Almost burned down my boat!

[a.klos]

While fueling at the gas station my friend began to take boat cover out and created static spark so fumes from vent ignited and created a ball of fire. Luckily, It went out on its own.

[markj]

Wow! Scary!

[Neverenough]

Dang!!! That's crazy!! I could see how it could happen.

[Fgroce]

Wow it is amazing how quick things can go wrong. Glad it went out.

[Sailfun]

You're very lucky to be able to post. Had it reached the tank you would not be here. It's likely that since you were filling there was enough pressure exiting the vent to prevent the flame path going down the vent. I never considered a cover could do that. I won't touch mine ever again while fueling!

[markj]

Static electricity is a very real issue when refueling. Especially if you're using plastic gas cans. Some marinas have policies against people bringing their own gas cans in just for that reason. Whether I'm at my marina or at a station, I always touch the boat with one hand while holding the nozzle or can in the other in case of any discharge. Then I bring the nozzle to the opening. I don't think I would have recognized the potential of your situation if I was in it, so thanks for posting this PSA.

[srock]

I heard it was a no no to fuel cans in the trunk of a car for just this reason (static from the carpet)....if not spilling fuel in the trunk was reason enough.

[Kmayotte]

I heard it was a no no to fuel cans in the trunk of a car for just this reason (static from the carpet)....if not spilling fuel in the trunk was reason enough.

Or the back of a pickup. Always put the cans on the ground.

[HVL2010]

Watched a guy at the gas station the other day filling two fuel cans in the back of an explorer. Crazy.

[72Miles]

Kinda surprised it generated a static spark. Doesn't summer humidity make that unlikely?

[wakemaker]

the problem with the plastic cans is that its in the back of the truck where there is a plastic bed liner no ground take it out of the truck and put it on the ground ,
for u Ladies up north this is what u need to do when getting out of the car in the cold make sure to touch something before u touch the filler on the pump just close the door of the car and make sure u ground your self . stay safe

[a.klos]

Definitely smith to consider next time while refueling. Indeed my cover gives me few discharges when I try to cover the boat. And that day I traveled about 60 miles so it rubbed against hull a lot before I decided to fuel and take off cover at the same time.

[seachicken27]

I will not touch my cover while fueling anymore! Thanks for the heads up!

[R0CKETMAN]

Reminds me of last week's Walmart dumbassery