10 TIPS FOR REFUELING YOUR BOAT IN A SAFE MANNER
The weather is heating up, and many are eager to fill their boats with gas and head for the sea. Fueling your boat safely should be something that every skipper understands how to do. The majority of the below suggestions are common sense, but there are a few more precautions to take to ensure you refuel safely and as little as possible.
1) Refer to the manufacturer's instruction book for specific fueling and safety instructions.
2) Pick the correct fuel grade for your boat engine.
3) Blended fuels containing more than 10% ethanol can harm your boat's engine. Make sure you're using the correct fuel for your motor.
4) While refueling, stay on board the vehicle. During the refueling process, all passengers should get off the boat before it is filled with water.
5) Keep yourself occupied while fueling your vehicle with a copy of our car maintenance book.
6) Ensure not to top up the tank after the pump handle has moved away from the on position. The fuel in your tank might overfill and come out of your vent line, making a spill. You may also use the fuel gauge on the dashboard to determine how near you are to running out of gas.
7) When filling the tank, avoid spilling any gas. Wipe up any extra fuel that may have leaked during the refill. When filling the water, be careful not to spill any gasoline overboard.
8) Open any vents and ports to allow any potential fuel vapor to escape. Get into the habit of reviewing your pre-trip checklist in the engine compartment and bilge area.
9) Before you start your engine, switch on the blower for at least 4 minutes to vent any remaining fuel vapor out of the boat.
10) Make sure you have enough fuel to get you from one place to the next and back. Running your boat when it is out of fuel on the water is rather costly.
Before launching your boat for the season, fill it up on land since gas prices at a marina are typically higher than on land. At the very least, mid-grade petrol is available at marinas.
If you want to use high-octane gasoline in your vessel, it's more typical for a gas station on land to offer it rather than one at a marina fuel station. In the same way, fueling up on the ground might save you money throughout the summer.
Fill your tank and add the correct quantity of stabilizer to the tank before putting your boat away for the year. This will prevent your gasoline from going rancid and also prevent condensation from forming in the tank because air is present instead of fuel.