[Rhodes22-list] gas tank in laz
Michael D. Weisner
mweisner at ebsmed.com
Thu Nov 18 11:26:11 EST 2010
Rummy,
Your mileage not withstanding, your practice constitutes an unsafe condition. Please review the USCG site http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boatbuilder_s_handbook/vent_partg.aspx with particular attention to the following portion:
Portable Fuel Tanks
Compartments used to store vented portable fuel tanks or containers are required to be equipped with natural ventilation.
Cockpit seat lockers in auxiliary sailboats are often used as fuel tank compartments for portable outboard motor fuel tanks. If this fuel tank vents into the locker, then natural ventilation of this locker is required.
Since fuel vapors seek the lowest point of any compartment, gasoline vapors should be considered when designing and constructing a compartment that will contain a fuel tank or container that vents into a compartment. Any openings in or near the bottom of the compartment could permit explosive vapors to flow into the bilge of the boat where an ignition source might ignite the vapors.
The "natural ventilation" must consist of:
(1) supply opening(s) or duct(s) from the atmosphere or from a
ventilated compartment or from a compartment that is ventilated
to the atmosphere;
and
(2) exhaust opening(s) into another ventilated compartment or exhaust
duct(s) to the atmosphere.
Each supply opening must be located on the exterior surface of the boat:
"Open to the atmosphere" means a compartment that has at least 15 square inches of open area directly exposed to the atmosphere for each cubic foot of net compartment volume. The underseat space meets this requirement while the laz space has insufficient ventilation and connects with the cabin interior and bilge through wiring channels. These ventilation requirements also apply to batteries that emit hydrogen gas during charging (solar or otherwise) in confined spaces.
For those who are interested, the site also provides links to pdfs of the Boatbuilder's Handbook for download.
A simpler version entitled "Safety Standards for Backyard Boat Builders" which I have found very useful over the years is available at:
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/safety/boatwater/backyardboatbuilders.pdf
Please err on the side of safety. Don't play around with lives. Many of these rules were established after an avoidable accident.
Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY
From: <R22RumRunner at aol.com> Thursday, November 18, 2010 10:15 AM
> Charles,
> Relax. I kept my fuel tank in the lazzerette for almost twenty years. I
> moved it only after I installed the electric motor lift which places an
> electric motor (sparks) in the lazz. The hatch cover for the lazz is not air
> tight and if you look under both seats you will see large openings which
> provide adequate ventilation. People on the list were worried that I was going to
> blow myself up, but as you can see, I'm still intact. I used to drink like
> crazy and smoked cigars and cigarettes.......all at the same time and
> never had a problem with gas fumes.
>
> Rummy
>
>
> In a message dated 11/18/2010 9:08:19 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> blue66corvette at hotmail.com writes:
>
>
> I sail in teh suburbs of Dallas, Texas ..... I think I am the only Rhodie
> in these parts so you probably won't even hear the explosion......I do't
> have propane on the boat, I am guessing that would be for a stove? I don't
> have one of those either.
>
> Thanks for the education, I will gfive some thought to moving the tank.
>
> Charles
> s/v Blue Feather
> 84 R 22 ... recycled 96
>
>> From: mweisner at ebsmed.com
>> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:53:59 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Reintroduction - Now gas tank in laz
>>
>> It depends on how far away from here you sail your Rhodes ...
>>
>> Basically, fuel vapors that accumulate can be fairly explosive. Since
> the
>> laz is not ventilated, it is not a great place to store gasoline. I have
>> always stored a 6 gal tank under the cockpit seat without a problem
> where at
>> least the fumes (lighter than air) would not be trapped.
>>
>> BTW, where do you store your propane (heavier than air)? Please do not
>> store it in the cabin.
>>
>> Where do you sail,again?
>>
>> Mike
>> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>> Nissequogue River, NY
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Charles Nieman" <blue66corvette at hotmail.com>
>> To: "Rhodes List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 8:42 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Reintroduction
>>
>>
>> >
>> > I don't know about all that political stuff ..... but what's this
> about
>> > keeping your gas tank in tha lazerette????? That is where I have
> always
>> > kept mine .... is this a problem????
>> >
>> > Charles
>> >
>> >> From: benonvelvetelvis at theskinnyonbenny.com
>> >> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>> >> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 06:40:39 -0600
>> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Reintroduction
>> >>
>> >> We are overdue for some angry -- or at least passionate rants.
> Thoughts
>> >> on
>> >> midterm elections? Sarah Palin's book tour? Did dinosaurs really
> exist?
>> >> Do you prefer Bicardi to Mount Gay? Isn't anyone at least keeping
> their
>> >> gas
>> >> tank in the lazerette?
>> >>
>> >> Watching and waiting from BR,
>> >>
>> >> Ben
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>> >> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Geoff Farrell
>> >> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 12:39
>> >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
>> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Reintroduction
>> >>
>> >> Thank God... on both counts.
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Nov 17, 2010 at 12:28 PM, <R22RumRunner at aol.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Mike.
>> >> > Welcome back to the list. A while back we had to have a separation
> of
>> >> > sailing from politics. The political people left the list and
> started
>> >> their
>> >> > own
>> >> > social network list. The sailors and most of the drunks are still
> here.
>> >> >
>> >> > Rummy
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > In a message dated 11/16/2010 3:07:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> >> > michael.4591 at gmail.com writes:
>> >> >
>> >> > By way of a reintroduction I am Mike Corley, a loyal Rhodes owner
> since
>> >> > 1996. I have not been active on the list in several years. It is
>> >> > definitely a lot quieter now than it used to be. Sort of miss the
>> >> barroom
>> >> > mentality of the old list.
>> >> > I have owned two Rhodes, the first was a new 96 model I bought from
>> >> > Stan and then after returning from Europe Stan made me a great deal
> and
>> >> > I
>> >> > traded it in on a slightly used and upgraded 99 Rhodes in 2000, but
>> >> > that
>> >> > is
>> >> > another story. I like to tell people that I liked the boat so much I
>> >> > bought
>> >> > it twice. I still take the boat back to GB in Edenton, NC when it
> needs
>> >> > work which is infrequently. Stan and GB is the most honest business
> I
>> >> > have
>> >> > ever dealt with and they still do good work!
>> >> > I just recently retired from the Army after 30 years of service. I
>> >> > retired from Fort Monroe, Va and now live in Smithfield, Va at the
>> >> > intersection of the Pagan and James Rivers. I keep my boat at the
> Old
>> >> > Point
>> >> > Comfort Marina at Ft Monroe in Hampton, Va which is about 22 miles
> from
>> >> > Smithfield. My children are grown now so I primarily singlehand
> which
>> >> > is
>> >> > easy to do in a Rhodes. I have enjoyed sailing the Southern
> Chesapeake
>> >> > for
>> >> > the last four years. Previously I have sailed my Rhodes out of
> Middle
>> >> > River
>> >> > near Baltimore, Newbern, NC on the Neuse river, and Washington DC
> on
>> >> > the
>> >> > Potomac River. As all of you will agree, the Rhodes is a great
> costal
>> >> and
>> >> > inland pocket cruiser!
>> >> >
>> >> > Mike Corley
>> >> > S/V Ranger
>> >> > 99 Rhodes
>> >> > Hampton Roads, Va
>> >> > __________________________________________________
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>> >> >
>> >> > __________________________________________________
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>> >> >
>> >> __________________________________________________
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>> >> __________________________________________________
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>> >
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