Fuel Filter and Ball in console

[Fletch170]

Hey guys, just wanted to ask a quick question before I build a boat that is destined to explode and lay in pieces on the ocean floor.

Is it OK to mount the Fuel filter and priming ball inside of my center console (170)? I'm guessing it is?

-Fletch

[Fletch170]

Also,

Is it just dumb to run your electronics and fuel in the same rigging tube?

[Spectre5922]

Hi Fletch,

You have seen my thread on my rebuild, so you know what I'm working on.  I have run things a little different.  I am mounting my fuel/water seperator on the transom (starboard side) and when I installed the new tank, I actually ran my fuel feed line through a new hole that I drilled in the back of the tank compartment (I have a sleeve that the hose runs through to prevent the line being cut by boat movement).  On my 19-6 I ran it straight out the back under the floor in a pvc pipe to the bilge area.  From there, I ran it over a dip in the stringer into the side area between my cap and outer hull, then it comes out inside the boat on the starboard side through a gasket/through hull right into the seperator.  This way i not only free up space in the cable trough but I also seperate the fuel line from any electronics/battery wires.  I also am installing the primer bulb in between the seperator and the motor.  It just seemed like a clean way to run everything with the least amount of hose visible.  My boat originally had the seperator/bulb under the console, but if you ever have to pull the console, the fewer things to disconnect, the better.  It will be a little longer before I have pics ready, but I'll post them up as soon as it's done.  Maybe I'll rig it temporarily and take some pics just to show you what I'm talking about.

[fitz73222]

I've never been a fan of mounting anything fuel related under the console. You are just putting electrical and fuel in the same closed environment. I know it is difficult to find a nice spot to mount the filter on an open transom boat but it is what it is. Spend the extra money and buy the stainless steel filter mount and at least you want have to watch it fall apart in a year or so.

[Fletch170]

Man......form vs function eh? I'm OCD with clean looks, and I just cant bring myself to hang the filter right out in the open. Since the 17's console is open at the bottom, I'm hoping no fumes would collect. I think I'll run the fuel on oil (Which is also going under the console) in a seperate 2 inch rigging tube, and all of the electronics in a 3 inch.

If you see an explosion off the cape may coast this summer, you'll know why!

Spectre, I'd love to see those pictures!

-Fletch

[Spectre5922]

Here are your pics Fletch.....

This is the bilge area without the hatch mounted.  You can see the hose coiled up in it, ready to run into the hull side and out to the filter.


The hose is fed into the bilge through a tube in the back of the tank compartment, then into the bilge.  From there it is fed over a drop in the rear of the starboard stringer into the hull cavity, then up and out the through-hull fitting that you see in the picture.


This was just temporarily mocked up for the picture and will not be permanently mounted until the final rigging.  You might want to consider this way, OCD or not   .  It really is a clean installation.

Sorry if the pics aren't real clear.  I didn't rtealize it until I got home and uploaded them.

[seabob4]

Well, ABYC covers all aspects of fuel system installation, routing of lines, distances from batteries, orientation in regards to batts, all kinds of wonderful stuff...

So look at it this way, in regards to mixing electrical with fuel.  The transom, in enclosed areas, is really no different then the helm.  Yeah, the helm is probably busier with wiring, but the 12V is still in both places, just waiting to be mixed with the fuel, should the opportunity present itself.  But, in order for that juice to do any damage, it has to present itself in the form of a spark, which comes in the form of a short.  Most of us don't have that form present on our boats...or at least we hope we don't.  Remember, virtually all of the equipment aboard a boat is "Ignition Protected", which means with the energizing of said equipment, they will not generate a spark, which could lead to ignition of fuel...but fuel in vapor form (fumes), not raw liquid fuel...

I could go on and on about where fuel components should be located, where electrical components should be located, blah, blah, blah.  The real key is proper installation, proper safety precautions, and proper maintenance.  I recently re-wired a little TwinVee with twin 70 Tohatsus.  The fuel tank was under the console, as well as a second tank forward of the main under the forward console seat.  Fuel fill, vent, feed lines, crossovers...all under the console, directly below the helm panel, electronics, etc.  Had to de-rig all the fuel chit and pull both tanks out to get at anything.  Now, doesn't one think that a setup like that poses a bit more risk than simply a primer bulb?

Do everything right, and there will be no problems.  And personally, I like the primer bulb in the splashwell, as opposed to hiding it in a compartment.  Just makes priming that much easier...

[Fletch170]

Bob,

You raise very good points. For a serious accident, there would need to be a few failures to make a dangerous situation possible. I've been reading this and planning out my wiring to be sure everything is done correctly.

http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/doityourse ... wiring.htm

[Spectre5922]

I didn't re-route the fuel line specifically for safety reasons because as Bob said, boats have fuel and electric together all the time. In fact, when I first got my boat, the primer and filter were under the console.  I did it because I thought it was a much cleaner installation and cut down on the number of things running in the cable trough, which makes pulling new wires in the future MUCH easier. I also didn't like having to get under the console to prime or change the filter. I am already going to have 2 batteries, a battery switch and storage under there, so I wanted as few things as possible to continue the clutter.

By the way... Thanks for the wiring link. I just saved it and I'm going to go back later and read it.

[Fletch170]

Spectre,

I'd really like to run everything seperately, but I'm nut sure if there is enough room. Space below deck is at a premium in the 17, especially toward the stern. I will need to run the fuel line, oil line, 2 harness lines to the motor, the battery connection to the motor, depth finder, and bildge pump to the stern. I might do just one 4 inch PVC pipe back.....I'll plan it out this weekend when I get down to the shop.

My biggest concern is cutting the stringer to fit the rigging tube up into the console. Right now there is a notch where the floor through went, but to make the PVC tubing fit, I will need to cut it out and glass around it. I'm hoping this now "Void" in the stringer system will not make the boat weak. If you look at the pictures on the blog, you will see what I mean.