Fuel cans

davehogue555 · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:09 am Post subject: Fuel cans

Every 5 gal. fuel can I've bought (both metal and plastic) with a flexible spout has begun to leak when pouring after a couple of years. Can anyone recommend a 5 gal. fuel can that doesn't leak? Or does such a thing even exist?
Thanks,
Dave

lloyds · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:49 am Post subject:

Slightly off subject as I can't recommend any certain container to be better than another but I learned a trick while sailing offshore. Carrying diesel was such a pain in those things. The deck fuel filler was always out on the deck behind the toe rail and hitting it with a spout in a seaway was a little hit or miss, plus difficult and tiring. I found that if you take a 3/4' piece of clear hose, cut off enough of the filler spout so that the hose will go into it tightly, you can just set the gas container on the seat, put the hose into the fuel fill, and blow into the vent. Perfect siphon, and you don't have to lean out over the deck to fill.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

Dave-

If you can't find one that doesn't develop a leak, how abut a fast siphon set up with an in-line squeeze bulb acting as a primer?

Joe.

K7MXE · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:37 am Post subject: Gas can

Dave I went through same thing and I have had good luck with the
newer style of cans. No I dont like the fact they have a built in vent
but they do work and spillage is nil.
The Ranger tug will take four of them under the rear seat if you put
them in at a angle. I got my cans at GI Joes and were like 7 or 8
dollars each and were yellow in color. The red cans are also available
at Walmart for less. I like the idea of a hose and will go that way
in the future, just because things are not perfect filling the tank unless
you have a dock to stand on. Half gauge will take 5 gallons on a 18
gal tank. Twenty extra gal is a overkill but fuel is always cheaper away
from the waters edge.. Bob Heselberg Eatonville Wa

captd · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:56 am Post subject: Best gadget for fuel transfer

While keeping the C-Dory on a mooring in Mexico. We had to pack all gas out in a dink and fill the boat every fishing day. One of my fishing pals had a clear plastic hose about 6 ft. long with a swedged copper end with a ball locked in the copper. All that was necessary to transfer 30 gals or so, was to shake the copper end up and down in the full gas can and low and behold it started the flow and filled the Hunky Dory. You can do it with out spilling a drop and not have to taste or smell the gas. The only place I have ever found them was a couple of those huge flea markets. They sell for $9.95. There is a web site for these things, but can not remember the name of the gadget right now. If I find it I will post it. The name was stamped on the copper. You can transfer any liquid with it. Need a separate one for drinking water.
CaptD.

Jeff Brigner · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:15 am Post subject: fuel can

The trick to using the new type fuel containers with the rigid spout is to put less fuel in than the container will hold. This extra space in the container allows you to tip the container carefully into the filler without spilling. I prefer them over the older style because they do not leak around the lid.

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject:

The "Hopkins 10801 shaker siphon" is what you are refering to. There are multiple sources if you google that phrase. It works quite well.

We have a portable fuel transfer pump--using a Walbro fuel pump, with a small Garden tractor battery. It took us about an hour and a half to transfer 50 gallons (part of the fuel from the CD 25).

We have a variety of fuel cans, because of the necessity to have extra fuel during hurricane season--both of generators and vehicles. Our most recent plan is to keep the boats and RV full (this gives us currently, 350 gallons, with is easily transfered out of the fuel tanks with the pump).

We find if we keep the tops real tight we don't leak any fuel, bit is is a pain to transfer the fuel from Jerry cans. In Mexico, we got 20 gallon plastic bottles which we siphoned diesel, or used the pump to transfer fuel into the boat's tanks.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject: Gas can failure

Last week, while putting gas into the boat (setting on the trailer), I hoisted a 5 gal plastic can of gas up onto the gunnel. I climbed into the boat and while doing that my foot hit the can knocking it off the gunnel and into the boat. When the can hit the deck one whole corner of the can shattered and dumped 5 gals+ of gas ($18 worth)onto the deck.
A potential disaster but was lessened as the plug was out of the boat and the gas ran out onto the gravel. It would have been really serious if the boat had been in the water.
Those cans are not as tough as you might think. Sad

C-Hawk · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject:

I have one of the Shaker Siphons
Works great

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:

OK, I just ordered one online. $13 at Amazon, $5 shipping - can't drive anywhere from here to save a couple of bucks. Seems like a much better way to get gas from a Jerry can into the gas tank than trying to pour it. Now, about getting gas OUT of the gas tank - I know this is a stupid question but is there any place in the CD25 gas tank other than the filler tube from which you can withdraw gas? The cockpit floor on Daydream was installed backwards, so all that is under my inspection port is aluminum but is there supposed to be something there to access the gas tank?

davehogue555 · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the suggestions..........I just ordered 2 Hopkins Shaker Siphons from Amazon (qualifies for free shipping that way). I never thought of siphoning, but it makes sense.
Dave

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

The way to get fuel out of the tank of a CD 25, or any of our boats, is to use a fuel pump. We used a nitile vane pump with a 10mm racor filter to remove the 100 gallons of fuel from Frequent Sea before working on the deck. I pulled the fuel out of the drums we used with a small automotive fuel pump which cost $30 at Auto Zone. We have 5/16 hose barb connections on the end of two 6 foot hoses on the pumps, and pull the hose off the outboard, then pump out thru the fuel hose to the motor into drums or cans.

Ron on Meander · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:10 am Post subject:

I use a smaller version of this flo n go siphon pump for putting kerosene into the wallas tank. It works pretty well although it could use a longer hose. They now seem to have a wide range of these siphon pumps available.
Ron
flo -n- go

captd · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:16 am Post subject: flo & go failure

Yes Ron that is a good gadget. But it would not work to get 75 gals of diesel out of the Ranger. 1st Hose was too short. got longer hose , wouldn't go into the tank, got smaller hose to fit into bigger hose. small hose curled into tank above fuel....@#%*@#....Hauled all that diesel back to Montana.
And of course the shaker wouldn't work there either.

Sometime you just can not get there from here.
Captd

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:23 pm Post subject:

The fuel pump inlet hose goes down the fuel filler neck? Or is there some other place? (I am fishing for what I am supposed to see under the fuel tank inspection hatch had it not been installed backwards).