Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats

 Fueling Precautions

Most fires and explosions happen during or after fueling. To prevent an accident follow these rules:

• Portable tanks should be refueled ashore.
• Close all hatches and other openings before fueling.
• Extinguish all smoking materials.
• Turn off engines, all electrical equipment, radios, stoves and other appliances.
• Remove all passengers.
• Keep the fill nozzle in contact with the tank and wipe up any spilled fuel.
• Open all ports, hatches and doors to ventilate.
• Run the blower for at least four minutes.
• Check the bilges for fuel vapors before starting the engine.
• Do the "sniff test". Sniff around to make sure there is no odor of gasoline anywhere in the boat.

Do not start the engine until all traces of fuel vapors are eliminated!!

Fuel Management

Practice the "One-Third Rule" by using:

• One-third of the fuel going out
• One-third to get back
• One-third in reserve