Boating: where should your passengers be when you are tied to the dock fueling your vessel?

What is a good safety precaution when fueling your boat?

• 1. Sniff for fumes after fueling and before starting the engine. 2. Run the ventilation system for at least four minutes before fueling. 3. Keep all windows and doors open during fueling. 4. Turn on the ventilation system after you pull away from the fuel dock.

• Answer:

  All of the items listed are not......I repeat not..... things that you should do. Sniffing for fumes is useless. The fumes settle to the bottom of the bilge, and most people could not detect the explosive concentrations. Running the bilge blower before fueling, will not address the fumes from the fueling. You should, turn off the bilge blower and close doors, windows and hatches before fueling. That way fumes cannot enter the boat as easily. Starting the engine and pulling away from the dock "before" running the bilge blower is backwards. Always run the blower for at least 5 min before starting the engine. Turn the engine and all equipment before fueling. Run the blower for 5 min. before starting the engine. I also check the bilge for possible leaking hoses or tanks before starting. I have a fume detector in the engine compartment and a second one in the midships bilge. Close up the boat before fueling.