When Dave and I bought Que Tal, our first cruising boat, it came with a shaker siphon. We’d never seen one before and wondered if we’d ever use. We’ve come to believe that was one of the best pieces of gear that was just thrown in on the sale!
Believe it or not, Dave and I have never filled either of our cruising boats at a fuel dock. Nope, every bit of fuel has gone into a jerry jug and then through a Baja filter* and into the tank.
And we jerry jug the gas for the dinghy.
At roughly 40 pounds apiece, those 5-gallon jugs get heavy to hold up and pour in. But since we learned about these nifty little shaker siphons, we don’t pour them. And we don’t get fuel in our mouth starting the siphon, either. BONUS: They don’t spill like some of the “environmental” spouts do!
The metal end is a check valve — the fluid can go into the tube through it, but not back through the valve. Start with the container you’re transferring from higher than where it’s going (the bigger the height difference, the faster the flow will be). Put the end with the check valve into the container you’re transferring from, the other end where you want it to go, and then jiggle the check-valve end up and down a few times (each time, more liquid will come into the tube) until it finally gets running downhill and the flow continues on its own.
Since it’s easier to show than explain, here’s Holly Scott.
This is one of those things that just makes life aboard so much easier. I’m amazed that everyone doesn’t already have a shaker siphon. I think Dave gave 4 or 5 of them to friends at our old lake house for fueling their boats, too! They also work well for transferring water from jerry cans into your water tanks
Where to get your own shaker siphon? You can get them at most auto parts stores such as NAPA, and also from Amazon. If you want to use one for both fuel and water, be sure to get two and label them both.
One final note: don’t try to use these to siphon gas out of a car. Car gas tanks have some sort of anti-siphon device in them to defeat thieves. They defeat owners, too.
*A Baja filter is a three-stage filter that gets out particles and water. Unfortunately, the original Baja filters are no longer being made. These Mr. Funnel filters are the closest thing I’ve been able to find.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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Ritchard Findlay says
I used one of these this past Sunday. I couldn’t believe how well it worked. A bit slow, but no spillage whatsoever.
The Boat Galley says
I should have put that in the post — SO much better than the “environmental” spouts that leak everywhere!
Don Koch says
I discovered this really clever idea in Baja on a big 57 footer. It made topping off a breeze.
Debra Perfitt says
Yep got a couple onboard. Best thing ever!!
Debra Perfitt says
No inexpensive that I buy these as gifts for other boaters. They always tell me it’s the best gift ever!
Lynn Kaak says
Been using them for years. And the rate they pour works well with Baja filters.
Debbie Bowen Crawford says
Doug Crawford we need one of these
Jesse K On Smitty says
We have one for fuel and one for water from the Jerry cans into the tanks. Love them.
Lupari Sue says
We have fuel one and water one too and a spare I think. They are great. Wouldn’t be without them.
Scott Lee says
I’ve thought about getting something like this for fuel. Where/how do you clean and/or store the siphon when not in use?
The Boat Galley says
We just wipe it off with a rag and put it in a Ziploc.
ChrisW says
It’s a good idea to wrap red tape on both ends of the one you use for fuel. It takes a long time to get the taste of fuel out of a water tank.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Great idea!
Susan says
Most NAPA stores in the U.S. Carry them as well.
Ernie Lorimer says
Do I understand it correctly that there is no good way of stopping it? I can’t fill a 1 gallon tank from a 5 gallon jerry can without a spill?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Sure you can slow it and stop it. To slow the flow, lift the container it’s flowing TO (or lower the one it’s coming FROM). The higher the “from” container is in relation to the “to” container, the faster the flow, so if you lessen the difference, the flow slows . . . and slows. And if the “to” container gets even an inch above the “from” container, the flow will stop. So pick up the container with one hand, and when the container is full and you’ve stopped the flow, pull the check valve end out of the “from” container and hold it up in the air to let what’s in the hose go into the “to” container. No spill. Wipe off the outside of the hose after using.
brad says
i use these to fill my tractor in the field. You SHOULD bring a pair of nitrile/latex gloves with you because the hose will have petro poisons on it when you are done – AND a rag to wipe down the hose ends would be nice.
Barbara Lowell says
Can you please tell Capt. Holly that the contact us email button does not work on her site? You just get an email that has no addressee in it. I want to ask her a question about purchasing this product.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I sent her a Facebook message (I don’t have her email or I’d give it to you) and also gave her your email so hopefully she’ll contact you. She’s in California, so give her a few hours to be up!
James says
I’ve ordered a 2-pack of the shaker siphon through the links on this page. Thanks for the tip. I look forward to trying it.
Colin Mombourquette says
Have one that came with the boat for use with diesel . Works great and is easy to use. Take care though when getting close to a full tank, it’s easy to overfill. Don’t ask me how I know 😉
Robert Snelling says
I use one all the time! They’re great
Sunlover Connie says
Been using one for years.
Ken Ferrari says
Yes, these are wonderful!
Evelyn Mull says
One for water and one for fuel. Both well marked. Got them on a “two-fer” deal. Even John Mull likes them!
CJ Schnier says
These things are great
Jodi Bratton says
We have three on board, water, gas and diesel.
Jodi Bratton says
Becky Croston right.
Dawn Read says
We have these, right, Lucky?
Lucky Read says
We do.
Colin Mombourquette says
Have used mine for years; would’t be without it.
Matt Callaghan says
I know these as Safety Siphons. They are awesome. I believe these are the originals.
https://safetysiphon.net/
Ritchard Findlay says
I recently got one. It’s pretty cool, though needs to be relaxed from however long tightly rolled up in its retail package. It’s pretty sproingy.
The Boat Galley says
Lay it out in the sun with something (books, whatever) holding it out fairly straight. Let it cool still straight, then roll up — less tightly.😎
Ritchard Findlay says
The Boat Galley If we ever get sun this “summer” I’ll do just that.
Robert Schulke says
We do it for diesel. Guess we need another two for gas and water. The other thing we use is a filter funnel that blocks water.
Robert Schulke says
Becky Croston West Marine sells them. The flow is tolerable. What gets me is the amount of debris and water in fresh pump diesel here in South San Francisco. Neighbor actually borrowed it to polish his tank when he put a few gallons of water in it.
The Boat Galley says
If you can get an old “Baja Filter” they’re great .. . . but not made anymore. The best I’ve found that’s available now is Mr. Funnel. They come in various sizes. Most high speed fuel docks get grumpy if you want to use one, so we lug jerries and filter every bit of it. https://amzn.to/2BF6pgm
Robert Schulke says
West Marine sells it under their brand. Works amazingly well.
Carl Stevenson says
We have one to transfer diesel from our jugs to the tank, and another to transfer water from jugs to the water tanks.
They are marked and stored in their own labeled gallon zipper bags.
Susan Kam says
John
Debie Petersen says
I have one for water when camping. Harbor Freight carrys them.
Cathy Brookhart Cartier says
I’ve had these for 20 years. They are wonderful gadgets!!
Angie Wilson says
This is sold by Holly Scot in WWS if you prefer to support a mate instead of a coorporation….and hers arw much better than anything I have ever bought elsewhere….the real deal.
The Boat Galley says
Angie Wilson – I use Holly’s video in that post and link to Charlie’s Charts as the preferred vendor.
Geoff McClure says
We have one for diesel and one for the dink and generator. I have a love hate relationship with them. They’re sometimes hard to get a siphon going but when they work, they work like a champ and are certainly far superior to the “spill proof” nozzles which are so poorly engineered they’re nothing more than garbage.
James H. Newsome says
Bought mine a couple years ago after reading your article. I also purchased the filter you recommended. No regrets! Works great.
Sabrina Zickert says
We own half a dozen of these. They are great!
Bob Grenier says
I purchased one of these after I read about it on this forum last spring and it works WONDERFULLY!!! One of my ALL time best purchases. Thank you. I strongly recommend.
Susan Anderson says
We always siphon too, but we blow into the tank that we are transferring from. Never have to worry about getting a mouth full. But these siphons look great!
Impetuous Too says
We too do this, then any pipe will do. Really easy, just cup your hand around the pipe in the full can and blow.
Gene Turner says
Harbour freight $5
Damian Huf says
These are brilliant. Have been using one for about 30 years and it’s still going strong.
Heather Hill says
Randy Lyons we need one of these!
Mickey Dawson says
Seems tough to do when using the Baha though.. I have a shaker siphon and fill 90% of my diesel (O’Day 322) from a 5 gallon can. But to use the siphon I’d have to elevate the can somehow, maybe sit it on a block of wood, or cabin top if the hose reaches, as the other end of the tube will end at the top of the fill in the filter.. Seems tough to do with 2 hands.. Nevertheless, it’s a great way to get a siphon going!
Carolyn Shearlock says
We use it all the time with a Baja filter. Sit the jerry can on an upside-down 5-gallon bucket. If needed, use a large clip to hold the end of the hose inside the Baja filter (or get a second person — but we both do it occasionally by ourselves with a clip).
Ginny Teatro says
These are the best! You posted this a few yrs ago and my hubby ordered them straight away and love them!
Wendy Wilkins Mitchell says
I have two of these I got from charlies Chart. Love it.