BOATsmart! Canada
Knowledge Base

The following procedure is not only recommended for safety–it’s the law. When fueling a boat equipped with a gasoline or diesel engine, perform the following:

STEP 1:

Ensure your boat is securely moored to the dock.

STEP 2:

Ask all passengers (guests) to disembark the boat and stay on shore.

STEP 3:

Put out any open flames, shut down all electrical equipment, and ensure that all windows, ports and hatches are closed.

STEP 4:

When fuelling at a pump, keep the gas nozzle against the rim of the filler pipe.This will ensure that the pump is grounded, and will reduce the risk of sparks due to static electricity.Be sure to never overfill the fuel tank, clean up any spilled fuel, and securely tighten the filler cap.

STEP 5:

Open all doors, windows, hatches and portholes once refuelling is complete, and check for the smell of fuel odours (do not re-start your engine if you smell excessive fuel).

STEP 6:

If your boat is equipped with an enclosed engine compartment, you must operate the ventilation system (blower) for at least four minutes prior to starting your engine.

STEP 7:

Start the engine.

 Always ensure that you have a fire extinguisher readily available when fuelling your boat!