Putting gas in your Sea Ray while it's running - BOOM

[Westie]

Interesting that it is said to leave the blower motor turned off. In Canada, you are required to have the blower motor turned on or they will not allow you to fuel your boat.

I have never heard of this before in all the times I've refueled.

"Key word....Canada....Thats how they eliminate people off nationed health care....... "

We just tell the Americans that come up here to do this.:smt021

 

[Hellman Huddle]

Stopped at a gas station one time, and there was a guy pumping gas and smoking a cigarette. I confronted him and he said" I am a certified firefighter, I know what I am doing" needless to say I got outa there.

 

[JerryS]

Thats 100% WRONG !!! :smt021. You run the blower for 4mins AFTER refueling. :thumbsup:

Nobody said it was right or wrong - it is just their law.

All this stuff sounds great, but, when is the last time you have seen anyone fuel their boat and then go around sniffing the bilge, cabin, etc. Just about everyone that I see refueling have people sitting on the boat shooting the bull while the refuel is in progress. When they are finished, it is jump in the boat and go. I'm not arguing with anyone, I'm just saying that is what the reality is. It's fine that you are following all of the proper procedures, but, what about the fella 20-30 feet away?

 

[JerryS]

I have never heard of this before in all the times I've refueled.

That is the way it was for me in Ontario.

 

[Summer Fun II]

when is the last time you have seen anyone fuel their boat and then go around sniffing the bilge, cabin, etc.

I do it every time !!. :smt001
When you put 200gals in the boat at a time you DON'T take any chances. :thumbsup:

If I didn't ....
I won't need a passport to come into Canada.
Just look for the skinny little white guy flying across the boarder all burnt-up. :grin:

 

[JerryS]

I just looked at the Canadian regulations and they are basically the same as ours. ??? I don't know, last time I was there, about 3 years ago, they made me run the blower. :huh:

 

[Summer Fun II]

Jerry. NEVER NEVER ever run them when fueling up. Its always after. :thumbsup:

they made me run the blower. :huh:

You just happened to get a dumb a$$ on that day. :smt021

 

[Moose]

Darwin at work!!

 

[Quint4]

I just had this discussion with the 19yr old fuel attendant at our marina. He told me to turn on my blower before he would hand me the fuel nozzle. I showed him that the intake vent for my blower is about 18" from my fuel fill. I explained the blower creates negative pressure in the engine compartment and could draw fuel vapor in. He had no argument and relented. I run blower after fueling and sniff the exhaust vents.

 

[jcoll]

WOW!!! You won an arguement with a 19 yr. old male? That alone deserves a congressional medal of honor. How did you get him to listen long enough to even comprehend what you said let alone give in. I for one am impressed. Keep spreading the good knowledge. This subject is another reason to advocate a pleasure boating license or some form of certificate. I don't want to be a victim of some dumb**ses mistake.

 

[jcoyrochny]

Two great rules at my marina while refueling - Keys must be out of the starting switch and no one allowed in the boat.

 

[HUMPH]

I hope I don't get gas fumes in my bilge... I have no way of sucking them out. In fact, I have no way to suck out any heavier than air gas from the bilge... You have any ideas? I guess I could break out the shop vac...

I've never heard of a diesel boat blowing up because of gas fumes raising the bilge air (I guess it would sneak in through a 6" side vent) to over the LEL from some neighboring boat...

I do worry about CO (although my detectors have never gone off on this boat and this the 8th season I've owned it). I don't worry about gasoline as I don't carry it... and there is nothing I can do about it...

Here's one for you... I actually LEAVE MY GENERATOR RUNNING while I'm fueling up!!!! I love diesel.

I am sooooo jealous... I want a diesel boat! The admiral may win the battle and get a 400DB with my diesels!

 

[Alex F]

Nobody said it was right or wrong - it is just their law.

I was told during my safety course that running blowers during the fill up is wrong. Quint4's explanation pretty much nails it "...the blower creates negative pressure in the engine compartment and could draw fuel vapor in." So, in this case it's the wrong law.

...All this stuff sounds great, but, when is the last time you have seen anyone fuel their boat and then go around sniffing the bilge, cabin, etc. Just about everyone that I see refueling have people sitting on the boat shooting the bull while the refuel is in progress. When they are finished, it is jump in the boat and go....

Granted that people get too reluxed and take shortcuts. This is why it's important to have these discussions ones in a while as a reminder of important safety rules that shouldn't be overlooked. I agree that most people don't do everything by the book, but of we at least do the minimum required precautions like running the blowers and just sit for 5min and let everything in the boat ventilate before starting the engines will greatly minimize the risk of fire or explosion. I've learned over the years that in boating SLOW = GOOD. So, as long as one doesn't rush anything it will only help.

 

[Westie]

I was told during my safety course that running blowers during the fill up is wrong. Quint4's explanation pretty much nails it "...the blower creates negative pressure in the engine compartment and could draw fuel vapor in." So, in this case it's the wrong law.

There is no law in Canada that says to run you blowers while refueling. The person wha stated that was misinformed.

 

[Gunn]

I just had this discussion with the 19yr old fuel attendant at our marina. He told me to turn on my blower before he would hand me the fuel nozzle. I showed him that the intake vent for my blower is about 18" from my fuel fill. I explained the blower creates negative pressure in the engine compartment and could draw fuel vapor in. He had no argument and relented. I run blower after fueling and sniff the exhaust vents.

When I asked this question a couple pages back about the proper procedure and Gary kindly answered, I was still wondering why you wouldn't want to run the blowers -during- refueling so that no build up of fumes could even begin.

The post quoted above gave me the answer I was looking for. Of course that is why!

Thanks for the clarifications, I've learned something today. :smt001

Now I've only refueled my boat from a marina pump twice ever. Something I have been guilty of one of those times though is having the key on so I could watch the fuel gauge. With my 20 gallon tank and fill hose just a foot above the tank, I get no audible indication that it is ready to overfill, until it splashes out. I'm guessing this 'key on' deal is also an obvious no-no...

 

[comsnark]

I was told during my safety course that running blowers during the fill up is wrong. Quint4's explanation pretty much nails it "...the blower creates negative pressure in the engine compartment and could draw fuel vapor in." So, in this case it's the wrong law.

I have heard the same thing -> One should not run blowers during fuel filling because they suck in fuel vapors!

During fueling, my HEAD is closer to the fuel nozzle than my starboard air intake. My lungs also tend to create negative pressure numerous times per minute as I breath. Granted, my head is at a higher elevation than the vent and the fuel nozzle.. . so clearly that few inches of extra height would lull me into a false sense of security on not realizing that the area is full of fuel fumes.

My port air intakes are far away from the fuel fill. Clearly, the blower ONLY sucks fumes from the starboard side from the vicinity of the fuel filler cap such that my face isn't full of fumes when I am leaning over the nozzle (listening to ensure I don't overflow); thus enforcing my false sense of security while filling the boat with fumes that are not cleared out after I stop fueling.

I mean, clearly if you run the blower while fueling, you are going to STOP the blower immediately after you stop fueling and then ensure that the blower remains off until you start the engine. :huh:

- - - - - -

It is always a good idea to verify the condition of the bilge after fueling with a visual check. If your bilge pumps activate while fueling. . .that is a very bad sign.

Inspecting the bilge everyday before starting the engines is also a good practice that I follow.

If you put a bunch of fuel into the bilge during fueling; merely running the blowers for 4 minutes before starting the engines is not going to help you.

 

[comsnark]

Actually. . . . I think the real reason for the rule is because people are Morons.

You want to say "Always start the blowers before starting the engine".
You don't want to say "Always start the blowers before starting the engine and fueling". That is too complicated. If the blower is already running during fueling, then you don't have to start the blower before starting the engine afterwards. That is an exception to the cardinal rule "Always start the blowers before starting the engine". If you don't start the blowers after fueling. . .next thing you know is that people won't start the blowers at other times.

People really are Morons.

You want to say "Don't run anything electrical".
You don't want to say "Don't run anything except the blowers"; because people won't understand that blowers are designed to run in explosive atmospheres and cell phones are not.

I know people who would say "If you can run the blower, then I can run the _ _ _ _ (stereo, cell phone, marine radio, refrigerator). People simply won't understand the difference in design and assume if one electrical device =safe, then ALL electrical devices = safe.

People really are Morons.

So. . .even if you fill the boat full of fumes due to a leak during filling. . . .that's ok because technically. . when you start the blower like you are supposed to before starting the engines. . you will clear the engine compartment and you will be fine.

Unless of course, you put 20 gallons of fuel in the bilge. Blowers really won't help you if you did that. Regardless of running during fueling or after fueling. Only a visual inspection will protect you against that in my mind.

 

[Quint4]

Sniff the blower exhaust vent after you turn it on after fueling...the rush of air in my face tells me the blower is working......I can easily smell gas if it is present.....simple.

 

[fwebster]

Y'all really make this complicated...................!

 

[Bucit]

I'm going to leave my boat on the lift from now on. No refueling needed