Fuel Locker Covers

[Dan B]

I am tired of having things fall out at me from under the cockpit seats. I am thinking about buying the Fuel Locker Covers from BWY.

Anyone have a concern about gas tank ventilation if I put a Sunbrella-type covering over it?

[norbert]

did you see aussi bob's cockpit locker covers on this site? just click at the online catalogue button on the left.

[Paul S]

I am tired of having things fall out at me from under the cockpit seats. I am thinking about buying the Fuel Locker Covers from BWY.

Anyone have a concern about gas tank ventilation if I put a Sunbrella-type covering over it?

26m?

Here is what I did


Paul

[DLT]

On my , I had 4 six gallon tanks. But, my E-tec has proved so miserly that I can't see needing any more than two for the vast majority of my use...

So, I removed the forward two tanks and installed milk crates in their place. I bought them off ebay and just spray painted them white. Of course, I later discovered that I needed to take a little off the top to get them to fit in the lockers.

They are held in by the fuel tank straps and they hold all those little things that you don't want to store in the cabin.

If you don't have a fuel tank strap, then you may need to install something to keep the milk crates in the lockers. Oh wait, doesn't the X have some sort of lip along the bottom. That might work just fine.

Another issue is that on the M, the seat lifts up, so access to the stuff in the crates is easy. I'd guess the X would require a little more thought to make it all work easily...

[Richard O'Brien]

I have a small 12V cooler that just fits under my locker cover, with room left for one 6 gal. tank. My question is would it be really stupid to put them side by side, insofar as the cooler has a 12V fan running frequently, and I presume that could ignite fumes if they collected back there? I would really like to have that little cooler handy, but am unsure if the one open side provides adequate ventilation? the six gal. is sort of a spare in case the 12 gal runs out.

[Catigale]

Correct. It would be ill-advised to put these next to each other unless the electrical item is 'explosion proof' which I will guess confidentally your 'fridge is NOT.

I am not an expert on this aspect of Marine Engineering but Im sure someone can cite the actual Governing body for qualifying electrical systems used in vicinity of fuel.

Its not stupid because you took the time to research this and not just wing it......

[James V]

Explosion proof means that if there is an explosion inside of the device it will contain it and not spread it. If your 12V fridge is on the other side of the gas tanks. it is more than likely OK. In any case, please get an inspection from the Coast Guard Aux or local marine authority.

[Catigale]

There is another usage of 'explosion proof' which you run into in the chemical industry all the time

Many solvents have high vapour pressures and so are stored in fridges.. an explosion proof fridge has electrical circuitry isolated from the internal storage. !0 gallons of diethyl ether is going to blow up any fridge that Ive seen if it goes off.....

FOr this thread, you need a fridge that has similar properties of being electrically use-appropriate near explosive vapours....I dont know what the correct marine terminology is but Im sure there are rules governing this.

Catigale

[Richard O'Brien]

Allright Guys, I suspect my $36 cooler isn't made to those explosion proof specs, and this from somebody who really likes explosions. but not enough to blow up my cockpit. Thanks for the input, but I guess I'll sacrifice the spare gas tank. Now if only there were some way to figure your actual fuel level without trusting those little yellow floats that never seem to work?

[Frank C]

Now if only there were some way to figure your actual fuel level without trusting those little yellow floats that never seem to work?

With 3 tanks at 6-gal each, I use the "heft & slosh" level-gauging method. If I think of it timely, I'll switch to the next tank when there's still a gallon or two left - sort of a mini-reserve. With 18 gallons aboard, I've never motored far enough to approach fuel-empty, but variable conditions during the Channel Islands tour this summer could test that theory. Might be time for another sixer.

[waternwaves]

Cat is this in your fridge????lol

we gotta have a talk sometime....lol

<---reminds self to be very careful upsetting Cat......

Hope to god there are no nitrates or toluene nearby....

Always hated washing TNT.......