Posted: October 1, 2011
A simple sniff test can avoid a devastating explosion.
Sometimes, running the blower in the engine compartment isn’t enough to disperse all of the potentially explosive gasoline fumes, but you can’t know that without checking. Prudent boat owners will supplement the blower’s function with a lift of the hatch and a sniff of the air.“Unlike a car, boats have fuel tanks and engines located in enclosed spaces that don’t allow gasoline vapors to escape,” said Bob Adriance, Boat Owners Association of the United States’ director of damage avoidance.
A boating accident over the summer led BoatU.S. to remind boaters about the sniff test and release a list of six refueling safety tips:
- Always remove passengers from the boat, and reboard only after refueling is complete and the engine(s) are restarted.
- Engines should be turned off, and do not operate any electrical switches, including the ignition. - Keep all doors, ports and hatches closed, and only open them when refueling is complete.
- To prevent unintentional sparking, hold the hose nozzle firmly against the fuel fill (and not a rod holder, a water tank fill or a holding tank, which happens more often than you think). Also, don’t overfill.
- After refueling, run the engine-compartment blower for at least four minutes. This may delay others waiting to fill up, but it’s worth the wait.
- A quick sniff test takes only a few seconds and is the most effective method for detecting fuel leaks. Always open the engine-bay hatch (if the boat is equipped), and smell the bilge area, as well as any closed compartments or interior spaces.
For more information on safe refueling, check out the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water’s online boating safety course study guide at BoatUS.com/foundation/refuel.