TWL: The big deck and tank project
I am trying to type this with crossed fingers while knocking on wood,
throwing salt over left shoulder etc., etc., but...
I have a 19 year old twin-engined boat with mild steel diesel tanks that
have neither inspection ports nor bottom drains. The fuel filters are the
original minimalist Racors, i.e. small and without sight glasses The
previous owner was not mechanically inclined, but he did have regular
maintenance performed regularly, and he kept her in a shed from new. Nor was
he an active boater for I purchased her in June with less than 1700 hours on
the clocks, so it's clear the boat sat unused for long periods, not always
with full tanks, I'm sure. However, I think he did add a biocide when he
fuelled up.
In any event, it runs perfectly well, and he says he's never had a fuel
problem. Having been a lurker on this site before signing on as a
participant, I was very concerned about the many fuel filtration and tank
issues that are raised here about every other month, so I had the tanks
inspected as well as possible as part of the survey. While the surveyor
could not say they were A-okay, he could say he found nothing to be
suspicious about.
Is my situation the one that's unusual, or is it the horror stories that
are? If the latter, are the concerns that are being expressed being driven
by the fact that these events, even if rare, are so dramatic, costly, and
potentially dangerous (losing power when under way) that they naturally
cause a high level of concern?
When I purchased her, I was all set to add all sorts of goodies, but I
stopped after I had installed some essential electronics. I discovered that
although the boat's systems are simple, they work - at least, so far - and I
found I like the simplicity.
I'm not trying to second-guess those of you who are so much more experienced
than I am, and I know that pleasure boats were created as vessels for cash,
but is it really necessary to install such expensive and relatively complex
fuel maintenance systems on them when it seems few of the commercial boats
do?
Cheers, Garrett
Garrett:
I would not assume that your tanks are clean because you have had no problems.
The sludge that develops can be very viscous and can accumulate with no apparent
ill effects until it reaches the fuel intake level - OR - until it is dislodged
by violently sloshing fuel in a seaway. My personal experience, however, is
limited and I appreciate Ken's explanations.
Assuming that your tanks are accessible, perhaps you should consider adding
inspection ports. Maybe someone can comment on the risks or problems associated
with doing this. Alternatively, are there commercial options for cleaning by
steam or solvents without adding inspection ports?
Wesley
37' LNVT - Little Bitt
So Burlington, VT
E16 wrote:
I have a 19 year old twin-engined boat with mild steel diesel tanks that
have neither inspection ports nor bottom drains. The fuel filters are the
original minimalist Racors, i.e. small and without sight glasses The
previous owner was not mechanically inclined, but he did have regular
maintenance performed regularly
The fuel filters are the
original minimalist Racors, i.e. small and without sight glasses
When I purchased her, I was all set to add all sorts of goodies, but I
stopped after I had installed some essential electronics. I discovered that
although the boat's systems are simple, they work - at least, so far - and I
found I like the simplicity.
Cheers, Garrett
---=========================
Garrett---------I would not scrimp and add filters with sight with sight
glass bpottoms immediately.
.
Captain Al Pilvinis
"M/V Driftwood"--Prairie 47
2630 N.E. 41st Street
Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064-8064
Voice 954-941-2556 Fax 954 788-2666
Email yourcaptain@earthlink.net
Website http://home.earthlink.net/~yourcaptain
I'm not trying to second-guess those of you who are so much more experienced
than I am, and I know that pleasure boats were created as vessels for cash,
but is it really necessary to install such expensive and relatively complex
fuel maintenance systems on them when it seems few of the commercial boats
do?
Garrett,
The long range fishing boats with which I am familiar do centrifuge their fuel.
They don't add biocides because they burn fuel so rapidly.
Those of us who don't burn the fuel so quickly can have problems with water
accumulation due to condensation or water in the fuel as delivered, bacteria
and algae live at the water fuel interface. As they die they create glop on the
bottom of the tank. The asphaltines in the fuel also settle out over time. The
water will also rust your tanks if you, like me, have black iron tanks.
If your fuel pick up is above the bottom of the tank everything will be fine
until the accumulation gets high enough to reach it or if you venture out an
get bounced around a bit. Then the crud get stirred up and plugged filters may
result. When that happens you are going to have to change filters and bleed the
system to get going again. Not a fun situation if the seas are rough or if the
engines fail with you needing to maneuver in a confined area.
That is why many of us have added some variation of Captain Wil's do it
yourself fuel polishing system to our boats. I, as does Captain Wil, also use a
GCF fuel filter that will keep the fuel going to the engine dry and filtered
down to about 1 micron particle size. This is also the filter I use in my
polishing system.
Keep dry,
Dolph McCranie
The Right Whale