How do you carry extra gas safely?

[watdog]

Forgive me if I did not search long enough on the site, but I did try searching all kinds of different ways and found nothing on the hows to carry. So how do all of you that do long crossings / outings with no chance of a marina carry extra fuel?

 

[2kwik4u]

I've seen guys just strap 5 or 10 gallon jugs to the swim platform. Couple ratchet straps and they should be plenty secure for all but the most aggressive driving.

Often wondered why none of the Bimini Crossing crew attached Jerry Cans to the tower. I've seen several systems on the back of Jeeps that would work well on the side of the tower.

 

[Seadeals]

Some towers can apparently fall on your head crossing to Bimini even without bearing the weight of multiple Jerry cans full of fuel.

 

[2kwik4u]

Some towers can apparently fall on your head crossing to Bimini even without bearing the weight of multiple Jerry cans full of fuel.

I would expect the Jerry Cans to counter balance the tower if placed properly (aft of the pivot).

6.3lbs/gal x 10gal (5 each side) is a cool 63lbs. Should be enough to hold a "naked" tower up. A full loaded tower with speakers and such, maybe not.

And not to start a shit show over it, but his tower attachment bolts were damaged before he left. Wether he did the damage and wether it's a safe design is another discussion, but the tower is plenty capable of handling an extra 63lbs.

 

[MrMoose]

I would expect the Jerry Cans to counter balance the tower if placed properly (aft of the pivot).

6.3lbs/gal x 10gal (5 each side) is a cool 63lbs. Should be enough to hold a "naked" tower up. A full loaded tower with speakers and such, maybe not.

And not to start a shit show over it, but his tower attachment bolts were damaged before he left. Wether he did the damage and wether it's a safe design is another discussion, but the tower is plenty capable of handling an extra 63lbs.

If you were to attach a gas can to your tower, the lower the better. I personally wouldn't do it though. I know of one incident of a Bimini crosser who lost the gas can that was strapped to his swim platform, and eventually ran out of fuel, but that's a really long story. I know that I'm opening myself up to lots of criticism by sharing this, but I've put gas cans in my ski locker during Bimini crossings. I buffered them with bags of clothes and towels on the sides. I chose the ski locker because of weight distribution and lower center of gravity.

 

[capt]

I have had good success storing 5 gallon gas cans in the bow on the floor. When I go offshore I carry 4 gas cans. It helps the bow cut through the water in rough chop. Just gotta make sure you know what you are doing to not bury your bow.

 

[tdonoughue]

One consideration if you will strap cans on the swim platform: If you strap them so that you have to remove them to get to the cleanout ports, it makes cleaning out sucked up weeds much more difficult.

A consideration with the ski locker is that the area is closed and you need to be careful for the accumulation of fumes.

Consider with anything on the tower: you are adding weight to the top of your vessel, making it more top-heavy and more prone to rollers and a capsize event if you run into unexpected weather.

So, I don't think any of the solutions are perfect. Of course, I think we would all agree that keeping the fuel in the original fuel tank would be superior. So if you are carrying extra fuel, I think the sooner you can stop and put that into the real tank, the better. I would not run it down to 1/4 tank before refilling...

 

[Julian]

We strap 3 five gallon cans down on the lower swim platform. They never budge, even in a rough crossing. Can still get to the clean out ports (although sargassum clears pretty will with the reverse maneuver).

 

[Julian]

Prefer having them outside the boat as fuel vapor is heavier than air, and one gallon of gas vaporized is equivalent to 83 sticks of dynamite.

Watch this for a demonstration

 

[Canuckjetboater]

I've seen guys just strap 5 or 10 gallon jugs to the swim platform. Couple ratchet straps and they should be plenty secure for all but the most aggressive driving.

Often wondered why none of the Bimini Crossing crew attached Jerry Cans to the tower. I've seen several systems on the back of Jeeps that would work well on the side of the tower.

@watdog .....the swim platform works but guys i know who have done this got a couple of tops from rubbermaid bins and flipped them to catch ant slight spillage that would delaminate the mat.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

View attachment 127116

Prefer having them outside the boat as fuel vapor is heavier than air, and one gallon of gas vaporized is equivalent to 83 sticks of dynamite.

Watch this for a demonstration

@Julian is 100% on the money IMO. Gasoline vapour at 20:1 with air is absolutely explosive. It would blow your boat up!

 

[Julian]

@watdog .....the swim platform works but guys i know who have done this got a couple of tops from rubbermaid bins and flipped them to catch ant slight spillage that would delaminate the mat.

Didn't have any leakage at all. The swim step gets enough water on it that IF one did leak it wouldn't remain there long.

 

[marcham]

We recently completed a 160nm round trip boat camping adventure.there was fuel available mid way but wanted a bit more peace of mind so we carried a 5 gal container in the ski locker. Never smelled gas, made sure to run the blower before starting.

 

[watdog]

I was nervous about them being in the boat and it looks like there is good reason to be nervous. Think I will go with the swim platform. Thanks for the replies.

 

[I_squared_r]

Strap them to the swim platform. I use bungee cords to strap my gas can to my stand up jet ski all the time and they don't leak.

 

[Julian]

I was nervous about them being in the boat and it looks like there is good reason to be nervous. Think I will go with the swim platform. Thanks for the replies.

Good plan! If a gas can does leak in a boat it is a royal pain to remediate. And until it is all removed you have a very real problem.

 

[VaMarine]

@Julian Whats your ratchet strap connected to on the boat to hold the 3 cans onboard? Considering bringing fuel with me to Bimini (just incase needed).

 

[Julian]

@Julian Whats your ratchet strap connected to on the boat to hold the 3 cans onboard? Considering bringing fuel with me to Bimini (just incase needed).

They are just strapped to the grab handle, They didn't budge at all.

 

[thefortunes]

We took 8 adults to Bimini.

2 couples were responsible for booze and food. I told them we had the cooler (meaning that's what they could fill).

They misunderstood and showed up at the dock with 3 shopping carts full of food and booze (and more booze).

EVERY possible nook and cranny was full - I think at one point I was standing on the rear hatches just to get them to close.

 

[tim h]

We took 8 adults to Bimini.

2 couples were responsible for booze and food. I told them we had the cooler (meaning that's what they could fill).

They misunderstood and showed up at the dock with 3 shopping carts full of food and booze (and more booze).

EVERY possible nook and cranny was full - I think at one point I was standing on the rear hatches just to get them to close.

That didn't require more ratchet straps ?? Looks a little loosey goosey to me LOL
I would wrap once around each gas can handle, and another around the "mid section" of the cans.