Tips on fueling safely

Most fires and explosions on boats occur during or immediately after fueling, so be as careful as possible when you’re at the pump. Boaters sometimes forget that fueling a vessel can be a bit of a challenge. To begin with, boats often have larger fuel tanks than cars. Dock gas nozzles tend to pump fuel at a faster rate than nozzles at automobile service stations. Plus, gasoline fumes are extremely volatile.

Keep the marine environment clean by making sure fuel goes only in your tank and not in the water. Without precautions, fuel can drip off the nozzle, backsplash out of the tank or discharge from the vent due to overfilling or expansion. All these small, dispersed sources can add up to a big pollution problem that threatens the enjoyment of recreational boating for everyone. It takes only a small amount of a spilled petroleum product to cause a film or sheen over a large area of water. And even after the sheen is gone, the persistence of fuel in the water can kill fish and other aquatic life and cause long-term damage to the natural habitat.

If you do experience a spill, regardless of the amount, be sure to report it to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center. It’s important to perform a quick cleanup, and it’s the law. To report spills, call (800) 424-8802 or (202) 267-2675. The center is staffed 24/7.

Finally, plan to have enough fuel on hand. The best practice is the one-third rule: one-third to go out, one-third to come back, and one-third for emergencies and dealing with adverse currents, winds or weather.