Retired from newspapers and television, currently sailing Thelonious II, a 1984 Ericson 381.
I use the engine to charge the batteries, and although there is solar capability on the new boat, I want the engine to run after rough weather has shaken the fuel tank like a rag doll and left arms, legs and little button eyes of ancient glop to collect in the fuel filter.
So: open up the fuel tank and clean it. That means installing inspection ports. It's not a very hard or expensive job, but gathering the parts and going through the steps does take time. Shortcuts might mean leaking inspection ports, which would not be good, and mere dirty fuel filters would actually be better.
This video shows my procedures. Most of the ideas came from the gang here on the forum, for which, thanks.
Listen, a 30-year-old tank is going to have crud in it. That's why we have primary fuel filters. It is normal for a tank to have crud in it. It is not a moral dilemma or the mark of a bad owner or even worth thinking about much.
Everybody uses his boat differently. I have some long voyages in mind, maybe, and without crew, maybe, and expect to be put through the weather blender, maybe. Maybe that justifies carving up perfectly good aluminum. And maybe not.
The fact is, I came very close to not bothering with this project at all, because I think two Racor 500 filters arranged so that they could be switched at the first sign of fuel starvation would handle the issue without sawing up the boat.
So: open up the fuel tank and clean it. That means installing inspection ports. It's not a very hard or expensive job, but gathering the parts and going through the steps does take time. Shortcuts might mean leaking inspection ports, which would not be good, and mere dirty fuel filters would actually be better.
This video shows my procedures. Most of the ideas came from the gang here on the forum, for which, thanks.
Listen, a 30-year-old tank is going to have crud in it. That's why we have primary fuel filters. It is normal for a tank to have crud in it. It is not a moral dilemma or the mark of a bad owner or even worth thinking about much.
Everybody uses his boat differently. I have some long voyages in mind, maybe, and without crew, maybe, and expect to be put through the weather blender, maybe. Maybe that justifies carving up perfectly good aluminum. And maybe not.
The fact is, I came very close to not bothering with this project at all, because I think two Racor 500 filters arranged so that they could be switched at the first sign of fuel starvation would handle the issue without sawing up the boat.
