its not a law to have an anchor either but it is at least suggested I just
took the coast guard course last winter and aced the test 100% and I
remember it being mentioned in the class, it may have said recommended, but
if u want to risk pouring gas into your boat with or without a cabin is up
to you frankly my dear I thought the original reply poster said it was too
heavy and I agreed and still do, I also thought that gas has the same mass
as water and knowing water = 8.33lbs./gal. I thought it was the same I could
be wrong on that, that was a guess, I'm not that interested in the subject
that much anyway, just saying I wouldn't put my boat and my crew (family) in
that hazardous situation, I wish we had somebody hear from the CG, or the
Aux. GL hope this doesn't start a FIRE !
"F330 GT" wrote in message
...
We were talking about, and the thread is based upon, the notion of
portable
fuel tanks.

John,

I agree. And I said that if it's feasible it should be done. It was also
brought up that "red" tanks are considered portable and "grey'" tanks are
for
"built in" use. Mine is a "red" tank that is built to be removed from the
boat.
In fact I use it for both of my boats when going to the Bahamas. It's
still
considered a portable tank.

And further, a 12 gallon tank full weighs 100lbs plus the weight of the
tank.
Is that portable or not? If you want to remove it from your boat before
filling
it, fine. Show me where the law requires it, please.

If you can't fill a portable gas tank without spilling it all over your
boat,
maybe you shouldn't be boating.

Barry

Wildest Dreams wrote:

its not a law to have an anchor either but it is at least suggested I just
took the coast guard course last winter and aced the test 100% and I
remember it being mentioned in the class, it may have said recommended, but
if u want to risk pouring gas into your boat with or without a cabin is up
to you frankly my dear I thought the original reply poster said it was too
heavy and I agreed and still do, I also thought that gas has the same mass
as water and knowing water = 8.33lbs./gal. I thought it was the same I could
be wrong on that, that was a guess, I'm not that interested in the subject
that much anyway, just saying I wouldn't put my boat and my crew (family) in
that hazardous situation, I wish we had somebody hear from the CG, or the
Aux. GL hope this doesn't start a FIRE !
"F330 GT" wrote in message
...

We were talking about, and the thread is based upon, the notion of
portable
fuel tanks.

John,


I agree. And I said that if it's feasible it should be done.
Barry



From the US Coast Guard page on fire safety:

"(Fuel tanks secured so they cannot be moved in case of fire or other emergency
are considered permanently installed. There are no gallon capacity limits to
determine if a fuel tank is portable. If the weight of a fuel tank is such that
persons on board cannot move it, the Coast Guard considers it permanently
installed.) "

Apparently, by C.G. standards, my 18 gallon portable tank is actually
permanently installed. The original posters 12 gallon tank could also be
considered permenently installed if he can't lift it while full. Feel free to
fill it in your boat, if you'd like. Just use prudent care.

Kind of bizarre.

Barry

By the way, gasoline weights 6 lbs per gallon. This is why it floats on
water (which is 8 lbs per gallon). Both numbers are rounded slightly and
will vary depending on exact octane of fuel, altitude, temperateure, etc...

--
Tony
My boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"Wildest Dream" wrote in message
...
its not a law to have an anchor either but it is at least suggested I just
took the coast guard course last winter and aced the test 100% and I
remember it being mentioned in the class, it may have said recommended,
but
if u want to risk pouring gas into your boat with or without a cabin is up
to you frankly my dear I thought the original reply poster said it was too
heavy and I agreed and still do, I also thought that gas has the same mass
as water and knowing water = 8.33lbs./gal. I thought it was the same I
could
be wrong on that, that was a guess, I'm not that interested in the subject
that much anyway, just saying I wouldn't put my boat and my crew (family)
in
that hazardous situation, I wish we had somebody hear from the CG, or the
Aux. GL hope this doesn't start a FIRE !
"F330 GT" wrote in message
...
We were talking about, and the thread is based upon, the notion of
portable
fuel tanks.

John,

I agree. And I said that if it's feasible it should be done. It was also
brought up that "red" tanks are considered portable and "grey'" tanks
are
for
"built in" use. Mine is a "red" tank that is built to be removed from
the
boat.
In fact I use it for both of my boats when going to the Bahamas. It's
still
considered a portable tank.

And further, a 12 gallon tank full weighs 100lbs plus the weight of the
tank.
Is that portable or not? If you want to remove it from your boat before
filling
it, fine. Show me where the law requires it, please.

If you can't fill a portable gas tank without spilling it all over your
boat,
maybe you shouldn't be boating.

Barry

"Wildest Dream" wrote

..... just saying I wouldn't put my boat and my crew (family) in
that hazardous situation, I wish we had somebody hear from the CG, or the
Aux.

I'm in the Auxiliary, WD. This business of fuel tanks gets thrashed about
regularly because some of the base definitions remain subjective. I can't
find anywhere where "portable" is defined for fuel tanks, and this is
understandable. Even a six-gallon tank is barely portable for some people.
Closest I've seen is commentary in Chapman's where they recommend the
removal of portable tanks for refueling off the vessel, but suggest that as
a practical matter, any tank 12 gallons or larger ought to be refueled in
place, regardless of its technical "portability." Hefting a 75 lb weight
around on a moving platform carries some risk, regardless of your physical
strength. (Weight of gasoline is about 6.1 lb/gal.)

This leaves a wide gray area, of course, because the CFR183 only stipulates
fuel fill system standards for permanently installed tanks. There are
standards for fuel lines and connectors for outboard systems, but no tank
fill system standards.

Personally, I'd rather have a few six-gallon tanks in a boat with an
outboard engine. Not only can the refueling be handled more easily, but you
can also move the tanks not in use forward to better trim the boat, rather
than having all the fuel weight in the stern.

JG

Personally, I'd rather have a few six-gallon tanks in a boat with an
outboard engine. Not only can the refueling be handled more easily, but you
can also move the tanks not in use forward to better trim the boat, rather
than having all the fuel weight in the stern.


Yup, why isolate the fire hazard in one spot, spread it around and let everyone
play the game. ;-)

"Gfretwell" wrote in message

Yup, why isolate the fire hazard in one spot, spread it around and let
everyone
play the game. ;-)

Gasoline only becomes worrisomely hazardous when someone is careless. And
talking of "isolating the fire hazard" on an 18 ft boat strikes me as
somewhat delusional. :-)

JG

Thanks JG, good idea for trim, Fret another good reason for inboard. don't
smoke with a portible tank, I know some people won't care about that one be
glad ur not addicted.


"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
Personally, I'd rather have a few six-gallon tanks in a boat with an
outboard engine. Not only can the refueling be handled more easily, but
you
can also move the tanks not in use forward to better trim the boat,
rather
than having all the fuel weight in the stern.


Yup, why isolate the fire hazard in one spot, spread it around and let
everyone
play the game. ;-)

Actually a single 12 gallon tank mounted in the front of the boat would
provide better overall trim.
But then we still have the damn filling issue.

When I had the 4-Winns, I had a 6 gallon portable tank semi-permamounted
under the starbord rear seat. The main tank was under the port rear seat (18
gallons). The main tank had a normal approved filler system.

What I'd do is fill the dummy tank 1st (in the boat) and leave the seat
cover *off*. Then I'd fill the main tank. Then we'd tow the boat the rest of
the way to the launch and be off. The wind from towing would always dry any
overspill (minimal) under that right seat. None the less, I'd leave that
cushion off and not allow any smoking in the boat till we had gone the 6
miles to the "1st beach" just to be double sure. By then all the breeze had
more than dispersed or removed any fumes.

The real world often does not allow for perfect safety conditions. The next
best thing is to be aware of the hazzards and plan accordingly. Fill the
damn tank outside the boat if you can. If you can't, then use your head and
deal with the fume dispersal. LOL

-W


"John Gaquin" wrote in message newsmPbb.14116
Personally, I'd rather have a few six-gallon tanks in a boat with an
outboard engine. Not only can the refueling be handled more easily, but
you
can also move the tanks not in use forward to better trim the boat, rather
than having all the fuel weight in the stern.

JG