Towing with full or empty fuel tank?

[chris101]

Probably a stupid question but I'm fairly new to all this. Just upgraded my RIB from a 3.8M to a 5.4M, the new RIB has a 105L fuel tank. Just wondering what peoples opinions are regarding whether its best to fuel up before making a fairly long journey (3hours), or tow the boat empty and fill up on arrival at a nearby petrol station?

The petrol station I have in mind is the Morrisons at Caernarfon, not sure if there is ample room to get round it with the trailer, or whether they have any funny ideas about not permitting the fuelling of boats (read some horror stories on here about other stations)..... where as I can visit an unattended Asda petrol station the night before with no severe corners to negotiate.

Managed to get 22mpg when towing the boat with empty fuel tank back from the dealers, so unsure what if anything this will drop to with another 105KG of added weight.

Many thanks.

[GuyC]

105 litres of petrol is actually about 84kg as it is less dense than water.

The less weight the better when towing. Why lug 84kg around when you don't need to? I think the exceptions to this are:

If the nose weight on the trailer is significantly reduced by not having the fuel on board. Towing is easier when the nose weight approaches the maximum that the car / trailer (whichever is the smaller) will deal with.

As you've suggested, if filling up locally to the launch site is a PITA.

[lakelandterrier]

Depending on where you are going I'd fill up towards the end of the journey - providing you know there's a petrol station with access / egress for a car and trailer. Some petrol stations are no designed fro trailers - getting stuck would be embarrassing!

If you're heading somewhere remote I'd fill up somewhere I knew along the way - the later on the journey the better as GuyC suggests.

[treerat]

I look to fill up local to the slipway, saves weight on the trailer and car.

2 minute son google before heading off soon lets me find the most appropriate garage on route.

[beamishken]

It realy doesnt make much difference unless your trailer in on its limits 100kgs of fuel is just a chubby passenger & you wouldnt ask your passengers to walk. Just do whatever is most convenient for you.

[neil.mccrirrick]

You will fit at Morrison’s. I’ve had a motorhome towing a 7m rib in and round there. It was a bit tight but manageable

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

You will fit at Morrison’s. I’ve had a motorhome towing a 7m rib in and round there. It was a bit tight but manageable

^^^^^ wot Neil said[emoji106] I’ve had a 6.4m RIB in Morrisons, wait until one of the outside pumps is free.

[spartacus]

I'll be the the odd one out on this and say fuel up before unless you know your destination, especially if you're running to a tight schedule and dealing with tides. I get the whole weight thing, but there's nothing economic about owning a boat so I except it, and I've done petrol stations in remote locations with tight turning circles and can do without the stress. Bear in mind I'm up north, so have dealt with 24 fuel stations that are shut unexpectedly so I tend to err on the side of caution on trips.

Fuelling a boat with plastic tanks or a inbuilt tank is one thing, try fuelling a MilPro 25 litre auxilliary fuel bladder and getting funny looks!

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by beamishken

It realy doesnt make much difference unless your trailer in on its limits 100kgs of fuel is just a chubby passenger & you wouldnt ask your passengers to walk. Just do whatever is most convenient for you.

You've never asked Poly for a lift have you ;-)

[Pikey Dave]

You’re not the odd one, I like to arrive primed & ready to go.

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Fuelling a boat with plastic tanks or a inbuilt tank is one thing, try fuelling a MilPro 25 litre auxilliary fuel bladder and getting funny looks!

I’m sure it does……. Ive been lucky with most trips to the garage…. So far….

[lakelandterrier]

As I said, work out where you can fuel up - closer to launch the better but don't take risks on fuel station being shut - supply late / staff ill etc....don'r leave it till the last mile with no plan B. If in doubt fuel up before you go.

[Orwell boy]

Thats good information ,lucky its not the old days when you had to work out where the quadruple green shield stamps were

[mhill]

Originally Posted by spartacus

I'll be the the odd one out on this and say fuel up before unless you know your destination, especially if you're running to a tight schedule and dealing with tides. I get the whole weight thing, but there's nothing economic about owning a boat so I except it, and I've done petrol stations in remote locations with tight turning circles and can do without the stress. Bear in mind I'm up north, so have dealt with 24 fuel stations that are shut unexpectedly so I tend to err on the side of caution on trips.

Fuelling a boat with plastic tanks or a inbuilt tank is one thing, try fuelling a MilPro 25 litre auxilliary fuel bladder and getting funny looks!

Yep I tend to agree.

Very odd looks indeed! What’s your technique?

As already said you will easily get around the Morison’s there, I have found several Morison’s to be quite picky about what they will let you fill.
Had a stand up row in the local Morison’s when filling the rib up as they said they could only allow me 20L as per the rules. I know a few bits about ADR regs and baffled them with bull shit & the relinquished.

Did you buy it from Benji?

[jonp]

I fill up fuel tanks as as soon as I'm back off the water even if Im towing to the far side of the country (4000km +) I fill the tank. A full tank has less tendency to form condensation inside the tank from day to night temp changes. Also due to remoteness in this country, its good to fill from places that have regular fuel deliveries rather than a remote place that might get fuel less frequently. Theres also the fact a boat with a full tank is always ready to hit the water.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by mhill

Very odd looks indeed! What’s your technique?

I got the Zodiac MilPro fuel bladder for our Summer Isles trip 3 years ago. I can normally carry 50 litres on board Sula, but the extra tank allows another 22 litres, so just gives you peace of mind.

You just unhook from the boat and upend it so it's vertical, then fuel as normal. I leave 2-3 inches of space when fillling, then screw the aluminium cap back on. It's situated on the port side, and clips on the D rings and rope lace cuff.

[paddlers]

I'll be doing exactly this at the weekend. Drive up with an empty tank and put the max in (can't remember if it's £100 or 100 litres when the pump stops ) at Lochgilphead Esso and then trundle down to Carradale . I usually manage to get in the outside row of pumps. As a matter of interest Highland fuels aren't going E10 until the first of September so my old Honda 90 should be ok for this holiday.

[treerat]

Originally Posted by jonp

I fill up fuel tanks as as soon as I'm back off the water even if Im towing to the far side of the country (4000km +) I fill the tank. A full tank has less tendency to form condensation inside the tank from day to night temp changes. Also due to remoteness in this country, its good to fill from places that have regular fuel deliveries rather than a remote place that might get fuel less frequently. Theres also the fact a boat with a full tank is always ready to hit the water.

I always used to - but so close to limits now on both boat V trailer and towing weights works for me to go the other way.

[chris101]

Originally Posted by paddlers

I'll be doing exactly this at the weekend. Drive up with an empty tank and put the max in (can't remember if it's £100 or 100 litres when the pump stops ) at Lochgilphead Esso and then trundle down to Carradale . I usually manage to get in the outside row of pumps. As a matter of interest Highland fuels aren't going E10 until the first of September so my old Honda 90 should be ok for this holiday.

Very good point that I'd overlooked, that the maximum transaction limit on most petrol station is £100, so around 74 litres - therefore I'll aim to do a half fill before setting off and the remainder when I get closer to my destination, because once at my launch site I will be there for 3 days with little chance to refuel without towing the boat back down some narrow country lanes to the filling station, so may as well start off with a full tank.

Thanks for all the advise

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by chris101

Very good point that I'd overlooked, that the maximum transaction limit on most petrol station is £100, so around 74 litres - therefore I'll aim to do a half fill before setting off and the remainder when I get closer to my destination, because once at my launch site I will be there for 3 days with little chance to refuel without towing the boat back down some narrow country lanes to the filling station, so may as well start off with a full tank.

Thanks for all the advise

That’s only for pay at pump and as I found out is per day not per transaction…. 2/3 cards but pay at pump is great for filling 20l cans…..