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I am replacing the aluminum fuel tank in my boat. The fill inlet is very close to the bottom of the cockpit floor and the hose is very short. This prevents me from using an off the shelf tank unless I want to loose capacity. While reading about anti-siphon rules trying to understand why I would not want the anti-siphon feature on a fuel pump, I guess because it doesn't eliminate the need for one at the tank. But I also see the USCG rule on the over fill test. Fuel entering self-bailing cockpit is still considered "in the boat". My boat is a 1976, do I need to move the fill inlet? It has the two cockpit drains thru the transom. Is it grandfathered in. My existing tank which has corroded in two spots and has a pin hole does not have a manufacture sticker, also in the USCG rules. I plan on having a tank probably made by Moeller to be safe. But have asked a few people for quotes.
So your concern is ? Betting on whether you can contain an overfill in your self-bailing cockpit, before it hits the water and leaves you open to a whopping fine?
If you are a recreational vessel, I don't think there are any regs specifying what you have to refit the vessel with. But a little protection against the eventual fuel spill and potential fine, might be worth the extra cost.
The USCG ref is that none may enter the vessel, including self bailing cockpits. So any over flow should be a spill. I think it's more for safety than environmental concern.
Replace the tank and don't worry about it if the boat was built that way in 1976.
To be honest the only thing I would possibly worry about is water in the fuel if the O-ring on the cap started leaking. Can the cap end up under water in the cockpit?
Coast Guard will not bother with this if/when you get boarded, they want to see paperwork, your safety equipment and if your drinking underway. (just don't act like an idiot! They can make your life much more miserable than you can make theirs!)
It's just like houses and cars, you don't have to do a complete upgrade and refit when building codes change.
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