Hey Jolabeach, good questions as petrol can be so dangerous.
I tie down my fuel tank to the side. Even if the water seems calm when I am about to set out, I still throw some loops of rope about the tank (or both if using both) to make sure they can't go anywhere.
- fuel tank 2.jpg (537.47 KiB) Viewed 3776 times
When I bought Windchaser, she carried her fuel tank in the cockpit locker. The previous owner may have even used the tank from there. The locker also carried drums of spare fuel. The problem for me was I was very nervous about fuel in the locker. The locker also had the battery in it and the solar panel regulator. When I lowered the outboard into the well, I had to connect up the electric start cables inside the locker. Putting cables on and off a battery can cause sparks and maybe also the regulator might.
So, I was not happy with the possibility of sparks being created in a locker which carried so much fuel. The battery is now under the cockpit floor in the cabin with the solar regulator. I still carry fuel in the locker. Sometimes I carry fuel inside the cabin.
I ALWAYS use my nose to carefully check if any fumes in the cockpit locker. If any fumes at all, I find the reason and let the locker air out. The only time I have smelt some fumes is when I have forgotten to tighten the little breather caps or something. If I smell any fuel in the cabin, I check it out immediately. The containers I use are good ones and I don't smell fumes from them unless not done up properly. I personally don't think fumes will collect since the containers should not be leaking and if they do you should smell it pretty quick. Different matter if you have a built-in tank with tubing as a little leak somewhere may drip fuel which ends up in the bilge.
So far, I have not had any problems.
troppo.