Morning all, I have a 1988 30' SeaRay with twin 260hp and my problem is when fueling (gas) topping up is difficult without discharging a small amount of gas over the side. Doesn't matter how slow you pump this always seems to happen. If I could sense when the tanks is nearly full, eg within half an inch from the top I would be happy. I was thinking maybe trying those propane temperature stickers and wonder if anyone has tried these of has any other suggestions. Many thanks .............. Dave
Taking on Fuel question
- Thread starter estame6
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Google "no spill"
I use this all the time and have not had a drop hit the water.
I use this all the time and have not had a drop hit the water.
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These bottles are great nut only if you can actually reach the vent(s) and it doesn't address burping at the filler although rags can help there
First thing to check is the screen on your vent fittings. Usually as they age and corrode air flow gets restricted and even a slight air pressure increase in the tank is cause burping
First thing to check is the screen on your vent fittings. Usually as they age and corrode air flow gets restricted and even a slight air pressure increase in the tank is cause burping
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http://www.tgmmarine.com/nospills/default.htm
Just be careful as this spring a friend with a gas boat at our YC "topped up" his tanks just before he went to his slip. As the day warmed up and the gas expanded due to temp change it began to discharge out of the vents. The bright side was an impromptu boat ride was in order...
max
max
Years ago, on a very hot mid-morning, I docked my topped off gasser next to a beautiful, large, new Hatteras. The dock was a fixed one where the boats could "see" each other across and under the walkway. About 3:30PM my neighbor, with a chagrined look, nicely pointed out that my boat was peeing gasoline on his pride and joy! Oops!
Thats called a Davis No-spill. I have the same boat as you and I use one of those No-spills, they work well. The vents are easily accessable from the cockpit. As was stated, check your vents and leave about 10 percent headspace to allow for expansion. I usually listen to the gas going into the inlet, when I hear gurgling, I stop. I also have fuel flow meters and I know how man gallons I burned since last fill up so I have a good idea on when its getting full.
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The bottle attaches over the vent with the suction cups, If the fuel burps out the vent it is caught before it hits the water.
I open the bottle top so I can hear the vent gurgle and stop filling.
I open the bottle top so I can hear the vent gurgle and stop filling.
Just a thought.....that no spill bottle.....does it make an air tight connection between the hull and the bottle? If so, then it may help prevent phase seperation of ethanol gasoline. How? Well, from my understanding, one of the main reasons the fuel phase-seperates is from absorbtion of water molecules in air. Because the tanks are vented, the moisture is absorbed from the air entering the vents. If the vents are 'blocked' then no moisture can enter the tanks. Just a thought....but you will have to remember to remove the bottles before leaving the dock!
I seems to me that any time you fill the tank COMPLETELY FULL you are risking a spill from expansion as noted above.
You should have a way to gauge the tank so you can STOP before you get to that point. Maybe that "burp" at the fill pipe is your warning. Trying to squeeze in an extra gallon or two could get VERY expensive!
You should have a way to gauge the tank so you can STOP before you get to that point. Maybe that "burp" at the fill pipe is your warning. Trying to squeeze in an extra gallon or two could get VERY expensive!
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa
As an alternative;
Green Marine Fuel Whistle
In my experience from having installed a vent line whistle on my old Sea Craft many years ago, this is one of the most annoying marine product ever made and not just to the boat owner but to anyone remotely nearby.
The one I had, that looked just like the one pictured but without the attachment wings, was LOUD and of course they don't just whistle as an alert when near full, they whistle full time for the 100 or 200 gallons taken on , and the faster the pump flow the louder the whistle which in my case could be heard hundreds of feet away. It lasted all of one excruciating fill, then was ripped out and smashed into little tiny bits .
If it only alerted when nearing full, that would be great, but it's not the case at all. It only STOPS whistling when fuel goes up the vent hose and possibly out the vent. Pointless.
Lots of great info and I have a story when topping off gas tank, leaving my fellow club members who were spending the night, well you know the rest!!
The consensus is being able to top off tanks leaving a measured void at the top of the tank for expansion and pretty well knowing how much fuel you actually have in both tanks. As mentioned in my original post I was hoping someone had knowledge or at least tried using a product like the heat sensing strips used on propane tanks, would show the level towards the top of the tank same as showing the level in a propane tank. I can easily (and safely) see the tanks from a rear hatch so am going to experiment and try to find a product to aid this. Even a temperature sensing sticker connected to a meter sensing the drop in temp when the fuels reaches a point. Just n 'idea.......
The consensus is being able to top off tanks leaving a measured void at the top of the tank for expansion and pretty well knowing how much fuel you actually have in both tanks. As mentioned in my original post I was hoping someone had knowledge or at least tried using a product like the heat sensing strips used on propane tanks, would show the level towards the top of the tank same as showing the level in a propane tank. I can easily (and safely) see the tanks from a rear hatch so am going to experiment and try to find a product to aid this. Even a temperature sensing sticker connected to a meter sensing the drop in temp when the fuels reaches a point. Just n 'idea.......
Estame6- As longs as you have have metal tanks and can see the tank side near where the fill opening is if the tank is tilted at all, 'd think the temp sensing strip would work OK, though there may be a little delay in response to rise in level, and I kind of recall the ones I tried were a little hard to see.
A friend gave up on his succession of cheap "universal" swingarm gauge senders and now uses the accurate TankTender system you might look into. It would not be my preference since you have to push a rubber button mini-pump to insert air each time a reading is desired but it is VERY accurate at reading tank fuel LEVEL , and that can be tabled to equate to gallon volume remaining or used. .
http://thetanktender.com/
A friend gave up on his succession of cheap "universal" swingarm gauge senders and now uses the accurate TankTender system you might look into. It would not be my preference since you have to push a rubber button mini-pump to insert air each time a reading is desired but it is VERY accurate at reading tank fuel LEVEL , and that can be tabled to equate to gallon volume remaining or used. .
http://thetanktender.com/