The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 19, Milford, Kosciusko County, 23 May 1984 — Page 26

the PAPER - WED., MAY 23, 1984

Safe boating starts with a good fuel tank

What’s the most important piece of safety equipment on your outboard-powered boat? The gas tank might be a good guess. Gasoline, as every boater knows, is what makes his engine go. And, as every outboarder should know, gasoline is a very volatile substance. That makes the fuel tank a very important piece of equipment on your boat, an item not to be taken for granted. Before you head out on the lake or river this spring, take some time to inspect your

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fuel tank. Look for leaks, large dents that might turn into leaks and loose or damaged fittings. If you find any problems, it’s probably time to invest in a new tank. Don’t be one of these boaters who take the explosive power of six gallons of gas for granted. Just one spark or wind-blown cigaret butt could spell disaster. Fuel line fittings — “Start by shopping at the dealership where you bought the motor,” advises Paul Hunt, a fuel systems engineer at OMC Parts and Accessories, Waukegan, 111., the firm which makes fuel tanks for Johnson and Evionrude outboards. “The dealer can sell you a tank with fittings engineered to match your motor,” adds Hunt. “We see a lot of after-market tanks that use fuel line adaptors which may offer some compromises.” The biggest problem, notes Hunt, is usually restricted to fuel flow at the primer bulb or tank outlet. This may not allow enough fuel to reach the motor at full throttle? which can be disastrous, causing it to run so lean that the motor is ruined. Tank construction — “The tank should be made of heavy-gauge steel, not the thinner metal used in lawn mower gas cans,” says Hunt. Safety cap — “An imporetant feature to look for is a two-position cap, like the one found on your care’s radiator,” he adds. Convenience features — Hunt says a retaining chain or other device to keep people from dropping the cap into the lake and brackets on the tank to wrap an extra fuel line around and keep it out of the way and off the bottom of the boat are nice.

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