Which action should NOT be taken when preparing to fuel a boat?

When preparing to fuel a boat, it is critical to ensure safety to prevent accidents such as fires or explosions. Turning on the engine during this procedure is unsafe because the engine can produce sparks that may ignite fuel vapors.

Having spark-producing equipment operational poses a significant risk when fueling. To mitigate these risks, other critical safety measures should be taken:

• Checking for spark-producing equipment ensures that everything that could potentially ignite fumes is turned off.

• Extinguishing any open flames is vital to prevent fires that could arise from fuel vapors.

• Closing all openings to the boat limits the exposure of vapors to ignition sources, thus enhancing safety during this operation.

All these actions help create a safe environment for fueling, but turning on the engine is contrary to safe fueling practices.