 |
07 September 2009, 18:57
|
#1
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
|
fuel tanks and electrics-All in one box
I know many Ribs have a fuel tank inside a console with electrics in there too.
But I need to know your opinion on this.....
Tank sits at the bottom of the console, it's vented and filled externally. 20-30cm above the tank there's the back of the radio, gps, ignition, switches etc.
Should I build a bulk head to separate the two or stick a vent in the side of the console and leave it as it is?
__________________
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 19:22
|
#2
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Dorset & Hants
Boat name: Streaker/Orange
Make: Avon/Ribcraft
Length: 4m +
Engine: 50Yam/25 Mariner
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,551
|
Stick the vent in & have done ..........
BHG( the BIG Avon dealer down south) rigged mine this way & I have NEVER hear of a real life case of thier being a problem - by problem I mean big bang & fire etc.
I'm at 120 hours & no probs at all so far.
Anyone actually seen this happen first hand ?
Pete
Oh I've got the battery in the same console .........
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 20:23
|
#3
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Sheepy Parva
Boat name: Sadly Sold
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,731
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackroady
Stick the vent in & have done ..........
|
John...I understand your concern. My previous boat had a 40litre tank sat next to an 85ah battery. Not ideal engineering practice.
But the positives are that petrol requires a very precise ratio with oxygen to ignite and permeation through the hoses is unlikely to provide that. A serious leak possibly would, but I guess you're managing the maintenance of the boat and are diligent about it, plus, and most importantly, you're aware of the risk and are prepared to manage it. Even if you're not, you still need a spark of sufficient energy and in the right place and at the right time. The odds are stacking up.
The world is full of installations such as you describe. Not only boats, cars too. A certain British prestige manufacturer used to have a 20 gallon tank sat next to and above a 100ah battery with no dividing bulkhead.
As Blackroady says "Stick the vent in and have done..." but then manage the risk with diligence 
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 21:27
|
#4
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
|
In an ideal world you would separate the two you'd also pay someone to do the work for you!
I built a bulkhead in mine as I had all sorts of ideas, batteries under the seat and fuel in the head of the console, I also wanted all the cables exiting the rear of the console. I ended up drilling a hole in the said bulkhead for my steering cable!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 21:33
|
#5
|
|
RIBnet admin team
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,069
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leapy
petrol requires a very precise ratio with oxygen to ignite
|
It doesn't... Anything above 5% vapour is explosive from memory.
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?
Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.
Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
|
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 21:51
|
#6
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nos4r2
It doesn't... Anything above 5% vapour is explosive from memory.
|
The lower explosive limit (LEL) is around 1.4% by volume and the upper explosive limit (UEL) is around 7.6%. Above and below these limits, the fuel will not explode.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 22:22
|
#7
|
|
RIBnet admin team
Country: UK - England
Town: The wilds of Wiltshire
Boat name: Dominator
Make: SR5.4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Yam 85
MMSI: 235055163
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,069
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy
The lower explosive limit (LEL) is around 1.4% by volume and the upper explosive limit (UEL) is around 7.6%. Above and below these limits, the fuel will not explode.
|
Fair enough-it's a while since I read the figures.
Point is, it takes relatively little vapour by volume to be explosive, and given the 1000:1 liquid to vapour ratio it takes a very small spillage to reach that 1.4%.
The vapour is heavier than air, so without a vent at the lowest point you've got an explosive mixture sitting low down very quickly.
__________________
Need spares,consoles,consumables,hire,training or even a new boat?
Please click HERE and HERE and support our Trade Members.
Join up as a Trade member or Supporter HERE
|
|
|
|
|
07 September 2009, 23:18
|
#8
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
|
Thanks for the replies lads. Only thing with bulk head idea is I'll have to have the filler pipe and vent pipe going through it.
So an air vent at the lowest point?
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 09:19
|
#9
|
|
Member
Country: UK - Wales
Town: Here
Boat name: doggypaddle
Make: Avon 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: yamaha 80
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,107
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy
The lower explosive limit (LEL) is around 1.4% by volume and the upper explosive limit (UEL) is around 7.6%. Above and below these limits, the fuel will not explode.
|
never mind the petrol, the H and O from the battery is explosive even when vastly diluted with air, so you need a vent in the top too as its lighter than air.
__________________
I am usually not as green as i am cabbage looking.
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 09:27
|
#10
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
|
Forgot to say, Battery is in the double jockey seat.
What should I do?
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 14:43
|
#11
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Sheepy Parva
Boat name: Sadly Sold
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,731
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nos4r2
It doesn't...
|
Nos...you're right, my mistake...I was thinking of air fuel ratios within the engine 
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 20:19
|
#12
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP
What should I do?
|
Ask Scooby Doo!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 20:49
|
#13
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Dorset & Hants
Boat name: Streaker/Orange
Make: Avon/Ribcraft
Length: 4m +
Engine: 50Yam/25 Mariner
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,551
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP
Forgot to say, Battery is in the double jockey seat.
What should I do?
|
Fit the bloody vent & get on with it ! If you blow up I'll coz of it I'll chip in for some grapes while you are in the hospital ! I'll even bring the kids to see you  ..........
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 23:00
|
#14
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackroady
Fit the bloody vent & get on with it ! If you blow up I'll coz of it I'll chip in for some grapes while you are in the hospital ! I'll even bring the kids to see you .......... |
 Don't bring the kids!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
08 September 2009, 23:15
|
#15
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP
Don't bring the kids!
|
It'd cost him a fortune.
Cost you £7 just to supply one with sweets when you dropped that trailer off didn't it?
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
09 September 2009, 00:15
|
#16
|
|
Member
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy
It'd cost him a fortune.
Cost you £7 just to supply one with sweets when you dropped that trailer off didn't it?
|
Hard to remember mate but I can well imagine! Love 'em to death but.... 
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White Noise
