Fueling up the boat-gas caddy?

[Hunter 2]

Does anyone use a gas caddy or gas kart? Buying fuel at the gas station is cheaper. Any pros or cons regarding these fuel carriers? Do marinas frown upon them?
  Ive seen carts  that hold 14 or 15 gallons and some hold 28 gallons of fuel..

[mboy]

Good luck finding a marina that will let you do that.
That is a BIG (VERY BIG) No-No.

[Hunter 2]

Okay thanks Mike

[IrishAyes]

True, MOST marinas will toss you out on your ear if they see you doing that.  Some marina owners will look the other way.

Not only does the marina owner get POed, but your boating neighbors do to.  Most feel it is an unsafe practice.  I don't agree with them, but that's a whole new subject.

My opinion, the gas caddy costs some where near $300+.  That's a lot of fuel to be putting in to break even on what you would save by not getting fuel at the gas dock.  Add in your time involved. 
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Todd_Gas_Caddy_Portable_Fueling_Station_28_Gallon&r=view&i=31249&aID=
If you get the 29 gallon fuel caddy (largest I have seen for sale) how are you getting that onto the dock and to the boat?  Twenty nine gallons at approximately seven pounds a gallon is more than I would want to lift on and off a pick up truck bed and then get down the dock to the boat.

[mboy]

Better off pulling the boat by trailer to the gas station, fill her up, then sliding her back in the water and tying up to slip.

I know Luna Sea does it and if I had a trailer, I would like to do it on occasion as well. Run the tank down, spend the 10mn pulling her, hop over to gas station (which is WAAAY cheaper then marina, especially considering they sell 92 octane and I only need 87). Good .75-.85 per gallon difference

I have to find out what Peterson's in Keyport Octane is and what they charge.

[Hunter 2]

I agree, It is a potential hazard in the wrong hands. And accidents are accidents.. My dad fuels up himself but he lives on a canal..                                               And it could be an insurance issue to the marina owners too. Just thought I would ask. I guess I will be doing more fueling when I decide to trailer the boat to further locations.   I have a few trips planned already.

[Capt. Mike]

I do use the gas caddy from time to time.
My marina does not sell gas so the dock master is OK with it. I hold about 200+ gallons, so there is a savings for me.

Good luck!

[IrishAyes]

It works well Capt Mike IF you can get your truck up to the boat, as is the case with yours.  If you are out several boats on a dock and do not have access to the bulkhead it could be a disaster getting the caddy down to the boat.

Pulling your boat and trailering to a gas station is a great answer, for those who can trailer.  The ten or twenty dollars for the ramp would be a drop in the bucket if you have a large tank to fill.  You could save a bundle that way. 

Heck, if you trailered to get fuel, you could also clean the bottom and do any maintanance while the boat is out.  Another plus.

[Capt. Mike]

Grounding is very important!!! Could mean your life! I do fuel from the van, but I douse the grounding strap when filling the caddy and when emptying as well.

[Capt. Mike]

It works well Capt Mike IF you can get your truck up to the boat, as is the case with yours.  If you are out several boats on a dock and do not have access to the bulkhead it could be a disaster getting the caddy down to the boat.

Pulling your boat and trailering to a gas station is a great answer, for those who can trailer.  The ten or twenty dollars for the ramp would be a drop in the bucket if you have a large tank to fill.  You could save a bundle that way. 

Heck, if you trailered to get fuel, you could also clean the bottom and do any maintenance while the boat is out.  Another plus.

I agree!!!

If you can not position your boat and vehicle without rolling around the caddy, I would not do it. TOO MUCH RISK!!!

[Luna Sea 5]

think about this also.. It will cost you, for a good one, about $300.00..... to save $.50 a gallon.. is it worth it..

[Pops Soul]

Good luck finding a marina that will let you do that.
That is a BIG (VERY BIG) No-No.

Alot of it has to do with insurance and EPA

[mboy]

And the fact that they sell gas and want you to buy it from them, but more then anything is the liability factor.

[IrishAyes]

They want you to believe it's the liability factor, but it's all about the Benjamins.

If it was liability, they wouldn't allow half the boaters to run their boats out of the slip, they would make them use oars until they cleared the marina.   

[ped579]

Even then they would probably make you rent the oars from them...

[bassnblues]

I did it a lot last year. Got 2 10 gallon gas can  and poured 'em in.

As for liability, there's no rules against using gas cans if you trailer and offsore boats carry extra gass all the time. If it's a certified red gas container, what's the problem.

Couldn't care less if the marina has a problem with it. I'm paying them over 2K a year so the way I see it, I'm the customer and if I'm not breaking any laws they can KMA...

[mboy]

Most do have it written in their contract that says you can't pour at the  dock. Nothing from stopping you from bringing your cans, then going out a bit and pouring there. Most marinas will give you sh!t for it if you do it at the dock.

[IrishAyes]

Mike is absolutely right.  Most do ban it and some will kick you out of the marina if you don't comply.  It is written into some contracts.  I see the time where it will be in all contracts, especially the marina where they have a gas dock.

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[TurboDan]

Wow, I've never heard of it.  Guess my marina is pretty laid back, because everyone uses cans and caddies. It doesn't have a gas dock though, so maybe that's a part of it.  I've bought gas on the water once in the past 8 years.