Fuel Vent Overflow

[rmbrown]

Awesome info... thanks one and all. 

I've ordered the racor product since I'll be in there anyway, but I realize it is there to help, not to save me, so I'll implement Stu's log as well.

I appreciate it!

[rmbrown]

For what it's worth, it's on sale now at Defender for $84... Normally about $90 there and $125 at West Marine.

[Noah]

Mike- the Boat US testers had the Racor as their "staff pick". They also said it was the size of a grapefruit, so make sure you have enough clearance to install it. Also, the Racor instructions indicate it should be installed  as close to vertical as you can get it — at no less than a 45 degree angle. Then of course there is the unpleasant reality of having to undo "everything" in the way to get to the vent line to install it.... Hmmmm.

[rmbrown]

Noah... I'm fortunate(?) in that everything is currently out of the way... I'm installing a heater in that space so fuel and water tanks are out and I've crawled in there a few times already. :)

[scgunner]

      Mike,

        I like to keep it simple. When I want to top off the tank I just disconnect the overflow line from the transom fitting and put the line into an empty fuel can then fill until you get a splash in the can, after which I run the motor for a few minutes to burn the fuel in the line then reattach the overflow line.

[Noah]

You're kidding, right? Everytime you fill up  you burrow back to the transom and disconnect the vent?

[mark_53]

After over filling a time or two I just watch the fuel gage until it hits full.  Then go slow from there.

[Bill Shreeves]

I'm still a newbie as we're just now about to start our 3rd season. On our boat the fuel gauge shows 3/4 when about full and I don't feel comfortable with that.  Anyway, I thought I'd share what I learned was an, I'm told, old-school technique:

Fill the tank with generally rapid flow rate with your ear close enough to the fill opening so you can hear the fuel going in to the tank and the air escaping.  You wouldn't catch me doing this with gasoline!  You'll notice an even pitch to the sound.  When the tank is full the pitch will rise noticeably. When you hear the pitch rise stop.  You may hear a couple gurgles but listen for the pitch change.  The pitch change is the fuel beginning to get near or fill the hose to the tank.  If you listen for it, it's hard to miss however, if you fill really slowly you wont hear it.  I was nervous the first time but, an experienced fuel dock hand from my marina "coached" me.   As a precaution, the admiral holds an absorbent cloth over the vent and will tell me if she gets dampness.  That happened only once during the first season with no fuel getting in to the water.   It is a little more challenging for me to hear if its windy or really noisy because my hearing isn't what it used to be.  I do intend to get my fuel gauge squared away but, I'm  not sure how much I'll trust it for fueling.  I'll likely install the Racor Lifeguard in the future as well.

[britinusa]

We only fill from Diesel Canisters and do not fill past the Nearly full mark.

That should keep us going under motor for about 30 hours, that's not going to happen!

Paul

[scgunner]

     Noah,

        No, I'm not kidding. The only time I top up my tank is at the end of my boating season when the boat isn't going to get used very much(winter). So I usually only top the tank once a year, the rest of the time I usually run about 3/4plus which is plenty of fuel for my outings. I don't know what your aft locker is like(it must be jamb packed)but I just lift the lid, reach around with a socket driver, disconnect the line and stick it in the can, it takes a couple of minutes and about the same for the reverse.

[rmbrown]

Interesting!  Mine isn't accessible via the lazarette because the propane tank is in the way.  I have to empty the aft berth, remove the cushions, remove the plywood bulkheads, remove the aft water tank, the fuel tank or both, and then belly crawl 5' into the depths of hell!

[Jon W]

Might be the difference between a MK 1 and the newer designs. My vent line is pretty easy to get to as well.

[KWKloeber]

Jon

Remember the MK-1.5 has the separated stern lockers, hence the LP tank is where the vent is in the MK-1 lazerette.

k

[sailaway]

Guys I use a paper towel over the vent hole when I am filling. My right hand is on the fuel fill, my left hand covers the vent with a paper towel. I have a 1986 mk1. Some of the Canada Marina I visit have an absorbing pad on a stick they are very picky about over flow. Charlie

[Noah]

What!!? No full serve fuel docks in Canada, where you can blame overflow/spills on the attendant???