Friday, July 23, 2010

Diesel Boats at The GAS Dock - - OOOOPS!



As in most area's, the Lake has numerous "Gas Docks", generally staffed by young "cute" gals (with a sprinkling of guys), many on summer break from college.  When you pull in to the gas dock it can be a little distracting - - you should still try to keep in mind, you are trusting a person, who generally has little to NO boating experience and less training, to pump a highly flammable substance in to the correct fill on your boat.  IF you happen to own a DIESEL powered Boat - - YOU SHOULD BE EVEN MORE CAUTIOUS - -!!  Although Diesel boats are not that uncommon, you can bet that your attractive young "attendant" (male, female and even adult) may not have even had the opportunity to fuel one - - - In their defense, the Boat manufacturer's have not made it real easy to distinguish between them when it comes to the fuel caps -  - In the effort to make everything "blend" together - - - you wind up with this - -

















ALL THE FILL CAPS (GAS, WATER, DIESEL) LOOK IDENTICAL -  They are only marked with stamped lettering as to what SHOULD go in the tank - -.  DO NOT RELY ON THE ATTENDANT (who is accustomed to putting GAS in to nearly every boat that comes in) to KNOW YOU NEED DIESEL!!!!  YOU SHOULD ALWAYS POINT OUT WHAT FLUID GOES WHERE, REGARDLESS - - -  OR YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF HERE - - -
THIS DIESEL POWERED, 2001 SEA RAY, 450 EXPRESS BRIDGE CRUISER FOUND ITSELF ON THE END OF THE STRING, AFTER HAVING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GAS PUMPED IN TO THE DIESEL TANK (400 GL CAPACITY).  THEN IT WAS RUN FOR SOME TIME.  THIS CAUSED A 17 MILE TOW, HAUL OUT, AND A PUMP OUT OF OVER 200 GALLONS OF GAS/DIESEL MIX AND SOME ENGINE WORK - - - - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$   ouch!

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