Suggestions on how to fill my onboard gas tank?

[BWR1953]

I have a 1997 Mirrocraft that I've been getting ready to splash. It has a 150HP Mercury 2-stroke outboard (premix) and a standard fill location at the stern of the boat. All good.

But as splash time nears, I'm wondering how to get premix fuel into the tank. My beat up old body wouldn't do well with hefting a bunch for fuel cans in and out of my truck, then up onto the stern of the boat. I do have a small fuel transfer pump, but the hose isn't long enough to reach the boat fill nozzle.

I'm reluctant to just add gas, then put the oil in later and hope for the best regarding mixing.

Thoughts?

 

[rolmops]

I have seen some people use a 10 gallon (or maybe bigger) red plastic tank with its own dolly and hand pump (not electric in order to prevent static electricity mishaps). They roll it up to the boat and pump the fuel into the boat tank upon which they roll the tank back to their truck. I asked them how it works out for them. They told me that they never bring a full container to the boat and always make sure to empty it out. This usually means that they don't fill the boat tank all the way. They would throw the mixing oil into the red tank before filling it up with a predetermined amount of fuel. They would lower the mostly full tank from the truck and raise it back on the truck empty. You can also gas up at the marina and ask for a predermined amount of gas. After you get it you know exactly how much oil to add. The exact amount of oil is not super crucial if it is too much, but you should always have at least the right amount , never less than that. It is my understanding that these setups are available in some stores.
Another possibility would be getting such a large tank on the back of your truck and make sure to get a long enough hose.
I really do not like the idea of an electric fuel pump. I have seen a fuel tank explode because of static electricity. It' deadly
Gravity can be used

 

[cyclops222]

1st RULE .....Fill the tanks at a marine dock pump. Or a gas station pump !!!!!!!!!!!!!
You must constantly be adding oil. As you are holding the gas pump nozzle in and out of the tank to ALSO add more oil.
I mix oil and gas in 10 gallon batches in large tanks.
Pour in correct amount of oil for 10 gallons of gas...... Then hose in 10 gallons of gasoline. I rotate the gas nozzle in rapid circles to help mix each oil and gas load. I do that combination for each 10 gallons of gas going into the tank.
I have1/2 gallon clear plastic jars with BLACK Magic Marker lines. And a black mark for each amount of oil to be poured in for every 10 gallons. My 1980s Evinrudes are still running with great compression. Both can be started with 2 rope pulls.

 

[mr 88]

A shaker siphon hose will reach as far as you want. You can put the shaker device on any length hose as long as the portable tanks are higher than your boat ,gravity works . Start the siphon and you can stop it at any time at the tank it's going into , with zero spillage .

 

[redneck joe]

It's on a trailer. Gas station seems to work well for a few hundred thousand bout owners, myself included.

 

[airshot]

First thing I do is to drain the built in tank, then add a certain amount of fuel in increments and mark on the gage. My current tank is 18 gallons, so from empty I add 5 gallons and see where the gage reads, then add another 5 gallons and mark the gage...etc...etc until full. This way I can say my tank will need about 10-12 gallons to fill it up. I will add enough oil for 5 gallons and add 5 gallons of gas. Then add enough oil for another 5 gallons then add that additional fuel. I do not worry if the tank is totally full. Far more critical to get the proper oil ratio with a given amount of fuel!! The same thing can be done using 5 gallon cans if lifting them is not an issue. I did buy a small battery powered fuel ( gas rated) pump that works excellent. I put 5' cord to reach a small battery and the hoses are also 6' long to keep any liquid or fumes far away. Hose is also small like 3/8" dia yet it pumps pretty fast....can empty a 5 gallon can in about 5 minutes, and sure beats lifting....

 

[DeepCMark58A]

The ski boat goes to town to get filled, 25 gallon tank. The pontoon and ski boat are can filled. As I age I consider physical tasks to be physical therapy I want to be able to lug gas cans.

 

[tpenfield]

You could . . .

At the gas station, pour in a prescribed amount of 2-cycle oil to get to the desired ration (50:1 . . ie. 2%). Then add the associated amount of gasoline . . . It should all mix well enough.

Or

You could dope up a 5 gallon can of gas/oil mix at a concentrated level (say 10% instead of 2%). Pour that into the tank and then add more gas at the pump to get down to the 2% mix.

During the season, when re-fueling at the marina, many folks pour in the 2-cycle oil right before they re-fuel.

 

[Watermann]

It's on a trailer. Gas station seems to work well for a few hundred thousand bout owners, myself included.

You're not supposed to fill portable gas cans or tanks when in a vehicle or boat, they're supposed to be grounded.
Seems to me like he could use a grounding strap on the trailer and then fill inside the boat to lessen the hazard of an explosion.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would premix in a few smaller cans and get them in. Then add oil and pull to the station. The act of filling and driving will mix the rest

 

[DeepCMark58A]

You're not supposed to fill portable gas cans or tanks when in a vehicle or boat, they're supposed to be grounded.
Seems to me like he could use a grounding strap on the trailer and then fill inside the boat to lessen the hazard of an explosion.

Have you been to a gas station is lakes country, or in ag country? Or where there are pick up trucks used for work rather than mall runs?

 

[airshot]

You're not supposed to fill portable gas cans or tanks when in a vehicle or boat, they're supposed to be grounded.
Seems to me like he could use a grounding strap on the trailer and then fill inside the boat to lessen the hazard of an explosion.

I have looked and looked but never found a ground on a plastic fuel can. Haven't saw a metal fuel can in decades. I would never fill a fuel tank inside any vehicle, set it on the ground or the concrete drive.

 

[Bondo]

But as splash time nears, I'm wondering how to get premix fuel into the tank. My beat up old body wouldn't do well with hefting a bunch for fuel cans in and out of my truck, then up onto the stern of the boat. I do have a small fuel transfer pump, but the hose isn't long enough to reach the boat fill nozzle.

Ayuh,..... So put a longer hose on it,......

 

[flashback]

I lug a couple of jeri cans. If the boat is at the dock it's not too hard to do, and two cans keep me balanced going down the hill. When you have circled the sun as often as I have you figure things out. But yes, a longer hose on your pump may be the answer.

 

[briangcc]

When I had the Force engine on the Bayliner, I would dump the oil into the gas tank and then fill the boat at the pump. Easy, peasy. The act of filling from the pump and trip from gas station to launch will mix it.

Let's not over complicate this.

Having btdt with 5 gallon gas cans, I now pull the boat and fill it at the nearest pump when needed. I'm too old to be lugging cans on wobbly docks.

 

[Watermann]

I have looked and looked but never found a ground on a plastic fuel can. Haven't saw a metal fuel can in decades. I would never fill a fuel tank inside any vehicle, set it on the ground or the concrete drive.

Yeah that's what I meant by grounding, putting the portable tank on the ground.

 

[Scott06]

I have a 1997 Mirrocraft that I've been getting ready to splash. It has a 150HP Mercury 2-stroke outboard (premix) and a standard fill location at the stern of the boat. All good.

But as splash time nears, I'm wondering how to get premix fuel into the tank. My beat up old body wouldn't do well with hefting a bunch for fuel cans in and out of my truck, then up onto the stern of the boat. I do have a small fuel transfer pump, but the hose isn't long enough to reach the boat fill nozzle.

I'm reluctant to just add gas, then put the oil in later and hope for the best regarding mixing.

Thoughts?

if you take it on the trailer to the gas station fill up then add the appropriate amount of oil then drive to the ramp a bit you should be fine.

If you are worried about it use a modern synthetic 2 stoke oil that can be run at thinner mixtures like Amsoil. https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-100-1-pre-mix-100-synthetic-2-stroke-outboard-oil-ato/

not saying you use it at 100:1 just if incomplete mixing is a concern you have some coverage

 

[airshot]

Every motor mfgr and fuel tank mfgr recommends adding oil before filling with gas to assure proper mixing. Before modern oils were developed it was recommended to mix oil and gas in a separate tank then add to the built in tank. Modern oils mix far better than oils made 25 years ago, however, you should not add oil after adding fuel as you could get an improper mix....how big a gambler are you ?

 

[jimmbo]

Premixing prior to adding to the Boat Tank is the only way to insure a Consistent Mix. Contrary to Popular Belief, the Oil does not Self-mix very well, especially when the Tank is more than 1/2 full and not subject to serious G Forces to sloth the Mix around.

 

[racerone]

Used to fuel up at the marina.---Used to add a liter of oil to my 500 liter tank.-----Then 50 liters of gasoline.-----Then another liter of oil and 50 liters of gasoline.-----By the time I idled out to the lake and got up on plane it would be well mixed.----Never an issue.