Kinda ticked off

[Tim Powell]

while fueling two very nice coast guard men were watching. I began to put fuel in the boat from the overflow came maybee two table spoons of fuel ( unexpected ) I Had a rag around the fuel nozel so any back flush would be cought or soaked up befor going in the water. The small amount that came out of the overflow ran down the side of the boat and into the watter. There could not have been more than 2 table spoons total. Because it created a slick or as they said a sheen. The sheen was about 0ne foot wide by about 2 feet long absolutely no bigger. So they issued me a citation. The coast guard boys say i will receive a warning and my name added to the black list. The second offense will be a possible 40,000$ fine. wonder how you get your name off the list???
After i got the ticket he ask me to sign another statement. Stating i was personally responsible and i did not clean it up. The slick was gone by now. However I signed the statement but put a note on it as to the size and where it came from. There were a set of trip 250 hp outboards running just on the other side of the fuel dock their slick was bigger than mine. I poined this out and ask him to sign a statement to that effect he would not but three witnesses did. The Southport king mackral tournament was going on some 400 plus boats entered, Some with four 300 +hp outboards of course all were not two stroke. The four strokes are a little cleaner. Anyway after my sunenlaw ask for the two coast guard names and rank and where they were stationed did the coolness stop. Introducing himself as who he was and was a maritime lawyer. Which is a lie. They made me call a 1800 number and report the so called spill. I was inforned if it was less than a gallon it would be a warning ticket and my name added to a list and if it happened again in us watters i would be fined, I can understand a large spill or mismanagenent of a fuel nozel. But a small amount from overflow kinda tuff. O by the way this deal went on for a good hour at the dock...So watch your fuel fills.
Tim

 

[bigbill]

that's our govt. hard at work. it's a shame they were not out looking for real criminals.

 

[captddis]

The CG ceased being our friends in the 80's. Now they are revenue agents with unlimited powers.
There are often commecial spills in Tampa Bay. The CG always says that it was a small spill of less than 100 gallons and will dissipate. Let a boater dribble and they get fined.

 

[dottieshusband]

Before long, what happens at airport security, will be the norm of everyday life. When the regulation was implemented that a "spill sufficient to cause a Sheen on the water" was allowed to stand, a little freedom went out the window with the common sense. We have become a Nation of "Agency Law", with no political recourse...

 

[Ggranger]

Keep some 'Dawn' dish washing liquid handy. Make a 50% solution in a spray bottle and spray it onto the spill (don't shake the bottle!). Just be discreet, and tuck the bottle next to the filler cap. If you have any overflow, spray the water where it went in with the Dawn. The fuel will immediately break up and sink. This is the same stuff they used in the Gulf oil spill and is widely used to rescue oil- slicked birds.

 

[Boatsb]

I roll up a bilge diaper and tape it to the hull under the vent to catch any spill or spatter. Never left a film on the water. Just have to lean over a bit and put it in place.

 

[Tim Powell]

Keep some 'Dawn' dish washing liquid handy. Make a 50% solution in a spray bottle and spray it onto the spill (don't shake the bottle!). Just be discreet, and tuck the bottle next to the filler cap. If you have any overflow, spray the water where it went in with the Dawn. The fuel will immediately break up and sink. This is the same stuff they used in the Gulf oil spill and is widely used to rescue oil- slicked birds.

that is big no no a whole diffrent set of problems come up if you get cought. I told them i woukd do that very quickly and both of them said no at the same time. I did not ask questions it was done by then

 

[rsmith]

The joy soap is what everybody's done for years. There was talk that they would nail you worse for doing it since supposedly it took the oil to the bottom and killed sea grass and bottom stuff. The real skinny is they feel that your covering up a crime. They need to take pics of the slick to prosecute you. No slick or sheen? It's your word against theirs. Keep the joy in an unmarked container and who's to say what's in the bottle. Sucks to have to think like this but like Dave said they are not our friends.

 

[eze2bme]

Mean Green spray will also cause it to break up very quickly - same thing we use on our engine to get grease/oil off.

 

[rwappleton]

I am considering re routing over flow hose as ours gives no warning at all.....it just spits! I am not sure what to do yet but I do agree that the USCG is using things like this as a revenue source.

I do not want to pollute our waters either but when our boat was built things were different then.

I do like Scott's idea with the diaper but we kinda have to hang off the swim platform to reach

 

[Avenger]

Let's also not forget the Japanese fishing boat that drifted to Alaska after the Tsunami. The Coast Guard sank it with gunfire. When asked about the possible 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard they said it would "dissipate naturally." But Tim spills a few drops and he's freakin' Dillinger. What's wrong with this picture?

Whenever they write these laws it's all best of intentions with no common sense. Some laws were written as "any measureable amount" which may have been okay when we could only measure parts per million, but now we can measure parts per billion so now there's loads more "contaminated" sites that need to be cleaned up. Somebody's making out quite well I'm sure.

 

[sgharford]

Not to change subject, but one of reasons I love my Tank Tender. My 43 DC had no fuel gauges - ever, you had to dip them with a long piece of plastic. With Tank Tender, I know within 5 gallons how much I need and I always stop 10 gallons away from the full mark for this reason. Every law enforcement / fire department / govt agency in my county seems to have a boat on the water (I think you get that gig 5 years prior to retirement), and it's just not worth ruining a boating day with these guys mucking about. Sorry to hear the dilemma, but not surprised.

 

[capttonyf]

Not to change subject, but one of reasons I love my Tank Tender. My 43 DC had no fuel gauges - ever, you had to dip them with a long piece of plastic. With Tank Tender, I know within 5 gallons how much I need and I always stop 10 gallons away from the full mark for this reason. Every law enforcement / fire department / govt agency in my county seems to have a boat on the water (I think you get that gig 5 years prior to retirement), and it's just not worth ruining a boating day with these guys mucking about. Sorry to hear the dilemma, but not surprised.

Problem is, I've been on some of these boats where air builds up and they're not even half full and it burps out fuel. There's no real answer other than to hold a diaper under every "orifice" the boat has. Also like mentioned earlier in the thread,,, how about, stop worring about harrassing hard working people who spend money in our economy and start going after the real criminals. They want to fine us $40,000 for an innocent mistake/accident while they allow and turn a blind eye to Illegal Aliens flooding our country. Actually my mistake, we don't turn a blind eye to them, we give them money, healthcare, housing, transportation in Commercial Aircraft with No I.D.and food. Lets not forget a precious few just got to go for a ride in the Presidential Limo last week.

Sure fine us for an accident and reward them for breaking a Federal Law.

Our regulations have gotton so out of hand in this country that they can make the kindest of people accidental criminals. You almost have to have a law degree to buy milk at the corner store, just to make sure you didn't break a law or ordinence in the process.


Tony

 

[drburke]

Sorry for your experience, Tim.

I think the window is about 12 months after the event to avoid being classified as a repeat offender.

Two things:

-Follow the advice about taping something below the vent to catch spills, it matters to them that you are trying.

-You have to be viewed as being proactive, so if it does happen take some steps to help like laying a few boat diapers on the sheen ASAP. Soap is a no-no because it is hiding evidence, but perhaps if a couple of those diapers had a few drops on one side already...

-You must notify authorities. If it happens AND you are approached by the USCG, it might be a good idea to have the other reporting agency on speed-dial (NRC), so you can hit the button as they approach and say you are already have a call in.

Keep you nose clean for at least a year--bigger fines come with repeated offenses.

DAN

 

[Fanfare]

What all of you need is the Parker Fuel/Air Separator. www.parker.com This was originally made by Racor before Parker bought them. You will need one per fuel tank vent. I have had two of the LG100 model for many years. Fanfare used to have a terrible problem with diesel fuel foaming up and coming out her fuel vents, putting maybe a pint of diesel in the water. And that was before the tanks got full! Now, as long as I don't completely overflow the tank at the top fill there is rarely a drop lost. Because the Separator incorporates a check valve I can confidently fill my tanks until I can actually see the fuel when looking down into the fill. This is several feet above the level of my tank vents.

I think this has been one of the most useful things I have ever added to my boat. Highly recommended!

 

[drburke]

Good idea; thanks for the suggestion Jim.

DAN

 

[Canuck Dennis]

I try to the fill pipe nozzle "whistle" rubber adapter fits on the fill hoze nozzle, stops whistling when the tank is out of air. never failed me yet.

 

[Cricket]

Fanfare is correct about the Racor/Parker LG1000 fuel separator. Most of the time when filling any of our 3 tanks there would be a very tiny dribble of fuel running down the hull side from the vent, especially the forward tank. First we replaced all of the vent lines but nothing changed, never have had a problem since putting in the LG1000’s. Has the government ever noticed the oil slick produced from chumming and or chunking while fishing, uh oh????

 

[TROUBLE]

Sorry to say, I never have that issue. Never have enough money to actually fill her all the way up LOL

ART

 

[Tim Powell]

Sorry for your experience, Tim.

I think the window is about 12 months after the event to avoid being classified as a repeat offender.

Two things:

-Follow the advice about taping something below the vent to catch spills, it matters to them that you are trying.

-You have to be viewed as being proactive, so if it does happen take some steps to help like laying a few boat diapers on the sheen ASAP. Soap is a no-no because it is hiding evidence, but perhaps if a couple of those diapers had a few drops on one side already...

-You must notify authorities. If it happens AND you are approached by the USCG, it might be a good idea to have the other reporting agency on speed-dial (NRC), so you can hit the button as they approach and say you are already have a call in.

Keep you nose clean for at least a year--bigger fines come with repeated offenses.

DAN

That is the first i have heard about 12 months but thanks. I was just kinda upset with a pair or 2 strokes putting MORE sheen on the water than i did and action. The two guys agreed there was a sheen from the outboards, so go figure