How To Refuel Your Boat

If you’ve never owned a boat, you may think refueling it is as easy as filling a car tank. Refueling boats is a little more complicated than simply pulling up to a gas dock. Even seasoned boaters sometimes end up making costly mistakes, like mistaking the water or waste valve for the gas tank.

With the rising costs of boat fuel, we at Kelly’s Port want to make sure that our patrons know the proper way to refuel their boats. For more information or to refuel right on the lake, come to our gas dock at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. To see our collection of pre-owned or new boats, head to our location in Osage Beach!

Safety First

Boats have many cracks and crevices where spilled gas and vapors can collect, which may lead to an explosion, so you have to be extra careful when refueling. When you reach the fuel dock, ask the passengers to disembark and turn off all electric equipment. Check the hose lines, engine fitting and strainers for any cracks or wear and tear. Salt water is corrosive and can damage your boat’s components. When refueling, keep all the doors, windows and hatches shut so the gas fumes can’t get in. Do not smoke!

Fuel Type

When you get to the boat gas station, the first thing you’ll be asked is: gas or diesel? People are often so used to fueling their other vehicles that many of them end up filling the wrong sort of fuel in their tanks according to several marina managers. Ensure you don’t end up saying ‘gas up’ if you want diesel fuel and vice versa. When an attendant at the gas dock passes you the nozzle, check to see you’re getting the fuel you need. This simple step can save you needless heartache and expenditure.

Tank Size

Boat tanks are usually irregular in shape, which make fuel gauges less accurate. Not only that, your fuel gauge is one of the first things that breaks down so it’s best not to rely on it and know how large your tank is. Tanks make a distinct sound when they’re close to full, so listening for that will be helpful when you’re refueling at a gas dock. This will prevent spills and you won’t have to spend time helping deckhands clean up the mess. If you’re unsure about tank size or the boat gas station is noisy, simply don’t top off. 

Handling Spills

Hopefully, you’ll manage to avoid spilling any fuel at the gas dock. If it does happen, use a fuel-absorbent pad and clean up as much of the spill as possible. If you’ve heard the rumor that dish soap gets rid of spilled fuel, put it out of your head. The only thing dish soap does it make the spill so dense that it sinks to the bottom and sits for decades, causing harm to the ecology. If you’ve spilled fuel, simply help the fuel dock deckhands clean up as much as you can and then let the sun evaporate the rest. 

Before Leaving

So you’ve filled up your boat tank and are ready to head back on the open water. Not so fast! First, ensure that your boat is free of all vapors and fumes. Turn on the boat blower for five minutes and open all the doors, windows and hatches to air the boat. Lift the engine hatch and check if you smell any fumes. If you do, find out where they’re coming from and fix it. Ensure there’s no fuel in the bilge. Now your passengers can climb back on board and you can pull out of the boat gas station, carefully avoiding other boats nearby. 

We hope these tips help you become a better boater. To conveniently fill your fuel tank on Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, come to Kelly’s Port gas dock. If you’d like to get yourself a great boat, head to our dealership in Osage Beach and take a tour of our inventory. We proudly serve the good people of Lake of the Ozarks and St. Louis!