Helena Frye
Boat fuel tank vents are an important safety feature that prevents a vacuum block, which would stop fuel from being pumped from the tank to the motor. They also stop fuel from spilling out of the tank when it is being filled, and prevent fuel evaporation during storage. Boat fuel tank vents come in a variety of designs, including Perko's through-hull vent, which has an integral splash guard, and Attwood's 90-degree P-trap fuel tank vent, which features a baffle chamber that traps any errant water and ushers it back out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To prevent a vacuum block which would prevent fuel from being pumped from the tank to the motor |
| When to open | When operating the motor |
| When to close | During storage, to prevent evaporation and loss of fuel and to prevent dangerous fumes from escaping |
| Safety precautions | Open off the boat on a level surface with good air circulation in the area and no ignition source present |
| No-spill valve | Keeps fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank |
| Vent hose installation | Avoid sags or traps which allow fuel to puddle and prevent the system from functioning properly |
| Design features | Integral splash guard, baffle chamber that traps water and ushers it back out, low-profile design |
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What You'll Learn
- The vent on your gas tank prevents a vacuum block, allowing fuel to be pumped to the motor
- Opening the vent allows fuel vapours to escape and equalises pressure
- A no-spill valve (fuel-surge protector) prevents fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank
- When installing a vent hose, avoid sags or 'traps' that allow fuel to puddle?
- Perko's through-hull vent includes an integral splash guard
The vent on your gas tank prevents a vacuum block, allowing fuel to be pumped to the motor
The vent must be open when the motor is operating, but closed during storage to prevent evaporation and loss of fuel, as well as to stop dangerous fumes from escaping. Gasoline vapours are heavier than air and can collect in a closed locker, causing an explosion if there is an ignition source. Therefore, when opening the vent, it is important to be off the boat, on a level surface with good air circulation and no ignition sources present.
There are various types of vents available, such as Perko's through-hull vent, which includes an integral splash guard, or Attwood's 90-degree P-trap fuel tank vent, which features a baffle chamber that traps any errant water and ushers it back out. When installing a vent hose, it is important to avoid sags, or 'traps', which allow fuel to puddle and prevent the marine fuel tank vent system from functioning properly. A typical vent line will run sideways across the top of the tank until it reaches the hull side and then angle upward to the vent fitting.
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Opening the vent allows fuel vapours to escape and equalises pressure
Opening the vent on a boat's fuel tank allows fuel vapours to escape and equalises pressure. This is necessary to prevent a vacuum block, which would stop fuel from being pumped from the tank to the motor. When the tank is expanded, opening the vent will allow fuel vapours to escape. If the tank is sucked in, opening the vent will allow air into the tank to equalise the pressure.
For safety reasons, opening the vent should be done off the boat on a level surface with good air circulation in the area and no ignition source present. This includes cell phones. Some boats will have explosion-proof exhaust fans to vent the area before starting the engines, while others will have proper ventilation built into the locker design. If in doubt, take the tank off the boat to open the vent and make sure there are no fuel fumes on the boat before starting the motor.
During storage, the vent must be kept closed to prevent evaporation and loss of fuel, as well as to prevent dangerous fumes from escaping, which could cause an explosion. This is especially true if the tank is stored in a locker or holding box. Gasoline vapours are heavier than air and can collect in a closed locker. When the right mixture of gas and air are present, any source of ignition can cause an explosion.
A no-spill valve (aka fuel-surge protector) keeps fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank. Not only is this environmentally friendly, but it also prevents the hull from being stained by spilled gasoline or diesel. When installing a vent hose, avoid sags (aka traps) anywhere in the vent line. These allow fuel to puddle, preventing the marine fuel tank vent system from functioning properly. A typical vent line will run sideways across the top of the tank until it reaches the hull side and then angle upward to the vent fitting.
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A no-spill valve (fuel-surge protector) prevents fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank
A boat's fuel tank vent is necessary to prevent a vacuum block, which would stop fuel from being pumped from the tank to the motor. The vent must be open when the motor is operating, but closed during storage to prevent evaporation and the loss of fuel, as well as to stop dangerous fumes from escaping.
A no-spill valve (also known as a fuel-surge protector) prevents fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank. This is not only environmentally friendly, but it also stops the hull from being stained by spilled fuel. There are several brands that offer in-line, no-spill valves, including Attwood, Racor, and Green Marine. Green Marine's valve whistles as you're fuelling but goes silent to indicate the tank is nearly full.
There are several other types of vents available, including Perko's through-hull vent, which includes an integral splash guard, and Attwood's 90-degree P-trap fuel tank vent, which features a baffle chamber that traps any errant water and ushers it back out. This vent also mounts flush against the hull, keeping it from becoming damaged by docks or pilings.
It is important to remember that, for safety reasons, opening the vent should be done off the boat on a level surface with good air circulation in the area and no ignition source present.
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When installing a vent hose, avoid sags or 'traps' that allow fuel to puddle
When installing a vent hose, avoid sags or traps that allow fuel to puddle. This is because sags and traps can prevent the marine fuel tank vent system from functioning properly. A typical vent line will run sideways across the top of the tank until it reaches the hull side and then angle upward to the vent fitting.
There are a number of different types of vents available. For example, Perko’s through-hull vent includes an integral splash guard, while Attwood’s 90-degree P-trap fuel tank vent features a baffle chamber that traps any errant water and ushers it back out.
The vent on your gas tank is necessary to prevent a vacuum block, which would prevent fuel from being pumped from the tank to your motor. It needs to be open when operating your motor. During storage, the vent must be kept closed to prevent evaporation and loss of your fuel, as well as to prevent dangerous fumes from escaping, which could cause an explosion.
A no-spill valve (aka fuel-surge protector) keeps fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank. Not only is this environmentally friendly, but it also prevents the hull from being stained by spilled gasoline or diesel.
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Perko's through-hull vent includes an integral splash guard
A boat's fuel tank vent is necessary to prevent a vacuum block, which would stop fuel from being pumped from the tank to the motor. The vent must be open when the motor is operating and closed during storage to prevent evaporation and the loss of fuel, as well as to stop dangerous fumes from escaping.
More sophisticated designs include Perko's through-hull vent, which includes an integral splash guard. This vent mounts flush against the hull, and its low-profile design keeps it from becoming damaged by docks or pilings. Perko's through-hull vent also features a no-spill valve, which keeps fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank. This is not only environmentally friendly but also prevents the hull from being stained by spilled fuel.
Attwood's 90-degree P-trap fuel tank vent features a baffle chamber that traps any errant water and ushers it back out. This vent also mounts flush against the hull and has a low-profile design.
When installing a vent hose, avoid sags or traps anywhere in the vent line, as these allow fuel to puddle, preventing the marine fuel tank vent system from functioning properly. A typical vent line will run sideways across the top of the tank until it reaches the hull side and then angle upward to the vent fitting.
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Frequently asked questions
A boat fuel tank vent is necessary to prevent a vacuum block, which would stop fuel from being pumped from the tank to the motor. The vent must be open when the motor is operating and closed during storage to prevent evaporation and the loss of fuel, as well as to stop dangerous fumes from escaping.
A no-spill valve, also known as a fuel-surge protector, keeps fuel from spewing out of the vent when you fill the tank. This is environmentally friendly and prevents the hull from being stained by spilled fuel.
A Perko through-hull vent is a more sophisticated design of boat fuel tank vent, which includes an integral splash guard.
