www.iFourWinns.com

My friends boat exploded in his garage and almost killed him.

http://www.wsvn.com/topics/v/93230537/g ... orhood.htm

He actually lived which considering the damage you would think he didn't. I went to the hospital and he swears that his gas water heater blew up, but while he was telling me the story of the water heater he mentioned that he was siphoning fuel out of his boat in the garage because he thought there was water in the fuel. I've done the same procedure once before with a simple hose no electric pump and it worked fine, so I start asking more questions and it seems that he purchased an electric pump from harbor freight and the last thing he remembers is turning the switch on the pump to on. Has anyone here used the pumps to remove fuel without any problems? I don't have one but I don't think fuel and an electric pump mix. Be careful when messing with fuel people my friend has 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 40 percent of his body and his face is going to require multiple operations. I share this to keep this from happening to one of you. Be safe fellow boaters

The amount of precautions put in to marine applications to arrest the possibility of a spark & you guys use a DIY electric pump to transfer fuel?!
I know he's your friend & I'm glad he's alive, but really?!
Darwin Award participant, right there...

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

I definitely would not use any electric pump with fuel and he swears that it wasn't the fuel siphoning but I definitely think that was the cause of the explosion. I don't even switch the Pelco switch on when I first bring my boat home for any maintenance. I open the hatch and point my garage fan at the engine compartment and look for any gas leaks before I switch the pelco on 2 and turn the exhaust fan on for a couple of minutes. I always have my water hose on and a fire extinguisher next to the boat whenever I work on it. Might be a little overkill but you can't be too careful in my book.

There are electric pumps that are marine rated and those that are not. The pumps that are used on all fuel injected boats are electric. It sounds like he may have used a pump that was not ignition protected.

I would never siphon gas out of a boat or car in an enclosed space. Very dangerous. During Sandy I siphoned gas out of the boat with a simple hand pump for the generator.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes, very common to use electric fuel transfer pumps. I've used one myself on my boat. Definitely wasn't from harbor freight and definitely is rated for gasoline.

I just checked harbor freight's website. They do not sell an electric gasoline rated transfer pump.

Your homeboy just tried to commit suicide.

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

That's learning a lesson the hard way...More importantly, I'm glad your buddy will be OK.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

the HF pumps are for water only.. i have one of the 1" pressure pump and use it to move WATER when you kick it on you can see the motor spark same as when a drill starts up.. not one ounce of spark suppression.. SORRY TO SEE A FRIEND GET HURT. but let it be a lesson to all ...

combustable fuels and electricity heed high caution.. especially with a tank or poor ventilated space where gasses build up.. i am sure that the gasses built up in the garage and poof..

take this as a learning experience and keep a sharp eye or a great distance from this friend..

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Not Penny's Boat

1993 190 Horizon 5.0L EFI
http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11136
1977 14' CMF Skiff SOLD
2015 Emotion Stealth Angler 11

Maybe this is the one he used? 12 Volt Marine Utility Pump:
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-marine-utility-pump-9576.html
Which does say "Not for use with fuel or flammable liquids"

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

In the past, I've simply used 8ft of fuel hose with a primer bulb in-line.
Removed the fuel sender and put the hose through the drain bung hole, in to a portable fuel tank.
Gravity is a much safer option!

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

That definitely looks like the pump that I saw in the garage. Bad choice in pumps

Exactly the way I did it the last time. Safest way to do it, from a distance I place a fan on high with the air directed at the engine bay also.

i did it to my boat when i drained my tank you cant just use any transfer pump it has to be rated for fuels. I just bought an electric external fuel pump for a car

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

I live on the water, so I fill my boat exclusively with my 30g gas caddy and 5/6 gallon gas cans.
I use this and LOVE it:
http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-FloTool-1 ... J0J9X8Z05E

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

I purchased one of those after I drained it the first time and although I haven't used it yet it seems like it can get the job done.