Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

This sort of slow-down infuriates skippers tied
to the docks when you pass, and marks you as a
real amateur. (You’re legally responsible for any
damage your wake does, don’t forget!)
The boat’s running angle or attitude also makes
it very difficult to see over the bow in some
models. You’re driving blind! Avoid the plow!
Refueling Your Boat
Chapter 5: Getting Underway for the First Time
Boat Bytes
Don’t make the amateur’s
mistake of trimming up at
low speeds and then trying
to put the boat on plane.
The motor will roar and the
water will fly, but you’ll go
nowhere fast.
Gasoline is very dangerous in boats because the bowl shape of the hull interior traps any
spilled or leaking fuel. The closed decks and compartments hold in leaking vapors, creating
a fuel-air bomb that is only lacking a spark to turn your boat into a Roman candle.
Diesel fuel is less explosive than gasoline but still highly flammable. Thus, fueling is a
business that requires your undivided attention.
Most trailer boats get gassed up at a filling station on the way to the ramp, and this is a
good idea because it saves you big on fuel costs. Buying fuel from a marina is usually 15 to
20 percent more expensive than buying it from a filling station. However, at times you
will need to refuel on the water, even with a trailered boat. With larger boats stored at the
marina or in the water, this is always standard operating procedure. Follow these steps to
do it right:
1. Make sure your boat is properly tied to the fuel dock. Nothing is more distracting
than having the boat begin to leave the docks with the fuel hose in the filler!
Incompetent cleating can make it happen, so if you let Uncle George handle the
lines, make sure he knows how to make things stay put.
2. Make sure you put fuel only into the fuel tank. Where else could you possibly put
it? On some boats, the water filler cap looks exactly like the fuel filler cap—gasoline
shower, anyone? There have even been instances of people pumping fuel into
trolling rod holders! How do you know which cap leads to the fuel tank? It has a
code on the cap. It says “F-U-E-L.”
3. Avoid careless spills, which are both dangerous and bad for the watery environment.
Any spilled gas aboard should be wiped up with paper towels, which should then be
disposed of at the marina in a metal barrel, not in the nearest plastic trash can.
4. It goes without saying neither you nor anyone aboard should smoke during fueling.
That is, it goes without saying unless someone tries it. Better to warn everyone
ahead of time. Even if it means putting out that freshly lighted $10 Macanudo.
5. Have someone keep an eye on your gallonage, and slow down the flow rate on the
fuel as you get near what you think should be full. Some marina hoses have an
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