Boat Radar
Many boaters are curious why it is that boat radar cannot be substituted with normal auto parts or other substitutions. The most important consideration should be the federal requirements in the United States which result in increased safety preventing a possible fire or explosion. Most boat radar are required in this area which creates problems for both the boat manufacturers as well as the manufacturers of parts in general. Think of a car with a sealed engine compartment which means any fuel leaks, fuel vapor, or any residual fluids would have no place to escape. Hard to imagine but that is the problem with the way boats must be made and also the parts used for them. Manufacturers of boat radar must comply with strict electrical standards provide ignition protection for any parts intended for installation in a boat.
The fuel tank on a boat is also different than any normal fuel tank would be. Some of the same manufacturers and suppliers are also aware of this as federal regulations are in place for them also. Just as the other electrical boat radar are built to prevent fires the fuel tank is the single most combustible portion of a boat and any part used in or near it must be sufficient for safety. Modern tanks are constructed of mainly plastic and very few steel tanks are used for corrosion purposes. Aluminum is usually the choice if the tank is metal at all which does resist corrosion well. Just as many boat radar are constructed of corrosion resistant metals the fuel tanks follow the same path.
There are separate regulations for what is said to be inboard tanks compared to "carry on" tanks. Inboard tanks must have an exhaust blower installed to remove fuel vapor preventing it from accumulating inside the boat. Since boat radar are ignition protected then why is the exhaust necessary? Well nothing is full proof and the amount of fires from this is high as the exhaust blower is sometimes neglected or replaced with another type not in compliance with boat radar regulations. The carry on the tanks do not require an exhaust blower as they are exposed to open air. Many boats with smaller outboard engines have their own set of requirements for outboard parts in them.
