Dave Gerr - Boat Mechanical Systems Handbook-How to Design, Install, and Recognize Proper Systems in Boats

Part Two

FUEL

SYSTEMS

CHAPTER 4

Considering the potential dangers, it’s odd

that there are so few specific legal require-

ments governing boat fuel systems. This is

serious business, and I’ll start off with a bang.

Figure 4-1 shows a 45-foot (13.7 m) express

cruiser that burned and sank in minutes as a

result of a fuel fire. This, by the way, was a

diesel boat. Some folks act as if diesel were

fireproof; it is anything but. In fact, diesel fuel

contains more energy per unit volume or per

unit weight than gasoline. Gasoline is much

easier to ignite and can explode in the right (or

wrong) conditions; however, once diesel starts

burning, it’s truly terrifying. Diesel or gas, we’ll

take a detailed look at the requirements for

safe, reliable, and efficient fuel systems.

The only U.S. laws applying to yacht fuel

systems are those dealing with gas-engine ves-

sels under the Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR). I’ll call this the “CFR Yacht” from now

on. To find U.S. legal requirements for diesel

fuel systems, you have to look at passenger-

vessel regulations under the CFR for T-, K-, and

H-boats. T-boats (vessels under 100 gross tons

and carrying fewer than 150 passengers) are

the closest to recreational vessels, so I use the

T-boat regulations as a guide for recreational

fuel systems. This I’ll refer to as “CFR Com-

mercial.” Though mandatory for passenger

vessels, these rules are completely optional for

pleasure craft.

The fundamental rulebook is the American

Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) standards on

fuel systems: H-24 (for gasoline) and H-33 (for

diesel). Though ABYC’s standards are guide-

lines only, if you’re building or repairing boats

and don’t comply fully with CFR Yacht and as

completely as practical with ABYC H-24 or

H-33, you’re leaving yourself open to serious

problems, including potential legal action.

Other standards for boat fuel systems are

The National Fire Protection Agency

(NFPA), NFPA 302, Fire Protection

Standard for Pleasure and Commer-

cial Motor Craft

Equivalent to the ABYC standards for

European Union countries are the ISO stan-

dards for fuel systems:

Fuel Piping and Fuel

System Bonding

Figure 4-1. A fuel
fire caused this
boat to sink in
minutes