Need advice on where to get boat repair in Abacos

[Paul Baker]

I am currently anchored in Marsh Harbour.
We will be in Abacos area until mid June.
We are on a 2000 Mainship 390 Trawler.
I have a Yanmar 300HP engine and two 150 gallon fuel tanks.
I am only drawing diesel from one of the fuel tanks on the Starboard side.
I think return fuel from engine and generator is returning to the port side and it is full. I get small amount of diesel overflow into the bilge.
The boat is listing to port because of the extra weight.
QUESTION: Can anyone recommend a place to get this looked at and repaired?
I was thinking of calling Edwins boat yard on Man O War Cay?
Anybody have any experience of repairs in this area or suggestions? Any feedback on wins boat yard?
Thank you...

 

[Ski in NC]

Should be able to figure it out yourself, and with some help here. Engine should have fuel valves that control the flow between the two tanks and the engine and gen, and maybe a fuel crossover that can be opened between the two tanks. Operator needs to know the fuel system and valves.

 

[menzies]

Paul, post a photo of your valve set up. You should be able to draw from either individually and return to either one, draw from both, return to both etc.

I would also suspect that you may be dumping fuel into the water through the vent.

 

[Paul Baker]

This is the port side fuel tank that is full:

 

[Paul Baker]

This is the starboard side fuel tank that the engine and generator must be using

 

[menzies]

Paul, if you follow the fuel line from the tanks do they run straight to and from the engine or do they run to a set of switching valves?

Any chance you have a fuel transfer pump?

 

[Paul Baker]

the bottom of the fuel tanks that are open just connect directly to each other, I presume they should equalize but they are not.
Both fuel tanks feed into one Racor filter that then feeds into a flow scan unit before going to the engine fuel filter

 

[cardude01]

Any possibility the equalization line connection at the bottom of the port tank is clogged somehow? Clogged with old diesel “gunk” maybe and not letting fuel pass to the other tank?

Wonder if you could pressurize that starboard tank a little bit and force a clog out?

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. PB. I wondered exactly what Mr. 01 posted. A blockage in the crossover. Before you attempt to pressurize anything I would try the following:


Since your crossover system seems to have ball valves, it might be a simple matter of closing both valves and disconnecting one end of the crossover hose that is immediately after either valve. Any spillage will be limited to whatever fuel may be in the hose.
At that point, I would put a container under the valve without the hose and open and close the valve VERY quickly. You should get a shot of fuel into the container. Do the same with the loose hose end. That will indicate the presence of ANY blockage. Have diapers close at hand.

 

[Maerin]

the bottom of the fuel tanks that are open just connect directly to each other, I presume they should equalize but they are not.
Both fuel tanks feed into one Racor filter that then feeds into a flow scan unit before going to the engine fuel filter

What RT said.

I would NOT attempt to pressurize the tanks. Too much risk of something going wrong. If the tank is full there's already some pressure on the hose from the full tank.



If you test the crossover line as RT recommended, you should be able to determine if there is a blockage at either one of the crossover connections at the tank. If one is blocked, you should be able to close the valve, get a piece of wire like a coathanger wire and remove the flare fitting on the inboard side of the valve, then insert the wire as far as the valve. Hold a rag or pad around the opening to prevent fuel from spilling, then open the valve and work the wire into the line past the valve and into the tank while using the pad to seal up where the wire is entering the pipe. Withdraw the wire and close the ball valve, then put a container under the fitting and open the valve briefly to flush the gunk. Expect a bit of a mess, think your moves through and be smooth but deliberate.
If you remove those flare fittings, make SURE you are backing up the fitting with a 2nd wrench. The torque should be wrench to wrench, never to the tank fitting. If that doesn't make sense, then you might consider getting some help to confirm what you're doing is mechanically sound.

 

[menzies]

Will be interesting to see how this pans out.

 

[Maerin]

the bottom of the fuel tanks that are open just connect directly to each other, I presume they should equalize but they are not.
Both fuel tanks feed into one Racor filter that then feeds into a flow scan unit before going to the engine fuel filter

Does the Racor have some sort of valving that determines which tank it draws from?

Take some time to methodically sketch out the fuel system, with valves, piping, any devices. Then follow the sketch to determine how the system works. Pictures of an isolated piece of hose, valve, etc. won't enable someone to help you. A diagram will, and should enable you to determine on your own why your system is not working as it should.

 

[cardude01]

Greetings,
Mr. PB. I wondered exactly what Mr. 01 posted. A blockage in the crossover. Before you attempt to pressurize anything I would try the following:


Since your crossover system seems to have ball valves, it might be a simple matter of closing both valves and disconnecting one end of the crossover hose that is immediately after either valve. Any spillage will be limited to whatever fuel may be in the hose.
At that point, I would put a container under the valve without the hose and open and close the valve VERY quickly. You should get a shot of fuel into the container. Do the same with the loose hose end. That will indicate the presence of ANY blockage. Have diapers close at hand.

Yeah this sounds better than my pressure idea! Maybe the equalizing hose (assume it’s a hose) has collapsed or is blocked with crud. Could run a wire thru it to clear it if needed maybe? If the hose is collapsed it might not be too hard to replace that hose DIY.

Question: why does the engine only draw from the starboard tank and rely on the tanks to equalize? You sure there is not a valve where you can draw from the port tank?

 

[Shrew]

You could temporarily remedy the situation.

1) Close the return to the port tank.
2) Close the feed from the starboard tank.

Now you should be drawing from Port and Returning to Stbd. Once tanks are equalized, draw and return from only one tank. Alternate run times between Port and Starboard to balance tank usage.

It's not a permanent solution. But it should be an ok workaround.

 

[menzies]

You could temporarily remedy the situation.

1) Close the return to the port tank.
2) Close the feed from the starboard tank.

Now you should be drawing from Port and Returning to Stbd. Once tanks are equalized, draw and return from only one tank. Alternate run times between Port and Starboard to balance tank usage.

It's not a permanent solution. But it should be an ok workaround.

Doesn't sound like he has a feed from the port tank to the engine.

 

[Paul Baker]

Thanks everybody for the great advice.
I am taking the boat into a shop and will be sure to post the outcome.
I am a novice and am scared to death of 150 gallons spilling out into the beautiful Bahamas if I screw up.

I will get the shop to check the equalizing hose to make sure no blockage.
While the hose is off I will also get them to check when valves open the diesel flows and if not insert wire to try and unclog.
I will also get the shop to check there is no blockage from port fuel tank into the Racor fuel filter.

If that fails I was thinking there must be some kind of air valve on the top of the tanks to stop creating a vacuum and stopping equalization?

If all that fails then I will try and manage the situation by turning off fuel feed from the starboard side and running from the port side and alternating. That should help with the listing.
My concern with that is what if there is some fuel blockage and the engine is starved of fuel. Is there any priming needed to get restarted because I have no idea how to do that. I think it is not an issue on a 2000 Yanmar but???

I will let you all know - thanks again so much for your great input!

 

[BigTime]

We received very good service 5 years ago from Boat Harbour Marina which is on the backside of Marsh Harbour a little past the Abaco Beach Resort. We stopped at Edwin's first and glad we continued to Marsh Harbour.

 

[menzies]

Maybe try different fuel feeds with the genny first rather than the engine, that way you cause less of an issue.

Not sure with your engine, but you should have a priming paddle on the engine which you can pump - just be aware it can take a lot of pumping to clear the air - ask me how I know!

 

[sunchaser]

You could temporarily remedy the situation.

1) Close the return to the port tank.
2) Close the feed from the starboard tank.

Now you should be drawing from Port and Returning to Stbd. Once tanks are equalized, draw and return from only one tank. Alternate run times between Port and Starboard to balance tank usage.

It's not a permanent solution. But it should be an ok workaround.

Alternating draw from a tank and returning to same is the best way to manage your fuel. Cross overs often create more issues than they remedy. My crossovers have never been opened since the boat was built. A fuel transfer pump is a must have IMHO to take care of over filling or prepare one tank for fresh fuel while other holds older fuel.

Often I run tanks (four) at different levels to balance boat. Same with water tanks.

 

[HiDHo]

Check the hoses on the tank top photos. If they are tank vent hoses they should rise to the deck vents, if they don’t they could have fuel in them blocking the vents and stopping equalization.

 

[Symphony]

Easiest thing is to check that the vent to the tank is not clogged with insect nest.

it's easy to find the vent hose on the top of the tank, and easy to find the vent on port side. my Mainship has the holding tank and fuel tank vents port side near each other, and fuel tank and water tank vents on starboard.

don't pressurize the tanks - you can cause lots of problems

 

[Paul Baker]

Fuel tanks not equalizing

I took the boat into Marsh Harbour Boat yard.
They were excellent. I had tried Edwins.
At Edwins, the owner had told me to bring the boat in on a Tuesday - when I did he said he couldn't see it. He also had difficulty communicating and seemed to be a little out of it - so glad I went to Marsh Harbour Boat Yard.
The crossover pipe did indeed have a blockage.
Disconnected the pipe from both tanks and after a strong blow, dislodged what was there. Didn't find what it was as the diesel sprayed everywhere when it freed up.

I think it is resolved, will know when I try to fill up both tanks with diesel. It still seems to me like the boat is listing to the port side - I will know for sure at the end of the week.
Thank you everybody for your suggestions and help!

 

[ksceviour]

If the crossover lines were plugged the tank would still be drawing down with engine burn, just not as much as the other side due to fuel return. An unvented tank will neither equalize nor feed.

To eliminate a venting issue just unscrew the fill plug and listen for air entering the tank. There should be none. If you hear the tank equalize then you have a venting issue

 

[jimfrens]

I thought it was a violation of ABYC / CG rules to have connections at the bottom of a fuel tank. Or is that for gas only and doesn't apply to diesel?

 

[Paul Baker]

Port tank not pulling diesel

OK - hers an update.
As a previous poster suggested, I opened the full port tank fill up and listened for air being sucked in - there was nothing I noticed.
Had some guys swing over in Marsh Harbour to look and brain storm - nice guys, Martin and Roger I think.
Roger offered that it can take a couple of days for tanks to equalize - we will see.
The feed to the racor is simple, both tanks feed into a T junction that feeds the primary racor. The return feed also goes into a T junction and splits to the 2 fuel tanks.
Martin noticed that the port side return pipe was considerably shorted than the starboard side so maybe less friction so a lot of fuel goes back into port.

After much discussion, while still anchored, I turned off the feed from the emptying starboard tank and just left the port tank open. I ran the engine for 35 minutes at 1200 RPM. Engine ran fine. I didn't want to do this on the open sea in case engine stopped at an awkward time.
So that is my solution - I will switch tanks at intervals - I should in a few days see the boat stop listing.

Thank you so much folks for all the suggestions - it really helped me to think things through!

 

[dhays]

Glad you found a solution. However, I would suggest that your solution is a stop gap. At some point, you should see about installing a manifold by your Racor filter where you can select what tank to draw from and what tank to return to. In my opinion, the crossover should normally be closed unless the tank levels need to be equalized. Some boats have balance issues such that fuel tends to follow the list of the boat. That can exacerbate the fuel imbalance.

 

[Marlinmike]

I second this:

Some boats have balance issues such that fuel tends to follow the list of the boat. That can exacerbate the fuel imbalance.