Fuel tank and battery mounting question

[Ron Burgundy]

That's pretty cool and looks like a blast. I have only flown once. My dad gave me a lesson when he was a flight instructor at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs. I have always felt more 'at home' on the water for some reason. Let me know how that trip to Catalina goes.

[FloterBoter]

no matter what the regs say, i just wouldn't do that.

[RonKMiller]

I wouldn't do it either with a garden variety battery and mount, but that particular battery case is about 4 times as strong (and 4X as expensive) as a Walmart special and has very robust screw down top plugs. Add in the 2500 lb. test nylon webbing, 1,000 lb. test locking clamp, anchor plates, grade 8 bolts, backup washer and locking nut.

This is the exact same hardware used on nuclear submarines. If it's good enough for the Navy I guess it will work for a pontoon boat.

Of course you can always go cheap and get a typical unrated cheesy poly strap, PLASTIC buckle, 4 tiny stainless steel wood screws and 2 PLASTIC footman's loops for $4.29 at Joe's Discount Marine - or buy your Chinese plywood at Loews.

Sometimes you man up, bite the bullet and install quality components where they count.

"The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in." A.E. Housman

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[Ron Burgundy]

Looks like you have used some high quality materials. I don't think you will have any problems with those selections. The only thing that concerns me is the possibility of fuel vapor being ignited by a spark from the battery. Maybe you have already though of that. I'm no exert in this matter...just a thought.

[RonKMiller]

That is exactly what my local coast guard inspector said as well. As long as the battery is contained in a box, or has a protective cover over the positive terminal (the red boot in my picture) you are good to go.

His main concern was a tool being dropped on top of the battery striking a terminal and causing a short - but since it is also enclosed in a ventilated compartment with a secure hatch he felt that it was more than adequate.

[FloterBoter]

Sometimes you man up, bite the bullet and install quality components where they count.

sometimes you man up and install a fuel tank right next to your battery?

whatever, it's your boat.





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[RonKMiller]

Um, OK. You obviously disagree with me and a guy that has been in the USCG Office of Boating Safety for 20 years.



(I always liked that smilie but never had a chance to use it until now.)

[FloterBoter]

i don't care what he says. i wouldn't do it. my kids wouldn't be on that boat.

again, it's your boat. i just don't think a boating forum should present that installation as a good option.

[GregF]

What is the hazard? If you think 12v near gasoline is a problem, that sending unit inside your gas tank should be keeping you awake at night.

[RonKMiller]

So, you think the USCG and hundreds of boat manufacturers are wrong.

Name me one person that has had a fuel tank explosion caused by proximity to a battery.

Touche.

[tkrein]

just to add to this debate my 09 benni has the battery installed under the sundeck right next to the fuel tank. well maybe 3 inches away they get away with it as long as you have enough airflow into the area that the tank and battery sit into you should be okay. I mean look a top of the line pontoon manufacture and one of the best i might add do it. really look at new pontoons look closly at the one that have the center mounted fuel tanks i think i can say 99% have the battery in the same location as the fuel tank just have a battery box that they sit in. the only thing i would change is i would have a box constructed for that type of a battery. just my 2 penny's worth of information now time to drink shake hands and make up

[FloterBoter]

So, you think the USCG and hundreds of boat manufacturers are wrong.

Name me one person that has had a fuel tank explosion caused by proximity to a battery.

Touche.

i've never seen such statistics and i didn't say there are such cases.
i just wouldn't do it.

sending units are designed to be in fuel liquid and sometimes in vapor above the liquid.
battery enclosures and connections are designed subject to hydrogen gas, which dissipates much more easily.

your boat, have at it. i still would never do that.

[Bamby]

So, you think the USCG and hundreds of boat manufacturers are wrong.

Name me one person that has had a fuel tank explosion caused by proximity to a battery.

Touche.

i've never seen such statistics and i didn't say there are such cases.
i just wouldn't do it.

sending units are designed to be in fuel liquid and sometimes in vapor above the liquid.
battery enclosures and connections are designed subject to hydrogen gas, which dissipates much more easily.

your boat, have at it. i still would never do that.

Touche:

Fuel gages may be causing boat fires and explosions

Most gasoline powered boat explosions are caused by fuel leaks. A common source of the problem is the tank gaging system used in many small boats. The guages used to be housed in tubes made from aluminum which extended into the fuel tank. However, the manufacturer has changed the tubes from aluminum to stainless steel. While no announcement heralded the change, speculation in the boating community is that the aluminum tubes weren't strong enough to withstand the pounding, surging, and motion of fuel inside the tank, without suffering from fatigue.

In short, if you have a fuel leak, remove the gage and send it to a metalurgist for testing. Frank Grate, a metallurgist in Miami, is familiar with testing these types of gages.

http://floridamaritimelawyer.clarislaw. ... osions.php

I actually couldn't find a source documented on fire/explosions caused by batteries near fuel tanks, but did encounter a few like the one I posted above.

[RonKMiller]

I can't imagine a worse scenario than a fuel fed fire on water (well, except for one in the air...)

The old fuel tank that came with my boat was still sound and probably serviceable, but that's one area I definitely did NOT want to experiment with. Off to the trash, and replaced by two brand new Moeller tanks.

I'll still open the hatches and do a "sniff check" (or maybe just use my lighter if it's dark) before firing up the engine at the start of a day.

[Parasympathetic]

Kinda reminds you of a 747 leaving NYC heading out over the ocean at about 12,500 ft. with an almost empty center fuel tank and some stray electrical signal and kaboom. Bunch of dead people.

Was not supposed to happen according to the engineers..........

Variables in the equation can be a mofo.