posted July 21, 2004 12:31 AM               

Unfortunately for you, we've bought our way into your fraternity -- what’s that old joke about not joining a club that would have us as a member? -- but we hope to conduct ourselves satisfactorily both in this room & out on the water! We are sailing Shortstay III (my dad -- God rest his soul -- had two boats of the same name), sail #901. She's in reasonably good shape, as far as we can tell -- we will be seeing just how seaworthy during a short initial shakedown cruise tomorrow afternoon -- but she's pretty barebones & we look forward to giving her TLC and adding to her features & comforts. We have two young children -- lifelines will be one of her first improvements -- & we anticipate Shortstay will be a great addition to the family. It's our first boat, but my wife & I both grew up sailing off CT on LI Sound. We live in VT & will trailer her to LI Sound yearly, as well as to lakes in VT/NH whenever we can manage it. Hopefully we’ll do Champlain over Labor Day Weekend.

Now to my main point for this post: This is probably a stupid question, which will expose me as a complete fraud, but I'd rather look stupid and be safe! (It probably won’t be the last stupid question I ask either! Just about every time I read a post I say, "Now what the heck does that word mean?!?" We both have sailed, but it’s been a long time!)

Inside the rear locker in the cockpit she has been wired with a switch for running lights & has a storage platform/plastic holder for a deep cycle battery. There's also a small bilge pump wired up in there, though no switch (yet). Our newly procured, pre-owned outboard has an external tank & I'd like to keep the tank in the locker & run the fuel line out the... um… the… OK, what do you call either of the two little thingys that allow you to snake out the fuel line? Anyway, you know what I mean. I’ve seen pictures from some of you doing just what I hope to do.

However, am I risking blowing up my boat & myself & my family -- in increasing order of importance -- via gas fumes ignited by a potential spark from the battery, the switch, or the bilge pump? If I want to keep the fuel in there, I really oughtta move that battery & switch & make sure I ventilate the locker before running the bilge pump, right?

Try not to be too harsh in telling me how stupid the question is...

posted July 21, 2004 09:34 AM               

The storage area you talk about is vented. And I store gas in there along with my battary. You sure don't want a spark.

posted July 21, 2004 09:41 AM               

The bilge pump was a bit of a surprise/red herring when we were thinking about buying her. I am getting some water back there & I will probably post on that issue soon.

posted July 21, 2004 10:41 AM               

We store our gas in the back and the battery as well. All the switching however is in the cabin: Spark proof main battery switch is just under the cabin entrance. Also means no one can turn on the power if your cabin is locked. A nice feature if you occasionally leave your boat unattended at a public dock.

They're great little boats. Hope you enjoy Shortstay.

D'Arcy

posted July 21, 2004 12:49 PM               

You & Sid are making me feel better about the proximity of the gas & the electricals. I'm planning on moving all switching to the cabin eventually, but there's only so many hours in the day & right now getting her ready for our initial shakedown tonite is front & center.

Thanks again.

posted July 21, 2004 01:02 PM            

Here is what mine looks like inside. Day tank, the battery with charger mounted on top of battery case, 900W generator. Also have spare 4L of gas plus 1L oil.

I built a full cedar platform just above the level where the transom meets the boat bottom. I made one plank removable for inspection.
My hatch cover has been modified with a locking garage door handle and 4 latch bars on the inside. Only a minor amount of water seeps thru those fitting. One day I will reseal them. I spong it out once a month maybe.

posted July 21, 2004 01:16 PM               

I guess I have an over-active imagination about the potential explosion peril. Though with my luck…

The platform you describe seems a lot like ours.

Forgive my ignorance, but what’s a day tank?

Great idea on the hatch cover. Have you ever posted a picture of that?

We have enjoyed all the photos you’ve posted of 2short & your improvements to her. It really inspires us to add similar improvements to Shortstay. We will regret it if you don’t come into the room after you find a new home for her & you get a larger vessel.

Thanks again for the reply.

posted July 21, 2004 02:14 PM            

I'll try to take pics of the latch system tonight.I also have it on the anchour locker at the bow.

I just remembered that I think I saw a pic of a Sandpiper with a stainless steel vent in the cockpit, high on the forward side of the compartment. So thats an option if you wanted to reduce the risk.

Fred

posted July 21, 2004 05:53 PM            

The wooden blocks and duct tape were are there to prevent damage to the gel coat on the cockpit seats when the hatch is set there. I think I'll make something a little neater.

Fred

posted July 22, 2004 09:04 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by whited:
That's pretty elabotate Fred. I have the bungie cord type of security for my covers.

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I also just have single bungies holding my covers in place. Works fine, no extra hardware on the deck.

Sid

posted July 22, 2004 10:27 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Shortstay:
Yes, it's an elaborate system, but correct me if I’m wrong, Fred: your hatch latches are not just about keeping the hatches from blowing off, but also are lockable to secure against theft & other chicanery.

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You are correct. I lock them as I keep the boat at a marina and occassionaly at public docks.
Notice that the anchor hatch has the all important bungee.

Fred

posted July 22, 2004 11:33 AM               

Locking stuff up keeps honest people honest. I found most people that are into boating, respect other people's belongings.

With that said, I hope when I get back to Denver tomorrow, all my stuff is still in my boat. And if its not, I'll find away to lock everyhing up. And you can say I told you so.

posted July 22, 2004 11:51 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Hyprstitch:

Locking stuff up keeps honest people honest.

Sid

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What a great turn of phrase, and -- unfortuately -- so true. Crooks & thieves have a way of getting around just about anything!

posted July 22, 2004 07:24 PM               

Eric, Sandpiper #144

posted July 23, 2004 11:01 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by elmet3:
I am worried more about explosion than fire.

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Me too! Especially if I blew up my family. If it was just me, no biggie...

Thanks for the contrary opinion, elmet. Intuitively, I agree with you & I more than half expected people to jump all over me saying I was an idiot to store gas near a potential spark source, hence the title of the post.

You also shed a new light on it for me: I have one of those Rule self-sensing bilge pumps, so I would be a candidate for an unintentional electrical ignition incident were I to keep it hooked up all the time. Right now, I too need to open the hatch & connect the terminals, so I guess as long as I don't keep the bilge pump connected all the time I'd be OK... As long as I don't have a stuffy nose!

Ultimately, I think I want to move everything out of the lazarette because I'd like to keep the engine there when it's not mounted & the way it's configured now, I can't get it in there very elegantly. You suggest, "Battery will stay in lazarette for now." I assume you keep a fuel tank there & you feel that as long as there's no switch, just the battery, you're safe? Also, do I infer you'll likely move the battery at some future point? Do you have a place in mind?

Thanks again for the input.