Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-07-2017, 05:19 PM   #1
Member
 
City: Palos Heights, Il
Vessel Model: 31' Offshore steel trawler, Sable
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
Bad fuel

I bought a Tiny Tug out of Brewerton NY, headed to Oswego, crossed Lake Ontario, crossed west to Trenton.
During the voyage I had to change my Racor 3 times.
Question, could I install a second primary Racor plumbed to the original,
then when the engine began to stumble, switch the valve, (valves?), and continue my journey?? I could replace the clogged filter after the engine cooled?? How about a 20 gallon "day tank"??

Many thanks to one and all
CaptFun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 05:26 PM   #2
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,151
Yes, they have filter setups like tbat off the shelf.

Go to the Parker website.
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 05:39 PM   #3
Guru
 
dhays's Avatar
 
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptFun View Post
I bought a Tiny Tug out of Brewerton NY, headed to Oswego, crossed Lake Ontario, crossed west to Trenton.
During the voyage I had to change my Racor 3 times.
Question, could I install a second primary Racor plumbed to the original,
then when the engine began to stumble, switch the valve, (valves?), and continue my journey?? I could replace the clogged filter after the engine cooled?? How about a 20 gallon "day tank"??

Many thanks to one and all
As psneed said, that is done all the time. You can either add another filter, or take out what you have and put in a dual filter setup. A dual system, although more expensive, is really convenient.

A number of folks here have day tanks. I think that sounds like a great setup, but a dual Racor is a lot easier and ultimately less expensive to install.

In the meantime, figure out what the problem really is. I wouldn't expect bad fuel in your area this late in the season. I am often surprised and more often wrong.
__________________
Regards,

Dave
SPOT page
dhays is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 06:07 PM   #4
Guru
 
twistedtree's Avatar
 
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,093
Dual racors sound like the best approach. Check out a 75900 as an example.

I'm a fan of day tanks, but they take up space and require a transfer pump, so more complicated and more space. How tiny is your Tiny Tug?
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
twistedtree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 09:10 PM   #5
Guru
 
City: kemah
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,135
Could be you are agitating the dead bugs in the tanks by the hull moving. You can get people to come to a marina and polish the fuel in your tanks.
what_barnacles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 09:16 PM   #6
Veteran Member
 
Mach_cat's Avatar
 
City: Renton
Vessel Model: 1981 Hardin Sedan 42
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 90
What do you mean by transfer pump? Before or after filters?
Mach_cat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 10:17 PM   #7
Guru
 
twistedtree's Avatar
 
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,093
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach_cat View Post
What do you mean by transfer pump? Before or after filters?

A typical day tank arrangement would be as follows:

1) One or more storage tanks. There are where purchased fuel goes.

2) A transfer pump and filter to move fuel from the storage tanks to the day tank. As fuel is transferred, it is filtered so only clean fuel ever gets into the day tank. This gives you segregation between purchased fuel and consumable fuel.

3) Your engines draw from the day tank through normal filtration. This would typically include an off-engine filter like a Racor, or perhaps a dual Racor as mentioned already. Then followed by the on-engine filter(s).

4) Return fuel from the engines goes back to the day tank.

It's a very effective arrangement, but as mentioned earlier, take up space, requires a transfer pump and additional filter, and requires that you monitor the day tank level and keep it filled via periodic transfers. More than one boat has stalled because the day tank was allowed to run dry.
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
twistedtree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2017, 06:27 AM   #8
Member
 
City: Palos Heights, Il
Vessel Model: 31' Offshore steel trawler, Sable
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
no one to "polish Fuel"

My tiny tug is at Trenton Marina for August. I've been to many marinas, but this marina is the greatest.
Craig, the manager is beyond helpful. I talked with Craig and a local mechanic but neither had anyone in mild who could polish my fuel. I imagine I have around 250 gallons on board.
CaptFun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2017, 06:48 AM   #9
Guru
 
jleonard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
What do the filters look like when you change them? Got pics?
What micron are they? What engine?
I ask because I went thru a similar scenario on my current boat and I ended up installing a multi-stage system.
I also replaced a flexible fuel line which may have ben delaminated internally.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
jleonard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2017, 07:34 AM   #10
Guru
 
City: kemah
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,135
If you mean trenton, nj...

https://www.google.com/search?q=mari...utf-8&oe=utf-8
what_barnacles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2017, 11:56 AM   #11
Guru
 
Steve's Avatar
 
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
You can buy a dual unit like the one shown below, switches with yellow handle to change "on the run". I have seen some folks add a second filter with home made plumbing, tubing or hoses, and valves to do the same thing.
The picture below is on my single engine Monk 36 there is a vacuum gauge between the filters it reads from the filter in service.
Attached Thumbnails
Racors mounted on side of fuel Enclosure.jpg  
__________________
Steve W.
https://mvgumbo.blogspot.com/
Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2017, 05:00 PM   #12
Member
 
City: Palos Heights, Il
Vessel Model: 31' Offshore steel trawler, Sable
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
I have not been able to locate someone to polish my fuel in Trenton, Ontario.
Perhaps I could get 2 empty 5'ers with lids, a 12 volt pump, soft copper, and rubber hose. It is a straight shot from the fill to the bottom of the tank. I could suck crap and water from the bottom of the tanks. I would think, filling up a 5 gal. bucket would remove a lot to my problem??
CaptFun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2017, 07:32 PM   #13
Guru
 
BruceK's Avatar
 
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,333
CaptFun, even a manual pump connected to a plastic tube ziptied to a wooden dowel will get you to the bottom of the tank. Pump and see what comes up. Pump until what comes up is clean diesel. I`ve done it.
For prevention, you need to work out how the foreign matter got there. One bad fill,defective tank filler seals, whatever.
I`m assuming you have no inspection ports on the side of your tanks, and no drains at the bottom.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
BruceK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2017, 07:41 PM   #14
Member
 
City: Palos Heights, Il
Vessel Model: 31' Offshore steel trawler, Sable
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
I have inspection plates, about 8"x12" on each tank. Not sure about the bottom drain. I have not cut the filters open yet. It looked black from what I could see.
CaptFun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2017, 09:00 PM   #15
Guru
 
BruceK's Avatar
 
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,333
Bottom drains are good if they have valves, though mechanics seem to be able to drain from plug types without getting diesel everywhere.
To open the plates you need fuel below the plates, do you have 2 tanks to facilitate that,or can you use extra tankage?
Why not find out what is lurking down there using my simple method. One step at a time. If you get back to clean fuel the filters may sort the problem over time without too many filter changes. You might want to add some biocide/fuel conditioner/snake oil, plenty of old discussions about that to search on TF.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
BruceK is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012