fuel tank overfill protection

[heyyou325]

I hope fuel is not engine related, and I've seen another similar thread here. Last summer I got to repaint my boat twice, will 1 1/2 times actually, I'm not finished yet, because of excess fuel. The tanks are not visible from where you fuel the boat, and are enclosed in the engine compartment, so a whistle down there, or gauges are are probably out. Can't see the dash either, and I don't have a gauge in it. Is there a way to adapt the whistle so they would be right next to the fill tube? And in a second boat I will probably do also, I can't get the tube that causes the whistle inside the tank. A gauge usually isn't real accurate as to how close to the top, or bottom of the tank.
I guess I'm asking for recommendations as to what could affordably be used. I am frugal. I'm gonna be retiring in just over a year, and if I go fishing for a week, will want as much of the 60 gal as possible (2 30 gal tanks) but don't want to leave any anywhere, other than in the tank. Thanks for any help.

 

[JoLin]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

The warning whistle doesn't go in the tank or the fill hose. It gets spliced into the fuel vent hose. I had one on a previous boat. They work and they're loud- you'll hear it. Before I installed that, I used a plastic container with a hole cut into it that I could hold over the tank vent while I filled the tank. If the vent spit fuel the the container would catch it.

After awhile I got used to the fueling process. I didn't need either device on my next boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

my first thought is that you are using the wrong paint if gasoline damages it.

Second, the whistle goes very close to the tank in the hose that vents overboard which should be fairly close to the fill and easy to hear. Once the tank is full and fuel enters the vent hose the whistle stops and you must immediately stop filling BUT there is still a chance that you will have some overflow as the gas in the fill hose makes it's way to the tank.

If you don't want to repaint the boat with something more durable then installing a gauge and taking the time to adjust it perfectly is probably your best option... if you can't get in a position to see the dash and fill at the same time then don't put the gauge on the dash.... You might even put it in a small box on a tether so that you can pull it out of the boat while fueling.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

I've been looking into whistles. Can't see the dash, and two tanks in one boat, and one in another I want to fix. I'm tired of overfilling. I guess it would solve my problem if buellwinkle would trade me boats. I'd go bankrupt keeping fuel in it. It wouldn't happen to have a buell jet in it would it? Oh, sorry off my own post. Paint is Rustoleum topside, supposedly a good marine paint, but it doesn't hold up to gas. I've got gauges in the two tanks on my Starcraft, and a sight tube in my crestliner, but I can't see any of them from outside the boat. The first whistle I looked at went on the tank, with a tube that went inside. Looked like one on a big heating oil or diesel tank. I've found some others that go in the vent line. They are a lot more affordable.

 

[tazrig]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

With just a regular vent you should be able to hear the fuel filling to the top and stop fueling before you overflow. The trick is to fuel very slowly not at full blast. This gives you time to stop fueling before it bubbles over.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

My hearing isn't real good, as my wife keeps pointing out. I've ran hvy equipment all my life. I don't mind checking the gauges once in awhile while I'm running the boat, but when I'm gonna be gone for a weekend, I want to fill it up as much as I safely can. Last year, the sun caused it to overfill, so I was probably too full. The vent's are a good 20" to 24" higher than the tank, and add a couple more inches to the filler. It hasn't shot out the vents yet, but only a matter of time. Then it runs down on my paint. I've also never heard it gurgle while filling it.

 

[tazrig]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

Unfortunately if you can't hear it coming up the only thing you can do is fill real slow and carry some household cleaner like "fantastik" or "409" to spray on your boat and into the water to break up the gas if it over flows.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

probably the only cheap(ish) option left is to find a clear topcoat that will hold up to the fuel and paint over the rustoleum....

 

[heyyou325]

Re: fuel tank overfill protection

I've been going over a lot of old threads here. Couldn't find any before. This is an old problem. One guy says to put your hand in front of the vent and you can feel the air coming out. When it quits, your full. Makes sense. I still might think about purchasing a whistle tho. I've never filled up over the water, so that wouldn't normally be that much of a problem, unless my selector valve goes bad again. Gas is cheaper in regular gas stations.