You may realize that boating is inherently dangerous, and take all the normal precautions when you’re out on the water with your friends or relatives – but do you realize that just refueling a boat can be hazardous, too?
Explosions and fires related to refueling make the news all the time, and they cause untold numbers of injuries and massive amounts of property damage on a regular basis.
What causes these explosions?
Most of the time, the danger is related to undissipated gas vapors that can accumulate around a boat’s engine. Blower vents are designed to remove the gasoline vapors that gather when a boat is refueled – but they’re not always as effective or as fast as people think. If the engine is restarted while the vapors are still gathered in a pocket, a single spark can set off an explosion with disastrous consequences.
You can take steps to avoid this problem by:
- Turn off your blowers while you’re actually refueling so that they don’t inadvertently push the vapors back into the bilge.
- Make sure you check the hoses that fill the tank, vent the air and go from the gas tank to the engine for leaks.
- Once you’ve turned your blowers back on after refueling, wait at least four minutes (longer is better) before starting the engine.
Additionally, make sure that you get everyone off the boat during the refueling/restarting process, put away any cellular devices and don’t smoke.
When it comes to avoiding boat explosions, patience is key to safety. If you’re injured or a loved one is killed because a boater was in a hurry or made a foolish mistake while refueling, find out more about your legal options.