Hi all,
As part of preparing for a trip, it occurred to me I could store some of the additional fuel I need in lockers in the saloon.
This consists of 3 x 20l ltr diesel and 2 x 10 ltr petrol (gasoline for the outboard).
I'm beginning to think this could be unwise, given that gasoline fumes are heavier than air - I'm unsure about diesel.
Perhaps the gasoline might present an explosion risk, being so volatile. The diesel may not present the same risk.
So, what do others think?
regards to all
allan
PS: I could've spent a couple of hours googling, but I'd appreciate feedback from you guys.

Datawiz,

gasoline inside anywhere you have an ignition source is a risk, diesel now as the flashpoint is high enough that technically it does not or will not burn (unless atomized) but gasoline, never.

Not sure what your insurance would say if something happened but ..... I do know what AMSA would say if it was me at work.

The other downside of diesel, the smell will permeate thro everything .,... even if sealed.

in the end, your choice, but me, not a hope in hell of either inside living area.

dkd

Had plenty of diesel tanks in the saloon, even a tank made of plywood.
No problem.
Petrol, never done it.
Your life.

Thanks for the views guys, much appreciated.
I've already decided that the idea was a bad one (corroborated on other forums as well as an earlier Seabreeze topic) and will keep the petrol in the anchor well until I set up a more suitable external self draining enclosure.
As for the diesel, I'm still open minded, but leaning toward the cockpit locker in lieu of storage on the open deck.
regards,
allan

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Datawiz said..
Thanks for the views guys, much appreciated.
I've already decided that the idea was a bad one (corroborated on other forums as well as an earlier Seabreeze topic) and will keep the petrol in the anchor well until I set up a more suitable external self draining enclosure.
As for the diesel, I'm still open minded, but leaning toward the cockpit locker in lieu of storage on the open deck.
regards,
allan

Wise decision

Datawiz,
I carry spare diesel in the lazarette in the standard yellow 20 Ltr plastic drums. My diesel fuel tank is a 40ltr plastic tank located under the cockpit and completely accessible from the main cabin. I've never smelt a whiff of diesel, admittedly the inlet is plumbed into the cockpit floor and the whole fuel system is sealed of course.
Petrol is different, I never carry it below, and up top it lives in any of the vented cockpit lockers.
SB

thanks SB

In the USA there are still plenty of petrol engine yachts about. They have distributors too! Locally people stow their outboards in the cabin in small yachts that have the outboards on the transom. Plenty of cabin cruisers here with inboard petrol, They have injection and ECU's and COP so not much chance of a spark. Still some inboard Holden red motors running though.
In my yacht the filler for the diesel tank is on top of the tank which is on top of the keel so I get some fumes when I refuel so I have that annoying smell occasionally. Probably no more than when I change fuel filters.
I personally would not carry extra diesel. My tank is 40 litres and seems to last for ever. If I carried an outboard I would carry the minimum amount of fuel on deck at the transom. I would only visit places that sold fuel.

Just recently I drive long distance minibus with 2 20 litres jerry cans .
Horible smell of petrol. On the way back got rid of plastic, only kept metal one, absolutely no smell. I do keep spare petrol inside the boat in metal, belive they reasonably safe.

For long trips I store 2x20l plastic diesel containers in the cabin. They are on the floor lashed to a berth bulkhead and mast. I have been very careful to not spill any fuel to the on these containers and they don't smell any worse than the engine.

Once you spill diesel, the smell is impossible to wash out/off.

The outboard petrol container stays lashed to the pushpit.

A

On deck. 3500nm delivery. No problems, saves cockpit/cabin lockers for all that other junk, of which there is plenty.

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FreeRadical said..
On deck. 3500nm delivery. No problems, saves cockpit/cabin lockers for all that other junk, of which there is plenty.

I have a friend who tried this approach of lashing fuel tanks to the stanchions. On the first day into Bass Strait a big wave washed across the decks, caught the side of the board just as the boat was rolling the wrong way and the force broke a stanchion. He was quiet lucky that the stanchion base didn't rip off creating holes in deck.

This is why I decided to store fuel inside when on passage.

A

100l of diesel and 60l of petrol. Bid hard to store anywhere else, even if we wanted to and never had an issue in almost constant pretty average weather for 600nm from Exmouth down the West Coast. On top of 200l main tank, every drop got used between Darwin and Broome, with only one very expensive barge to refuel from in between.

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FreeRadical said..
100l of diesel and 60l of petrol. Bid hard to store anywhere else, even if we wanted to and never had an issue in almost constant pretty average weather for 600nm from Exmouth down the West Coast. On top of 200l main tank, every drop got used between Darwin and Broome, with only one very expensive barge to refuel from in between.

Looks like it has passed the test !

I have also seen someone who made up box that attaches to the shrouds.

If I was building a boat from scratch, I'd have some lockers or wells that specifically took 2 x rows of 4 x 20L jerry cans.

BTW that is a nice looking boat.

A

If you store petrol below decks and you can smell it, are you going to light the stove to make a coffee??

If you do I suggest it will be the last coffee you ever think about.

Why not spend money on another built in tank?

I have strong aversion against lashing jerry's to stanchions or keep them in the cabin.
On the stanchions it's weight is undesirable while in the cabin it is a potential hazard and a stink bomb.
The smell of petrol is nauseating to the max while diesel is bearable, for me.
Petrol for the inflatable is kept in the vented gas locker.
Diesel, if the 75 liter in the s/s tank is not enough, is lashed down in the cockpit keeping the weight down. (don't start on the color of the jerry's!)