Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

[ZmOz]

I'm going nuts not being able to use my boat...and it's only december. I need to do something for it. I allways carry an extra gallon of gas with me in the boat in a seperate gas can, just in case. I would like to be able to just hook it up to my fuel line as I do with my bigger tanks. I was thinking of threading one of those quick connect fuel fittings into the bottom of the gas can so that I can do this. Is there any reason I shouldn't? Why do regular gas tanks have a pick-up tube with the connection on the top rather than just a fitting on the bottom?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

A bottom location would be awful easy to bang, bump, or smack, which could cause a leak.<br />A leak in the top and a few fumes come out. A leak in the bottom and the can empties into the boat. I'd put it on top, and run a line to the bottom. A pickup tube also prevents any debris from being sucked into the line.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

I think taking the fuel from the top is a way to remove any risc of leaks and to make sure the fittings are not damaged from handling the tank (placing on ground, in car, in boat etc.). Such fittings are more safe when put on top.<br /><br />You can get Portable Fuel Tanks from more sources (cabelas.com for one) with vent, gauge and all at reasonable prices - and they're approved for the use.<br /><br />Alone the risc from highly flammable fuel leaking would keep me away from homemade solutions.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

I know they sell portable tanks...but I haven't seen any 1 gallon versions. If they are available I'm sure they cost at least $20...I already have the 1 gallon tank, which cost like 4 bucks to begin with. I might try and put it on the top...but that would take alot more work...

 

[JB]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

ZmOz.<br /><br />I think that by the time you have installed a pickup, with tube, on the top of that flimsy can you will have spent the price of a small portable tank. . . maybe more.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[flydangler]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

ZmOz,<br /><br />A friend of mine tried something like what you proposed two years ago trying to save a buck. He demonstrated why there's a need to carry good fire extinguishers in your boat.<br /><br />Cabela's carries a good 3 gallon portable gas tank for about $20.00, it measures about 18"L X 9"W X 10"H and should be easy to try storing in the boat. I'm sure other sources have similar gas tanks that are just as inexpensive. Put a fuel stabilizer in such a small portable tank and you'd got THREE gallons "just in case" as well as a much safer situation overall.<br /><br />I fish from a 15'6" Scanoe with a 5hp Honda for power, and carry one of these type tanks, with its own fuel line, as a backup as much as just for the extra fuel (burning less than 0.5 gallon per hour I doubt I'd ever run out of gas). If I'm a mile offshore and something's wrong with my gas tank or fuel line I can still get home safely (had a fuel line split once, so it's proven to me to be a good idea). <br /><br />Are you really willing to risk your boat, your safety and maybe even your life just to save a buck?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Oh come on now guys...it's not THAT dangerous. I'm smart enough to see if/when it's leaking...and of course smell it. I've figured out what I'm going to do though...drill a small hole in the top of the can, and put a 1/4" steel nipple down to the bottom. Attach an elbow to the top, and put some of that gas tank repair epoxy around the hole. Total cost ~2 bucks. Anything that would cause that to leak would cause an unmodified can to leak the same...

 

[sloopy]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Just a thought... If you have bad gas, you will first need to bleed out all the fuel lines with fresh gas, this will take a quarter of a gallon, then you might have something clogging the idle jets so you have to run at a higher RPMs... HOW FAR DO YOU THINK that tank will get you?

 

[sloopy]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Epoxy will start to disolve in gasoline. It will also clog the engine.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

I wouldn't be carrying more than a gallon of gas even if I bought a tank. It's either keep the gas can as it is, or do what I want to do. The gas tank repair epoxy is not going to dissolve in gasoline...that would be ridiculous.

 

[flydangler]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

ZmOz wrote "Oh come on now guys...it's not THAT dangerous. I'm smart enough to see if/when it's leaking...and of course smell it."<br /><br /> Good luck, I'm sure you'll be in somebody here's prayers.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Even if it does leak...it would be no more dangerous than standing at a gas station. Why would catch it on fire? Sure, it's possible, but it's just as likely to happen as you're filling up...

 

[sloopy]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

In a gas station if you spill gas it will quickly evaporate, and no harm will be done, if it did ignite it would burn of quickly since it is would be spread over a large area it will not ignite the cement or asphalt. On a boat the gas will saturate the carpet, it will collect in the bilge (not spread out) and the explosive fumes will rest in the bilge with the gasoline. If it ignites it will also ignite the fiberglass and it will start to burn, when fiberglass burns it releases deadly fumes.<br /><br /> Gas and its fumes are heavier then air so it will settle to the bottom, in a car this is NO BIG DEAL! since the gas fumes and gas will collect on the road and can dissipate quickly. In your boat the gasses and gas (liquid) will be in your bilge it will be below sea level and have no way of evaporating in the moist environment. When it ignites in your bilge it will not be a quick flash fire like that at a gas station spill, instead it will continue to burn like lantern.<br /> <br /> If you go to your drive way and throw a cup of gasoline, and ignite it you will have a quick FLASh, if you take a tin can and pour gas into it then ignite it, it will burn until all the gas is burned off.

 

[JB]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

ZmOz.<br /><br />It seems that you didn't want advice at all. You seem to have wanted someone to say, "Yeah, that's okay." <br /><br />You asked and got a bunch of answers that said, "NO! Don't do that." Now you argue.<br /><br />Do what you please, but don't ask us to advise you to do something that is a bad idea, or blame us when it goes wrong. <br /><br />I hope you think this over and decide to take the advice that has been offered.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Lark40]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

ZmOZ,<br /><br />You're going to do what you want to do....Why solicit advice here? You're not accepting it.<br /><br />Nobody agrees with you. And, they don't want to be complicit in your failure.<br /><br />Either take the advice for your own safety or quit arguing.<br /><br />JB - just saw your post after posting this. Glad we agree. Hope he shows some sense.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

This really is getting ridiculous. The main question I asked is why tanks don't ever have a fitting on the side. I guess now that I think about it, it does make alot more sense on the top. I am going to do this, and it is NOT going to leak. I bet my life on it. I went out and bought a metal cap for the gas can that replaces the spout. I'm going to weld a pickup tube into that that sticks out the top for me to hook up my fuel line. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with that. It's probably safter than the plastic fittings on any tank that you would buy. And it would pass UL tests too...I guarantee it.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Didn't wanna 'play clever' at first, but I'll let you in on an experience I normally keep to myself:<br /><br />Being onboard a boat (with build-in tank, twin engines i/o and ALL in exellent, original, condition) that caught an explosion-like fire put's a mark on your sold that will last a lifetime. <br />If you survive. It took a 24' family cruiser less than 4 minutes to disappear completely. After another 3 minutes it sank and left nothing but a little dirt on the water.<br /><br />Nearly cost me my then 4 year old son.<br /><br />No one, no inspector or authority could find any trace or reason, after the remains were brought to shore.<br /><br />Your claim 'not THAT dangerous' makes it clear, that you do not know.<br /><br />Ask ANYbody involved in racing, aeroindustry, fuelhandling or just physics how fuel evaporating behaves when ignited. <br /><br />This, friend, is not to insult you. It is to save you.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Alright then...somebody please explain to me HOW what I already made last night is dangerous. I'm not saying gasoline isn't dangerous - my grandfather actually lost his left arm in an explosion at a gas station. What I am saying is that MY tank is no more dangerous than any other tank. All I did was make a gas cap for it...didn't even make any holes in the can. Somebody PLEASE tell me how that is more dangerous than anything else! PLEASE! I would really like to know...

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Ofcourse no one can point out any strenghts or weaknesses on your actual can.<br /><br />The arguments were meant to keep you from doing something that would be a hazard to you and others.<br /><br />If your can is as good as any pro and certified can, you are as safe as you'd be with any tank you buy.<br /><br />If.<br /><br />Some of the things said here could be understood as if you'd ignore all risc (beginning with 'connect fuel fittings into the bottom of the gas can') and maybe that sat off the level..

 

[DJ]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

This is precisely why we have a proliferation of lawyers and lawsuits in this country.<br /><br />Narcisistic people who think they know everything until they goof up and find some one else to blame.<br /><br />The maker of the gas can will get sued and it won't make a bit of diffrence to a jury that someone modified it.