Fuel Load Concern in Rough Water?

[HudsonHauler]

Hi all.

Recently, after filling the 88 gallon fuel tank on my 270 SD to just about full on a 75 degree Indian Summer day here in NY, I blasted about 5nm at 40+ mph in pounding waves. I was in control and skimming the top of the chop, but there were many pounding slams along the way.

It started me thinking of whether there are any issues that can arise with a full tank of fuel in pounding chop?

Am I just a newbie wimp worried about this when the boat is designed to take it?

Or, should I be taking it easy with a new fresh fill of fuel in pounding seas?

Thanks in advance,

 

[sbw1]

We fill our tanks if the seas are rough because an extra 1000 pounds really improves our ride and extends the range in a following sea. We do not run the boat at speeds where it pounds as this is very hard on appliances, mirrors, port lights and bulkheads.

 

[Four Suns]

Gasoline needs to be in vapor form and needs oxygen and a spark to burn (or temps over 500 degrees F). I don't think you have to worry about sparks or that temp inside your fuel tank (unless you are on an older TWA 747 leaving New York).

I would say, however, that if you are in seas and the boat is pounding, you need to slow down. The boat is not designed to be an offshore racer and you'll eventually cause something to fail or break. Constant pounding is abusing the boat. I know... I have a 20 foot Sea Doo jet boat I do this to and it now has stress cracks all over it. I'm waiting for it to break apart and sink one of these days after I jump a wave with it.