Back to the painted vs. covered fuel tank....

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
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In my continuing saga of GAS ( gear acquisition syndrome) I returned to the paint vs. covered fuel tank discussion. I located a cover for my fuel tank that I most likely will procure here in the near future. Thought you might be interested.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mossy-Oak-Marine-Camouflage-Boat-Fuel-Tank-Cover/128967380?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3371&adid=22222222222109414126&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=74354538884957&wl4=pla-4577954106952262&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&%20wl10=Walmart&wl12=128967380_10000003295&wl14=camo%20boat%20cover&veh=sem&msclkid=cb52501995121bce729e0b9f3dd94a8e
 
Ed--

Before I wade in, I recall this was contentious, with firm "paint it" and "painting it is a travesty" camps that got firmer as time went on. I can't remember which side I picked, but I know I picked one. Can you remind me before I get accused of hypocrisy? LOL!

In the meantime, that cover looks perfect.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Ed--

Before I wade in, I recall this was contentious, with firm "paint it" and "painting it is a travesty" camps that got firmer as time went on. I can't remember which side I picked, but I know I picked one. Can you remind me before I get accused of hypocrisy? LOL!

In the meantime, that cover looks perfect.
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LMAO...Jeff, if I remember right you were on the "Paint It" side. With that said I believe you were going to leave the bottom red. I'm bored today. Just stirring the pot and I think Huntin Dave is out of country still!
 
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The best option.... Which could fall into either/both camps.... Is built in below deck... And by the way neither of my tanks are red .. they are white...ish...
 
Phil Nowack said:
The best option.... Which could fall into either/both camps.... Is built in below deck... And by the way neither of my tanks are red .. they are white...ish...
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Just make sure its vented and you have an extinguisher.

Or just find an old burlap feed sack to throw over it.

In reality, if the ducks can see my fuel tank and I'm not shooting, I'm either asleep or should be paying more attention.
 
Phil Nowack said:
And by the way neither of my tanks are red .. they are white...ish...
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I thought I read in the regs that only portable fuel tanks are red in color. The ones you use are intended to be mounted in place and not portable correct?
 
Ed~


Funny you should reprise this topic today....


I have just been sprucing up my own Sneakbox - which I re-built in 2016. Both weather and a rascally mouse had taken their toll in the ensuing 2 years. Today I re-painted the little floorboard upon which my 3-gallon tank sits in its very own enclave beneath the stern deck.


The original post was the first time I ever thought twice about painting or not painting a gas tank. It had never occurred to me that the standard red color could be very meaningful to others - such as firemen.


So, although I had painted my earlier steel tanks with duckboat paint - and had recently sprayed such paint on a customer's weathered plastic tank - I am now "aware" (woke?) of a very good reason not to.


In fact, my tanks have always been sequestered below decks or beneath seats (even on my sailboats and clam boat) - but with lots of airflow and an extinguisher on board - but not right next to the tank or motor.


View attachment sm Portrait 2.JPG



Thanks for re-broadcasting this Public Service Announcement.


All the best,


SJS









 
Carl said:
Phil Nowack said:
The best option.... Which could fall into either/both camps.... Is built in below deck... And by the way neither of my tanks are red .. they are white...ish...
Click to expand...

Just make sure its vented and you have an extinguisher.

Or just find an old burlap feed sack to throw over it.

In reality, if the ducks can see my fuel tank and I'm not shooting, I'm either asleep or should be paying more attention.
Click to expand...

I really wanted to add to this discussion but Carl made a strong and perfect point! Hard to add anything that would make any more sense.
 
I painted mine when to boat got painted. Always was a user of good ole burlap bags. My motor is covered with burlap [new to me 15, couldn't paint it]. If it is blowing, I drop it in the water. When I grew up we would stop on the highway for a loose burlap bag.
We used bags for everything, clamming, fishing, scallops, produce and even potatoes. They are even soft to sit on. Now they are collecting them.
 
Buying one of these this year. Lost mine last year (well, I know where it is exactly but it is underwater). Use the code 10OFF and it knocks 10% off the price. Why paint it when it is so easy to cover it? I had burlap bags and stuff before but it was always something else I had to remember and something else I had to do in the morning waiting for the ducks to come in. Use a cover, put it on once, and forget about it.

http://www.stadiumallstar.com/product_p/Donovan-1-34055.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8OSPx4CV3QIVBJNpCh1IFgA2EAQYASABEgJihfD_BwE

Mark
 
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Mark,

Same one as I had posted. Yours is less expensive. Glad I waited and saw your post. Just ordered and used the 10off code as you suggested. Thanks.
 
Ed L. said:
Mark,

Same one as I had posted. Yours is less expensive. Glad I waited and saw your post. Just ordered and used the 10off code as you suggested. Thanks.
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This thread has stayed way too friendly, so let me just point out that covering the gas tank with fabric will be just as effective as painting it at obscuring the red color and preventing fire and emergency personnel from knowing what's in that tank. You people are all risking your owne lives, which is fine, but also those of our selfless first-responders, and . . . . . .

[:)]
 
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.[/quote]

This thread has stayed way too friendly, so let me just point out that covering the gas tank with fabric will be just as effective as painting it at obscuring the red color and preventing fire and emergency personnel from knowing what's in that tank. You people are all risking your owne lives, which is fine, but also those of our selfless first-responders, and . . . . . .

[smile][/quote]

Good god all mighty! Okay, okay. How about this. My fire extinguisher is red. I won't paint it or cover it so that it is visible to any individual that cares to put the fire out in the event my boat is in flames and I'm not with it.
 
Warden told me last year that open gas tanks don't require a fire extinguisher ... But, he said the idea is that if you have a fire you can unhook the tank and throw it overboard to save the boat and passengers. He asked - you going to do that? I said - nope, that's why I bring my son ... LoL.

I need to get an extinguisher for this year.
 
I personally prefer a cover, either a burlap bag, (which can get ugly when wet), or a decoy bag. I am always worried about adequate ventilation. On my big rig, they're, (I use two three gallon tanks. Easier to handle and keep tabs on as far as filling), pretty much out in the open, on my sneakbox, it's tucked up under the bow. I try to maintain adequate air flow for that one.

I actually read somewhere a while back that it is illegal to paint the tank because of the reasons of responder safety, but I cannot verify that for sure. My tanks are all made out of that slippery plastic that I think would be difficult to get paint to adhere to, plus the occasional spilled gasoline would be hard on it over time.

Just my thoughts...

Jon
 
Good morning, Jon~


re painting plastic tanks - assuming one wants to paint a sunbleached pink one bright red once again....


The new sprays - like Krylon and Rustoleum - that have "Fusion" technology or otherwise will bond to plastic - seem to work well. I scuff sand with 120 or 150-grit then wipe with acetone before spraying.


All the best,


SJS

 
I will risk being not too friendly by saying that any first responder who looks at a "tank regardless of color connected by hose to a liquid fuel burning engine and not discern that said "tank" COULD contain a flammable liquid should either resign,be retrained or run for political office.

Lighten up America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If my tank is being used during hunting season it gets a cover. Fishing season it comes off.

I kind of laugh at this post and fire extinguishers. When I was wiki g in a lab where we used flammable liquids we were required to take fire training. If we worked. In areas where we would be working with more than 100 gallons, we had to take advanced fire training. One of the tests we had to pass was to go into a smoke filled training building, find the source or the smoke, put it out and then leave the building. I can tell you if the lab building I was working in was burning, I?m not putting out any fire. I?m running - fast.

If my boat is burning, I?m leaving it as well. That gas tank could explode and. I boat is worth my life. As far as professionals. It knowing what is in that tank, if it is in a 14? duck boat powered by a motor, it contains something that could explode. I hope they get training to k ow this.

Mark
 
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