This article is one in a series offering tips on boating skills and seamanship prepared for The Citizen by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

If you find yourself in need of a new fuel container, you should read the BoatU.S Foundation Findings Report on jerry jugs. New regulations have made a huge impact on the designs of jugs currently available, and you may find some of those jugs are much more difficult to use than others.

They tested 11 different models to see which were best at preventing leaks as well as muscle strain.

You'll also learn about the BoatU.S. Foundation staff's favorite jug, the No Spill. It did a great job preventing fuel spills, and it was also the most comfortable to use on the foundation's center console testing boat.

The evolution from the fast-flowing, messy jugs of the past to a more controlled, slower-flowing product is largely in response to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Its 1999 adoption of regulations to control the amount of smog-forming gases that escape from ordinary fuel containers set the standard for jerry jug design in California.

CARB established requirements for 5-gallon and smaller portable fueling devices (containers larger than 5-gallons are exempt) to curb vaporous emissions.

In the process of addressing the release of fumes through the nozzles, vents and even the plastic sidewalls of the jugs, new features also targeted the leaks of fluid contents through better nozzle design.

Features of new CARB-compliant jerry jugs include a single opening for pouring and venting, treated polyethylene plastic for low permeation, and an auto shut-off, self venting nozzle which springs closed when not pouring.

Currently, the following states have adopted CARB requirements and retailers may only sell CARB-compliant jerry jugs: California; Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Delaware; Maine; Maryland; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Texas and Virginia.

Eventually, you may not be able to purchase anything but CARB-compliant jugs, as the EPA estimates nationwide compliance by 2009.

So when boaters go shopping for a new jerry jug, they might not be able to find the familiar models of yesterday. In fact, the standard, free-flowing jerry jug with separate vent hole is currently banned from sale in the 13 states mentioned and that number is rising.

With three categories of products to evaluate, researchers had a lot of work to do. They first compared the traditional jerry jug to newer jugs with additional spill and pollution prevention features. In a separate category they called #“pumps#,” they assessed portable fueling containers that included integrated siphons or gravity pumps designed to help ease the transfer of fuel and relieve the stress on your back.

Finally, they evaluated a few larger, wheeled devices called gas caddies that can make the transport of larger quantities (14-29 gallons) easier.

In the tests, BoatU.S Foundation researchers compared flow rates of each of the CARB-compliant jugs with the non-CARB control, paying close attention to the ease of use and spill potential of each product.

The five different brands of jerry jugs they tested included Wedco, Midwest, Scepter, Blitz and No Spill, all of which were CARB compliant. The two non-CARB jerry jugs were both made by Wedco.

All of the CARB jugs claimed a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute (gpm) with the exception of the No Spill which claimed 2.5 gpm. In the timed tests, they noted that none of the jugs met its flow-rate claim. The non-CARB jugs did not specify a flow rate but easily beat the claims of the CARB jugs.

Although speed was not the point of the testing, they did find it terribly tiresome to balance a fuel can for several minutes while the slow CARB jugs trickled fluid through self-venting nozzles. In comparison, the super-speedy non-CARB control jug emptied in about one minute.

To quote from the study: “Since these jugs weigh over 30 pounds when full, we found the jugs with more handhold options were easier to handle. The Blitz and Wedco each featured two handholds to help with balance.

The No Spill, with its L-shaped nozzle, worked best for our boat and was unanimously voted the staff favorite. It rested comfortably on the gunwale of our boat and with the same push-button valve as a 2.5 gallon jug of water it spilled the least of all the jugs. Flexible spouts are not feasible on CARB jugs because of the shut-off feature requirements. So directing fuel into the deck-fill was a challenge when things like railings and cleats got in the way of angles nozzles.”

The study offers some useful tips to consider when acquiring a jerry jug. When selecting for your next jerry jug, here are some helpful things to keep in mind.

Think about your boat's design and where the fuel fill is. The railing on our boat made using some jugs much more difficult than others.

If there are any obstacles around your deck-fill, look for a jug with a design that will maneuver around them easily.

The jerry jugs we tested all feature maximum fill level lines and graduated volume marks.

Some also provided extra capacity for additives. These helpful additions make things easier for those who premix their fuel. Some jerry jugs also have child-safety features and locks, many of which were cumbersome to use and when not used properly could result in more spills. Make sure you understand these features before making your purchase.

John E. Keshishoglou is the IP flotilla commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22. He can be reached at (607) 273-7175