Diesel siphon advice desired

[N.A.]

I want to get a siphon to transfer diesel from jerry-can(s) to my tank, for future longer-distance adventures. In one of his videos, Christian mentions a "rattle siphon", but when I google around I get nothing for that name but lots of options that seem to be similar...

I would appreciate some advice:
* is 'self-priming' synonymous with 'rattle siphon'?
* length? is 5-6' ok?
* antistatic - are they all antistatic, or does one need to look for this?
* preferred brand?

Any other tricks -- e.g., is there something special about the jerry-cans, or will any plastic jug from an auto place/Westmarine be fine? Do you need to clean them somehow? Is there anything special about how you store the cans and siphon when not in use (empty ok, or is that a vapor/fire hazard or will the residual fuel gum up or something?)

Any advice appreciated. Many thanks!

 

[Loren Beach]

I did a site search on "rattle syphon" and found several entries, thread and blog. Appears as though spelling is my weakness...
Sorry to be egotistical but here is one of them.....

O34 - Carrying More Diesel

I note that another blog here has illustrated a much nicer way to carry more diesel than my, um, cruder one -- lots of line and lots of knots! Still, we did use a "rattle syphon" to move fuel from the tank right by the deck fill when we were...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[peaman]

I want to get a siphon to transfer diesel from jerry-can(s) to my tank, for future longer-distance adventures. In one of his videos, Christian mentions a "rattle siphon", but when I google around I get nothing for that name but lots of options that seem to be similar...

I would appreciate some advice:
* is 'self-priming' synonymous with 'rattle siphon'?
* length? is 5-6' ok?
* antistatic - are they all antistatic, or does one need to look for this?
* preferred brand?

Any other tricks -- e.g., is there something special about the jerry-cans, or will any plastic jug from an auto place/Westmarine be fine? Do you need to clean them somehow? Is there anything special about how you store the cans and siphon when not in use (empty ok, or is that a vapor/fire hazard or will the residual fuel gum up or something?)

Any advice appreciated. Many thanks!

I have this siphon from West Marine. I routinely add fuel with it rather than visiting a fuel dock, and rarely do I lose even a single drop doing so. I got a wood dowel a few inches longer than my fuel jug is deep, and I used stainless wire to secure the hose to the dowel, with the "rattle" a fraction of an inch above the end of the stick. That way, I can get all but maybe a couple ounces of fuel from the jug. Flow is started by placing the rattle in the jug and giving it several strokes vertically. Keep shaking it a few more times after flow starts to make sure all air is pushed out. It takes about 6 minutes to empty a 5 gallon jug into my tank. I'm pretty sure the pink color of the hose shows that it has anti-static properties.

I think it is smart to have a purpose-made DOT approved fuel container, yellow for diesel or red for gasoline. I prefer a plain cap for the jug instead of or in addition to any type of safety valve rig. If the jug falls over, a plain cap is less likely to break and create a dangerous condition.

Also, I buy fuel at a roadside gas station, rather than at a marina. I figure road taxes offset the "marine" up-charge, plus the fuel (diesel) is clear, so I can easily see any dirt that might get in the jug or my primary filter bowl.

 

[David Vaughn]

Any “DOT fuel approved” container will work but… measure the space where you intend to store it. Some containers are more square shaped than others. We have one from West Marine and one from Harbor Freight. The slimmer West Marine fits more securely between our lifelines and the raised cockpit coamings.

And I agree with what peaman said about the cap.

 

[N.A.]

Many thanks!

--> How do you all store the containers/siphon when not in use? Anything special to avoid fuel contamination/gumming up?

@Loren Beach I had not realized there was an alternate spelling to siphon... yes, 'syphon' brings up entries on this topic (but not an 'anti-siphon' loops... who knows : ) Anyway, perusing the other posts with that spelling brought me to this:

https://safetysiphon.net/ -- they claim, 'the original'. I'll get the 6' length, 3/8" dia unless advised otherwise.

@David Vaughn Thanks for the FY re: the West Marine containers. I'll get those. This is exactly the sort of advice that makes me ask here before buying : )

@peaman Also thanks! I buy at the dock because they add anti-growth stuff to the fuel already, already well mixed, and mixing that in myself looks like a huge pain. Plus I don't use that much diesel, so the total extra cost isn't so problematic for me.

 

[Dave G.]

I used to use a siphon but found this. Never spilled a drop and easy to fully empty. You do have to hold it upright for a few minutes to get all the fuel out though, 40lbs when full

No-Spill Plastic Diesel Can 5 gal Mfr# 1467 - Ace Hardware

No-Spill fuel cans feature a unique thumb controlled fuel spout for easy, controlled pouring. The design allows for more precise product fueling, reducing spills and overflows. High Flow Rate (up to 3 gallon/minimum), Child Resistant.Find the DIESEL CAN NO SPILL 5GAL at Ace.

www.acehardware.com

 

[Loren Beach]

On the subject of manipulation of the heavy fuel container and controlling any possible spillage, note that my use of a siphon is needed to transfer fuel on a rolling deck at sea. What would be awkward even at the slip, is 14 times worse when under way. Thus the need for a way to move the fuel from can to deck fill, while keeping the can tied securely. Gotta keep the can upright and secure. I use lifelines with vinyl covers on the wires in that area to reduce chafe on the containers.
I also just remembered that a local chandler also has been selling a fuel cap replacement with a D-cell operated mini pump that locks onto the can top and can move the fuel thru a short hose to a deck fill.
More than one "right" answer to the problem, is my takeaway.

 

[AK67]

Pretty sure I saw the same video you mention and this what I bought: https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-10801-FloTool-Shaker-Anti-Static/dp/B000EH0ORI

Appeared to be the same and works very well. I found the best price on the diesel canisters at Tractor Supply. FYI, you have to punch out the built in strainer to get the siphon hose all the way in.

 

[Out There]

I got these and they worked good until the can got to 1/3 full because the hose was wanting to curl so bad. I might just stick a thin dowl in there to make it straighten out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CBLJVQK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[bsangs]

I used to use a siphon but found this. Never spilled a drop and easy to fully empty. You do have to hold it upright for a few minutes to get all the fuel out though, 40lbs when full

No-Spill Plastic Diesel Can 5 gal Mfr# 1467 - Ace Hardware

No-Spill fuel cans feature a unique thumb controlled fuel spout for easy, controlled pouring. The design allows for more precise product fueling, reducing spills and overflows. High Flow Rate (up to 3 gallon/minimum), Child Resistant.Find the DIESEL CAN NO SPILL 5GAL at Ace.

www.acehardware.com

I have a couple of those and they are excellent. Haven't spilled a drop in four years (knock wood).

 

[Christian Williams]

10 Seconds of rattle siphon:

 

[nukey99]

Folks might think I'm a little crazy, but here is what I'm thinking about doing to add fuel at the dock. I have easy access to the clean out port for the fuel tank. I was just going to add the fuel through that port. It's easy to do it with out making a mess, and no chance of overfill and dripping out the vent for the tank.

 

[Captain Pete]

I got this to transfer fuel: https://www.amazon.com/Gasoline-Por...rp_0_1_ec_ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_bia_item_2_i

And this for fuel can: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBJQLCP?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Both seem fine for what I need, including transferring fuel from can into tank on a new for me 35-3 that was too opportune to pass up. And I got the cans in case I need to transfer fuel out from my 32-3 tank, which I fear may have a seepage issue. Why two Ericsons one may wonder? That is a story for another day...a day when I may have to decide which one is the keeper.

 

[Christian Williams]

Nukey,

Question of, why? The exterior fill is USCG required for obvious reasons, and snaking a hose or lugging cans belowdecks seems awkward and, well, any error means diesel in the bilge.

If you absolutely need to top off the tank, which for most of us is undesirable and can lead to leakage from sensor port or inspection covers, then a rag held at the overflow port on the transom will catch drips there.

 

[nukey99]

Nukey,

Question of, why? The exterior fill is USCG required for obvious reasons, and snaking a hose or lugging cans belowdecks seems awkward and, well, any error means diesel in the bilge.

If you absolutely need to top off the tank, which for most of us is undesirable and can lead to leakage from sensor port or inspection covers, then a rag held at the overflow port on the transom will catch drips there.

Christian - My primary reason is that it so easy to add some via the inspection hatch, which I would only do it tied to a dock. I find the fuel fill location to be a bit awkward to fill from a can. I do need to check out your siphon approach, which seems to solve all the problems.

Also, my name is Jim, the ID Nukey99 was formed from the name of an old Weimaraner we had years ago when I first joined this forum, that when we had our Ericson 29.

My wife and I love your YouTube video's and have watched almost all of them. They have triggered a lot of ideas on how to maintain and operate our boat.

 

[Christian Williams]

Sorry, Jim, just saw that in your Signature line.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Jim, this is what I'm using now. I run it off the battery pack, but could easily jump it off the boat battery. It works fine, but I really like the simplicity of your idea. I'd never heard of a rattle siphon before this.

The work and expense of replacing our fuel tank has made me pretty committed to having a filter in whatever I use for fuel transfer. The siphons in the links above seem to all be 1/2". Searching for inline filters, the largest at a reasonable price were 3/8". Further searching turned up a 3/8" rattle siphon. I wonder how long it would take to empty a jug with the smaller diameter rattle choked by a filter. The filters and rattle are sitting in my Amazon basket while I stew on that one.

Discussions above have got me rethinking my coat hanger wand. It would be really easy to put the vinyl hose on a section of aluminum tubing. For the rattle I could use a short section of hose to bridge to the aluminum.

 

[Loren Beach]

Discussions above have got me rethinking my coat hanger wand. It would be really easy to put the vinyl hose on a section of aluminum tubing. For the rattle I could use a short section of hose to bridge to the aluminum.

Love the idea of the stiffening section to prevent the hose from curling up inside the fuel jug. Problem would then occur when wanting to coil the whole assembly up and store it away in a large 'zip lock ' bag until next needed.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Love the idea of the stiffening section to prevent the hose from curling up inside the fuel jug. Problem would then occur when wanting to coil the whole assembly up and store it away in a large 'zip lock ' bag until next needed.

That seems to be the way of technology, doesn't it, Loren? Solve one problem and create a new one.

 

[peaman]

Love the idea of the stiffening section to prevent the hose from curling up inside the fuel jug. Problem would then occur when wanting to coil the whole assembly up and store it away in a large 'zip lock ' bag until next needed.

I have no need for a zip lock bag for the siphon. The rattle and hose are easily drained into the tank simply by inverting it and a single paper towel is plenty adequate for wiping the outside of the assembly. Only the lower 8" or so of the hose is secured to the wood dowel. The hose takes on its natural coil so the dowel and siphon assembly can be neatly tucked into a milk crate I keep in the lazarette for various other items.