[Pipe_Dream]

BoatU.S. July issue had a page on this, wish I could link it here. It shows a Texas sportfishing boat destroyed after a dock attendant pumped gas into a fish rod holder.

"The owner used a sponge to clean up the gasoline and then opened all of the hatches to dissipate the fumes. About two hours later he decided the fumes must be gone, started the engine, and the boat exploded. All of his crew was aboard and one was badly injured."

I typically follow all the usual fuel dock precautions, but they suggested a new one that I am going to implement: "Before fueling, get everyone off the boat except the person handling the fuel hose." Many is the time that my wife and others were on board while I fueled up. From now on I am going to fuel up alone, then pick everyone up. ;)