How to never run out of gasoline again
This post details how we manage the gasoline for our dinghy’s outboard engine, although I can say that we used essentially the same system for our gasoline-engine powered first boat, Zero To Cruising, albeit on a larger scale. While everything I’ve written below may seem obvious, having a system, and adhering to it, is what allows us to always have fuel on hand when we need it, and also protects our outboard from the problems associated with dirty fuel.
Goals:
- Always have fuel available when we need it.
- Ensure that all gasoline that enters the engine has been filtered, reducing the chances of having a blocked carburetor.
- Always use exactly the proper mix of gasoline to oil. Note that our outboard engine is a 2-stroke, so it requires mixing two stroke oil with the fuel to obtain proper lubrication. Obviously if you’re running a 4-stroke engine, you can ignore this part.
Our gasoline system:
To begin, we achieve the above goals by never putting fuel directly from a gas station into our dinghy’s fuel can. I hate to use the word never because if we lost our minds and got caught, of course we would. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had to do that though.
We carry only one gasoline jerry can on Frost, but on ZTC we had a number of them.
What we do instead is keep a 5-gallon jerry can on the back deck, secured to a rail, full of the proper oil:fuel mix for our engine. Every day (yes, every day) that we launch the dinghy, we first check the volume of fuel in the tank to make a guesstimate about whether the gasoline inside it is sufficient for our daily needs. If the answer is no, we top up that tank from the jerry can, but always filter the fuel while doing so. While I imagine that 99.9% of the time this isn’t necessary, it helps with our peace of mind, limiting the chances of water or sediment making it inside our fuel container.
We try to always filter the gasoline before putting it into the dinghy’s fuel container.
When the jerry can is empty, we refill it with the proper amount of 2-stroke oil (since we are always filling a 5-gallon can, I have the measuring cup pre-marked so that I always add exactly the right amount), and – this is the important part – we make it a priority to refill that jerry can right away. Right away means, if not immediately, then within 24 hours.
Simple, right? The devil is in the details, and so is sticking to the plan like glue.
Note: In addition to filtering the gasoline as it goes into the dingy’s fuel container, we have also installed an inline filter between that container and the outboard itself. If you are using a smaller engine with a built-in fuel tank, you won’t be able to do that, but the remainder of the procedure could be the same.
Buy why not do this instead:
- Why not filter the fuel at the pump? While you could do that, the filter slows down the process, and I prefer not to be rushed, or delay the work going on around a busy fuel dock. Back by our boat, I can take all the time that I want.
- Why not put the 2-stroke oil into the dinghy’s fuel container? Because, unless you run the tank completely empty, there will always be some fuel remaining, and without knowing exactly how much there is, you’ll never be completely sure that you’re adding the proper amount of 2-stroke oil. Running fuel with too much, or too little oil both cause problems.
Why post about this today? I was inspired by our scheduled journey into Le Marin this morning to re-fill our empty jerry can (we emptied it yesterday – 24 hours, remember?). The irony of having to travel four miles round trip in order to buy gasoline, burning gas in the process, is not lost on me. It is, however, what we have to do if we want to anchor in the cleaner water off the coast of St. Anne.
As it turned out, today was the perfect day for a trip to the fuel dock.
Amusingly, this is one of the few places that we actually check the weather forecast before making a run into town (Le Marin, not St. Anne). The journey is long enough that when the wind is up, the trip can be wet and uncomfortable. This morning, with nary a breeze blowing, we had a completely dry and painless trip.
As always, excellent suggestions!
Have you done any investigation as to the best filters for those two specific purposes? (I do see that your article features a photo of a West Marine but maybe that’s just because it was a readily available image to supplement the article and not a recommendation?)
Have you noticed a discernible benefit to your filtering habits? I remember a few years ago you went through a period where you were having to take apart your carb for cleanout so often that you became an expert at the process. I’m guessing that this was prior to the implementation of your current protocols. ?
Obviously, you could keep more fuel on storage aboard your main boat than the 5 gallons and then you’d have to resupply less frequently. Naturally, I assume that you’re storing the amount that works best for your situation.
Hi Ross
Re filters: I found a review one time, and may have even shared the link somewhere on this blog, that compared filters like the West Marine variety with more expensive Baha-type filters. Believe it or not, the West Marine one tested superior.
As for cleaning the carb, yeah, we’ve had our share of problems. Some were caused by operator error, and others by bad luck. I don’t think there are any guarantees, but what I described can only help. I have a friend who just ran into a mess by adding too much oil to his brand new engine. I’ve never had that problem.
Re storage: Yes, we could keep more, but I don’t think that keeping gasoline in storage for ages is good for it. It’s also flammable, so most people like to minimize how much they keep on hand. The 5-gallons we keep on hand works well for us. On ZTC, which was powered by outboards, we used to keep 25 gallon on hand.
I have a similar protocol for an older pontoon boat. I am always afraid that someone who borrows it will be a good samaritan and put pump gas in without oil and wreck my precious 57 year old outboard. It has a 6 gallon remote gas tank, and uses 25oz of oil per 5 gallons, so I buy gallon jugs of TCW3 and put 25oz into empty quart jugs so that the perfect mix is attained. I keep a spare 5 gallon can of gas on board, and whenever I get low, I dump the oil into the remote tank, then the 5 gallons of gas for a perfect mixure. As long as I always add 5 gallons of gas and 25oz of oil, it never causes a mixture issue. I use the same filter you do, both when filling the can and then when filling the tank, and there is a small filter just before the carb under the engine cover. For long trips, I have a spare remote tank and when one runs dry I can just swap the tanks easily so that I don’t have to try filling one while bobbing around on the water. We have minor differences, but as you said, the key is to have a system and always follow it!
Sounds perfect.
Been following your blog for a couple of years – your friends Devi and Hunter are good friends of my brother.
Wondered if you could answer a quick question: we’re going to the BVIs for our third time next week and would love to see some turtles when snorkling. We’ve yet to run across a turtle…yet you seemed to have pics of them every time you went into the water when you were in the BVIs.
Any suggestions on where to snorkle to have a better chance of seeing turtles?
Want you to know I really enjoy your comments. Best of luck as you continue your dreams for the future…hope you get things squared away and are off to South American soon.
Thanks so much.
Steve
Hi Steve
For a guaranteed turtle sighting go to Cooper Island (Manchineel Bay). Ideally get a mooring ball towards the northern end of the bay, close to shore. When we were last at Cooper Island there was a private mooring ball in that area. If you can, grab one of the proper overnight balls right beside it. That anchorage fills up by mid afternoon every day so get there early. We’d often arrive around lunch time and have our pick of spots.
If you make it to the USVI go to Christmas Cove on Greater St. James Island. That is another spot where you’d be guaranteed to swim with turtles.
Enjoy your vacation, and thanks for the positive wishes!
I was just thinking about fuel storage the other day and this is a timely article. I think keeping the 5 Gal mixed is great to ensure proper mix going into the supply tank. We ran into a problem last year where I had crud in the fuel but was always careful when filling etc. Turns out on close examination that the fuel gauge metal spiral float had begun to disintegrate due to old age and was dropping carb plugging micro rust bits that could get thru the filter. We have replaced that fuel tank with all plastic internals. All good now….after a carb cleaning.
Thanks for tips!
Wow. Never thought of something like that happening. Good find.
What is the weather site you use in your post? Thanks
https://www.windguru.cz/