19 Sep Shaker Siphon: Simply the Easiest Way NOT to Pour Fuel
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. And until we got the watermaker recommissioned, we jerry-jugged our water. Now, our watermaker fills a jerry jug and we pour it into the water tank.
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 “enviromental” spounts 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 of Charlie’s Charts:
This is one of those things that just makes life aboard so much easier. I’m amazed that everyone doesn’t already have one. I think Dave has given 4 or 5 of them to friends at our old lake house for fueling their boats, too!
Where to get your own? My number one choice is Charlie’s Charts since Holly went to the trouble of making a video to show how they work. You can also get them many other places, including 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 gas. Car gas tanks have some sort of anti-siphon device in them to defeat theives. 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.
Ritchard Findlay
Posted at 19 September 2015I 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
Posted at 19 September 2015I should have put that in the post — SO much better than the “environmental” spouts that leak everywhere!
Don Koch
Posted at 19 September 2015I discovered this really clever idea in Baja on a big 57 footer. It made topping off a breeze.
Debra Perfitt
Posted at 19 September 2015Yep got a couple onboard. Best thing ever!!
Debra Perfitt
Posted at 19 September 2015No inexpensive that I buy these as gifts for other boaters. They always tell me it’s the best gift ever!
Lynn Kaak
Posted at 19 September 2015Been using them for years. And the rate they pour works well with Baja filters.
Debbie Bowen Crawford
Posted at 19 September 2015Doug Crawford we need one of these
Jesse K On Smitty
Posted at 19 September 2015We have one for fuel and one for water from the Jerry cans into the tanks. Love them.
Lupari Sue
Posted at 19 September 2015We have fuel one and water one too and a spare I think. They are great. Wouldn’t be without them.
Scott Lee
Posted at 20 September 2015I’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
Posted at 20 September 2015We just wipe it off with a rag and put it in a Ziploc.
ChrisW
Posted at 20 September 2015It’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
Posted at 20 September 2015Great idea!
Susan
Posted at 22 September 2015Most NAPA stores in the U.S. Carry them as well.
Ernie Lorimer
Posted at 22 September 2015Do 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
Posted at 22 September 2015Sure 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
Posted at 24 September 2015i 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
Posted at 24 September 2015Can 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
Posted at 25 September 2015I 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
Posted at 02 October 2015I’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
Posted at 16 October 2015Have 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
Posted at 03 September 2016I use one all the time! They’re great
Sunlover Connie
Posted at 03 September 2016Been using one for years.
Ken Ferrari
Posted at 03 September 2016Yes, these are wonderful!
Evelyn Mull
Posted at 04 September 2016One for water and one for fuel. Both well marked. Got them on a “two-fer” deal. Even John Mull likes them!
CJ Schnier
Posted at 27 June 2017These things are great
Jodi Bratton
Posted at 27 June 2017We have three on board, water, gas and diesel.
Jodi Bratton
Posted at 27 June 2017Becky Croston right.
Dawn Read
Posted at 27 June 2017We have these, right, Lucky?
Lucky Read
Posted at 27 June 2017We do.
Colin Mombourquette
Posted at 27 June 2017Have used mine for years; would’t be without it.
Matt Callaghan
Posted at 27 June 2017I know these as Safety Siphons. They are awesome. I believe these are the originals.
https://safetysiphon.net/
Sarah Laine Common
Posted at 27 June 2017Nathan Common
Ritchard Findlay
Posted at 27 June 2017I 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
Posted at 27 June 2017Lay 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
Posted at 27 June 2017The Boat Galley If we ever get sun this “summer” I’ll do just that.
Robert Schulke
Posted at 27 June 2017We 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
Posted at 27 June 2017Becky 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
Posted at 27 June 2017If 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. http://amzn.to/2ueK40p
Robert Schulke
Posted at 27 June 2017West Marine sells it under their brand. Works amazingly well.
Carl Stevenson
Posted at 27 June 2017We 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
Posted at 27 June 2017John
Debie Petersen
Posted at 27 June 2017I have one for water when camping. Harbor Freight carrys them.
Cathy Brookhart Cartier
Posted at 28 June 2017I’ve had these for 20 years. They are wonderful gadgets!!
Angie Wilson
Posted at 28 June 2017This 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
Posted at 28 June 2017Angie Wilson – I use Holly’s video in that post and link to Charlie’s Charts as the preferred vendor.
Jan Adrian Schutte
Posted at 28 June 2017Gawie Herholdt
Geoff McClure
Posted at 30 June 2017We 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
Posted at 30 June 2017Bought mine a couple years ago after reading your article. I also purchased the filter you recommended. No regrets! Works great.