You all know we have deck plates for fuel fill.
I never fill from a dock, always from a jug. I transfer using one of those shaker siphons. I only have an 11 gallon tank so no biggie and its easy to carry spare fuel.
The problem is water getting through the plate. I have replaced the o ring multiple times and no joy. I refilled many times coming back from Hawaii and used silicon grease to seal the plate between refills. I just filled the crevice between the cap and the rim to try to waterproof it. But this is a kludge, not a solution.
A couple years ago I had to replace injectors - more than once - due to water fouling. I just had a similar experience, fortunately I caught it this time before I damaged the injectors.
I am now contemplating moving the fuel fill to a location inside the lazarette. I have a diesel heater fuel tank in there already. Does anyone see any problem with moving the fuel fill port into the laz? I will leave the deck plate as is with some silicon waterproofing as noted earlier so if I ever sell the boat a new owner can undo this mod. I have plenty of fuel line so easy to move it, just need to buy a new capping device.
Hi Mike-
That would not be my first choice personally. Sooner or later you’ll be refueling under way, with the likelihood of a spill or splash ending up in the lazarette and eventually the bilge. The smell of diesel down below is not pleasant or easy to get rid of. You would also be exposing the large lazarette opening to bad weather or sea conditions if you had to fuel on a passage.
I’d suggest addressing the source of the problem with a replacement filler/cap. They don’t all leak. It is also possible you have a condensation problem as well. Just my thoughts…
Best,
Mark
Thank you for the input.
I can refuel in about five minutes or less to get 5 gals out of a jug. I refueled at the weather deck 20 times, literally, during my sail back from Hawaii. I reckon the weather deck is far more exposed than the lazarette although I agree there is a big hole in the boat need to think on this.
How much water might accumulate from condensation I wonder? Would keeping the tank full at the dock help with this?
Re diesel smell. I use “Renewable Diesel” so there is no smell at all no soot either. It is fantastic stuff with a high cetane and starts are excellent unless there is water of course. I think everyone should be using it. Been burning this for about three years now and will never go back to regular old diesel.
I anticipated a similar problem, and this is what I came up with: Fuel fill idea.
After three years, the system is still working great, and probably one of the best upgrades I’ve thought of myself. When at the fuel dock, I still fill the tank through the deck plate like normal, but it’s good to know that if the o-ring goes, I can just turn the big yellow lever and seal off the tank entirely. More useful is the ability to refuel from within the locker while underway. No need to open the deck plate in a rolling seaway, and risk a wave washing into my tank.
A few additions I have made since that post: I mounted a Racor filter (PS120-01) to the bulkhead on the intake side, and attached an 18" copper tube to the end of the hose as a pickup. I also replaced the PVC tubing with proper fuel hose, and tidied everything up a bit.
Well, call me an idiot. I finally figured out where the water was coming from and it was so obvious I am reluctant to out myself. But in the interest of the community…
I did reroute the fuel fill to the interior of the Laz. I have a diesel heater so it was convenient to collocate the fuel fills for both. This arrangement has worked very well and I have been able to avoid any spills. After the last - rough - cruise I had water in the tank again. Thank goodness I caught it in the Racor before it reached the engine.
But now I am using logic, right.
So I have eliminated the fuel fill. I did some research on condensation and found the likelihood of significant water being introduced was fairly low given tank size (12 gal) and fuel load at the dock avg 3/4 tank.
So there are only two other ways into the tank. The diesel return from the engine and the FUEL VENT. The diesel return was obviously not the culprit so I took a close look at the vent,which I should have done two years ago.
Anyway, two findings. One was the vent fitting had been twisted about 80 degrees or so resulting in one side of the vent in a position where water could enter as it dribbled off the transom due to rain or spay. Second, there was no hi loop in the line to the tank and there never has been. If water entered the vent it would go right down to the tank.
So I realigned the vent fitting and implemented a loop in the vent line to prevent any water that did enter from flowing right down to the tank, Now it will flow right back out the vent.
So this stupidity on may part has cost me three injector rebuilds many hours replacing injectors and a bunch of Racor filters not to mention numerous tank cleanings AARGH!
My advice to readers is to check that vent line for a loop if you are not certain one is implemented.