New Diesel Deck Fill

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

I'm not quite sure how this would work but it looks like a good idea.

http://www.sail-world.com/cruising/index.cfm?nid=93693&rid=11

[Ron Hill]

Mike : I believe that I'd have to get alot more info on that deck fill before I'd install one. 

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

I agree Ron. The idea is good but there's no explanation of how it does what it does.

[Ken Juul]

From the phone code this is a French product.  Appears to be very new, think they are showing at boat shows trying to drum up business.  I could not find any pricing data.  The concept is simple, thinking it could be easily adapted to a DIY project.  I see this as becoming the standard in a year or two.

[Peggie Hall]

It appears from the drawings that the tank is actually vented into the fill (not sure how well that works!) and the fill is vented to the thru-hull. I'm not sure that meets the USCG safety reg that requires all fuel and waste TANKS to be vented to the outside of the vessel.

[Ken Heyman]

If the proper analogy is gassing up at the Shell station, there must be enough "back pressure to stop the filling process when the tank and fill tube are "full".

Ken

[Stu Jackson]

I've never relied on the diesel fuel handle to stop itself, like you do with a car at a gas station.  As many of you know, I have never relied on a fuel gauge on our boat and keep careful track of our fuel use.  I refill our boat tank based on my fuel usage (roughly 1/2 gallon per engine run hour tracked over the past 13 years for our M25 engine).  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3841.0.html

When I get within a gallon of my expected refill requirement, I simply slow the hose down and listen carefully.  I'd rather stop a half gallon too short than have fuel run out the vent.

Looks like this idea is an answer in search of a perhaps nonexistent problem.

[Peggie Hall]

If the proper analogy is gassing up at the Shell station, there must be enough "back pressure to stop the filling process when the tank and fill tube are "full". Ken

Which may make my point...'cuz I don't THINK automotive fuel tanks are vented.

[Craig Illman]

Auto fuel tanks are vented through carbon canisters to block VOC emissions. If they weren't vented, removing fuel would create a vacuum.

[Peggie Hall]

Of course they have to be vented...what was I THINKING?

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

But isn't the auto shut off feature a function of the pump nozzle? I've never seen a marine diesel pump with that feature.

[Ted Pounds]

All the diesel pumps I've used have auto-shut-off...  They're basically the same as gas pumps just (usually) a different sized nozzle.

[Ken Juul]

Finally got an answer from the USCG. 

"I don't see any problem with this product.  There are plenty of fuel fills in use that actually vent through the fuel fill cap and not though a separate vent line.  The system as designed by Econab meets the Federal requirements."