I have a Hobie 21 Sport Cruiser with a 3 horse outboard with built in gas tank on the motor. I would like to put a two gallon gas can on board for extra gas for cruising. Would outboard gas (actually gas and oil) damage the fiberglass or gel coat if it got on it??

I've got a storage compartment that is built over the main cross bar and two storage compartments in the hulls....what would be a better place to store the gas?

Any other suggestions welcome?

--Doug

I haven't had any experiance with a gas/oil mix damaging gelcoats. I have a powerboat that has an imboard gas tank and I have had gas spill on the outside when i overfill it on ocasion (sp) while it is trailered. I have not seen any sign of damage yet to the gelcoat from this.

Also, since a good many of the power boats out on the water are also fiberglass, one would think that gas and oil would not hurt the gelcoat.

I could be wrong since I dont have any science to back me up on this though.

The Skier

nah - not really. We used to make fuel tanks for large model airplanes from fiberglass / epoxy (granted that's not the same as polyester). I think the porisity of the gel coat might lead to staining if you got gasoline on it but the glass should be pretty safe.

nah it is fine.

Best storage container:
[color:"red"] Plastic SodyPop Bottles! [/color]
Tested, Tried, Proven. Even the vinyl-like membrane in some of the lids can take it. Even with the oil in the gas, six months on the first test. Over one year on the second test. No harm, no foul!

And with the way that the little bottles (pint) fit into the hole on the top of the motor's gas tank, no spillage either!!!!

I store them on deck in a tramp pocket. If you put them inside a hull, the C.G. is going to require you to carry a fire extinquisher.

GARY