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fuel filter

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:58 pm
by John Cederstrom
I'm having trouble finding a convenient spot for a fuel filter on the Garwood Ensign I'm restoring. It's a 16' utility. What are the thoughts of leaving a filter out? I will be installing a new aluminum gas tank so I shouldn't see contaminates from the tank. The engine is a Chrysler M27 Crown. For the same reason I do not intend to install a blower.

John

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 8:20 pm
by island time
Hi John,
It's totally your call on anything you install on your boat, having said that I need to stress the advantages of having some safety items on board.
There may be arguments here from others but I personally would not leave the dock without a fuel filter. I personally experienced getting a load of water from a fuel stop on the Rideau one time. If I had not had spare filters on board I would have been stranded 10 miles out on the big lake in 6-8 footers. Since then I keep several spares on board at all times. I'm having a hard time trying to visualize no place for one, there must be some spare space somewhere, it doesn't have to be right next to the tank or the engine just somewhere in the fuel line, even if you extend the fuel line to a more convenient place for a filter. If you decide to install one insist on a water separator/fuel filter that filters down to at least 10 microns for carburetors or 5 microns for fuel injection.
Now on the subject of a bilge blower, if you are religious about opening all hatches and "sniffing" for fuel vapors and visually checking for fuel spills or leaks before you start the engine EVERY TIME, it will limit the possibility of a fire or explosion but there is no guarantee so again, I would always have one. I was taught to also use the blower when traveling at idle speeds for extended periods of time because when traveling slow there is not enough air flow through the bilge to dissipate gas fumes which will always lay in the lowest part of the bilge.
We want you to be around to enjoy your boat, don't take chances!

Craig Wilson

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 8:31 pm
by jfrprops
IMHO you need both of those...the fuel filter and the blower....you might find a smaller filter would work as well as a the big Racor types and be easier to locate out of the way somewhere. If you have solid floors in a runabout I think a blower is very important safety equipment...lattice floors and vented engine box might make that less important....I have slatted lattice type flooring in my Argentine runabout and still installed and run a blower.

John in Va.

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 11:19 am
by msindel
The tank in my Ensign project doesn't take up the width of the hull.

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:44 pm
by joanroy
Agree! Fuel Filter, Yes, Blower, Yes. I also have an alarmed fume sensor. Gasoline scares me. Happy and Safe Boating!

Oh, and don't forget the fire extinguisher.

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:10 pm
by robertpaul
I will chime in with two somewhat related issues about gasoline, propane fumes and proper venting. In my youth I worked for Gulf Canada. I was taught about the dangers of static electricity and petroleum products. The mere flow of gasoline creates static, which means you have to have things grounded, as in keeping the pump nozzle in contact with the tank filler tube. Other sources of static can ignite fumes, so venting is not optional. About propane. It sinks. So if you have a propane bbq or other appliance that is leaking, the propane will find its way to your bilge. It will blow you to smithereens. I installed a massive filter system on Elude in 1990 and never had a problem with contaminated fuel.

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:43 am
by homeiste
I'm all for blowers, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment. Just dont' let them give you a false sense of security! They have failure rates.

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:18 am
by mfine
Fuel today isn't what it once was. You really want to find room for a filter/water separator, especially if you may end up with ethanol in the tank. Also just because your tank is now and clean doesn't mean the tank you are pumping fuel out of is clean.

Even non-ethanol fuels today evaporate faster than in the past. That makes the blower more important IMHO. Legally you have a choice, but for what they cost it seems a pretty easy decision to me.

Re: fuel filter

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:13 am
by John Cederstrom
Thanks for all the helpful posts. I will heed the advice of 100% of the respondents and find a spot for both.

John