the article and blog, it sounds like they were pretty far from the fuel dock when it blew. It would be interesting to know how the fuel got into the bilge to start with based on the overflow discussed in the article.

What do you recommend for a new boat owner as standard proceedure after fueling? I have read the manual(s) at least three times and I have operated boats in the past, but it still worries me to read articles like this one. Obviously if knew the bilge had a fuel leak, I would not start the boat... I would like to hear how the pro's fuel.

Thanks

 

[marine4003]

Re: Kaboom

Doc, congrats on the boat purchase ,i see you went with the Maxim,enjoy!!! Fueling is one of the most potentially dangerous aspects of boating and most disregard the safety procedures, its a wonder more explosions dont happen, in my Scarab (twin engines,under hatches) after i finish tying up, i shut down the motors,turn on the blowers and open the hatches, then i begin taking on fuel. i have "whistlers" on the fuel hose..like a teapot,when its close to full, the pitch increases, when i've handed the attendant back the fuel hose,secure the caps, i stick my nose by the blower exhaust vent on the port side to smell for vapors, if not,i start motors...close hatches..leave blower on,depart dock. When i return to the slip i have a checklist of items i preform EVERY TIME, one of which is check all fuel fittings,fuel pump sight hoses,and SEAFIRE suppression system, i also installed fuel sniffers aboard last year, its a great system,but as Uncle Sam taught me: ---redundant systems save lives.
Happy Boating DV.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Kaboom

i think the main thing is pump you own fuel, and never leave it unattended. there are stories, of other people pumping fuel into rod holders, water tanks, etc. do it your self and know it is done correctly and safely.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Kaboom

From the article:

Reportedly they had just refueled, overfilled the tank, and had ?cleaned the bilge??

Looks like they didn't "clean the bilge" good enough after overfilling the tank. Most people don't realize how much energy is stored in gasoline and how dangerous it can be.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Kaboom

From the article:


Looks like they didn't "clean the bilge" good enough after overfilling the tank. Most people don't realize how much energy is stored in gasoline and how dangerous it can be.

That "clean the bilge" statement got my attention too, i cant imagine having enough fuel spilled into my bilge to have to clean-it-up,i'd rather leave the hatches open,go eat lunch and return...then douse the bilge w/Dawn, rinse ,repeat, pray..then start.

 

[Doc_Vegas]

Re: Kaboom

Great information! Just curious, for those who do not have whistlers, how do you know how much fuel to add? I assumed you just add until it is filled to the top, but reading that article, it seems that may not be the best idea.

What do most folks do - what is the right way?

Thanks

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Kaboom

Marine4003 -- sounds like you're pretty diligent on the fueling front. I've heard and read, though, that even blowers should be shut down for fuelling, then started up again after. Not exactly sure of the thinking except maybe it's one more potential source of ignition, although I couldn't imagine spilling so much fuel that you'd actually cause your blower to ignite it. Now, maybe if a fuel line was broken and allowed the blower to be splashed directly while it was running?

Doc -- there should be an overflow that will splash a bit of fuel overboard when your tanks hit full. I like the whistler idea becuase you can hear it coming up the filler pipe and don't necessarily have to wait to see it splash into the water.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Kaboom

the whister is better than poluting the water with fuel.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Kaboom

I usually fill up on land boat on trailer, I've never waited for the autorelease because fuel will start to spit from the vent before it releases. Now I'm thinking I'll have to pay closer attention that my boat is at the same level as it would be while afloat, just a thought.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Kaboom

On my boat with a 86 gallon tank i can listen to the vent while fueling.
I can hear when it gets full by a little gurgling sound before it spits out the overflow vent.
Being i use premix i put in 12 gallons at a time.If the fuel gauge reads near full i stop there.
It took several adjustments on the fuel sender but now when it reads full i am about 2 to 3 gallons from overflowing the tank.
I don't like filling it so full i see gas spewing out the overflow when turn or go into a curve on the way to the ramp.
I hate when people fuel at the marina and don't care when they spill a bunch of fuel in the lake.