39 year old gen. gas line

hpcrank · Dec 3, 2019

Greetings

My 1981 260 Sundancer has a 6.5 KW. gen. ahead of the v birth. I doubt the flex fuel line has ever been replaced ( wow 39 years old). I have traced the line as far aft as the starboard storage area in the rear birth. The boat has a 100 gal. fuel tank residing on the aft side of the rear birth bulkhead. There is a deck above most of the fuel tank that prevents viewing the gen. fuel line connection to the tank, for that matter you can not even see the fuel gauge wire and float connection either.

I have only 3 choices as I see it. 1. Remove the engine (454 with Merctrans II) and move the 100 gal. tank aft far enough to get at the line then replace entire line from tank to gen. 2. Cut the existing line at the starboard storage compartment and run new line from the existing to the generator. 3. Install a new gas tank, say 5 gal. (external fill and vent) in the generator compartment. The gen. compartment already has an outside air inlet and exhaust fan. I have a fire ext. system from a previously raced sprint car that I would install in the gen. compartment also.

I would appreciate any other ideas and-or comments on my three ideas.

Thanks in advance

Hpcrank

sbw1 · Dec 3, 2019

Pretty sure a gas tank forward of the v berth is unsafe. For that matter it's hard to imagine an oversized genny installed in the space forward of the v berth on a 260. We owned a 1979 260 and a genny was not an option. Would you mind posting a picture of your set up? It sounds pretty unconventional. Will be interesting to see what you have.

Carpediem44DB · Dec 4, 2019

hpcrank said:
My 1981 260 Sundancer has a 6.5 KW. gen. ahead of the v birth. I doubt the flex fuel line has ever been replaced ( wow 39 years old). I have traced the line as far aft as the starboard storage area in the rear birth. The boat has a 100 gal. fuel tank residing on the aft side of the rear birth bulkhead. There is a deck above most of the fuel tank that prevents viewing the gen. fuel line connection to the tank, for that matter you can not even see the fuel gauge wire and float connection either.

Any chance of installing an access panel in the deck above the tank fittings to work thru to replace the hose at the fitting?
CD

Ike · Dec 4, 2019

You really need to replace that fuel line. 39 years is far longer than the hose manufacturer recommends, and ABYC and USCG both say five years. I certainly wouldn't go longer than ten on a fuel line. Putting in an access panel would be an excellent idea. The boat was supposed to be built with access to all fuel fittings. For gas it's the law. For diesel highly recommended.

sbw1 · Dec 5, 2019

Ike said:
You really need to replace that fuel line. 39 years is far longer than the hose manufacturer recommends, and ABYC and USCG both say five years. I certainly wouldn't go longer than ten on a fuel line. Putting in an access panel would be an excellent idea. The boat was supposed to be built with access to all fuel fittings. For gas it's the law. For diesel highly recommended.

I'm wondering if this post is for real. 6.5 kw in a 26 foot boat. Way too much genny. Way too big to fit in the bow. Really odd location for a genny, not to mention unsafe. Was never an option originally. Something is not kosher. No response to pic request. Anyone home?

hpcrank · Dec 10, 2019

Carpediem44DB said:
Any chance of installing an access panel in the deck above the tank fittings to work thru to replace the hose at the fitting?
CD

Greetings

There is currently an access panel that exposes the top (front) one half of the tank, the remaining half is under the fold down seat base so I doubt if I can install another access hatch. I think my next move is to explore behind and above the tank with a mechanics remote camera. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks
Hpcrank

hpcrank · Dec 10, 2019

sbw1 said:
View attachment 77555
I'm wondering if this post is for real. 6.5 kw in a 26 foot boat. Way too much genny. Way too big to fit in the bow. Really odd location for a genny, not to mention unsafe. Was never an option originally. Something is not kosher. No response to pic request. Anyone home?

hpcrank · Dec 10, 2019

sbw1 said:
View attachment 77555
I'm wondering if this post is for real. 6.5 kw in a 26 foot boat. Way too much genny. Way too big to fit in the bow. Really odd location for a genny, not to mention unsafe. Was never an option originally. Something is not kosher. No response to pic request. Anyone home?

hpcrank · Dec 10, 2019

Greetings
It is a 6.5 KW. Onan MCCK gas fueled marine generator. It appears to be stock in all respects and does not look a bit out of scale for this boat (my retired Architect's opinion). It has an access hatch on the deck and an access panel in the front end of the front V berth behind a mirror, all of which appear stock. It has a fresh air inlet and exhaust fan with outlet, both of which appear to be stock. It is wired to a stock Sea Ray electric panel with a voltage meter and a start/stop switch, both functions label engraved in the stock electric panel cover. There is no indication of a non-stock installation.

Here at home
hpcrank

sbw1 · Dec 10, 2019

How about a pic of the genny's location in the v berth?

sbw1 · Dec 10, 2019

I'm wondering if anyone has ever seen a gas generator installed in front of the v-berth on a small boat? Think of the pounding, water and CO infiltration it would take as well as the vibration to the fuel line fittings resulting from that location. Can't picture that would be something SR would ever try.

b_arrington · Dec 10, 2019

I agree it does seem like an odd configuration. I've not seen such an installation before. However, I think we have to take it on faith that the installation is described by the OP.

A 6.5 kW genny does seem a little oversized for the boat; but again we have to trust what the OP is seeing. For reference my 270 AJ had an option for a 4.0 kW or 5.0 kW gas genny. The standard genny for my Back Cove 34 is 5.0 kW; the optional one I have is 7.5 kW and that's for stove, 3 AC units, microwave, 2 fridges, ice maker, battery chargers, hot water, lights, etc. etc.

I'd also like to see a couple photos of the bow genny installation because I'm really curious about the seemingly unique setup

Sublimetime · Dec 11, 2019

Come on---WE NEED PICS. This is one of those ," I have to see it to believe it" times.

At least it shouldn't need any "tab" or trim while running.

sbw1 · Dec 11, 2019

b_arrington said:
I agree it does seem like an odd configuration. I've not seen such an installation before. However, I think we have to take it on faith that the installation is described by the OP.

A 6.5 kW genny does seem a little oversized for the boat; but again we have to trust what the OP is seeing. For reference my 270 AJ had an option for a 4.0 kW or 5.0 kW gas genny. The standard genny for my Back Cove 34 is 5.0 kW; the optional one I have is 7.5 kW and that's for stove, 3 AC units, microwave, 2 fridges, ice maker, battery chargers, hot water, lights, etc. etc.

I'd also like to see a couple photos of the bow genny installation because I'm really curious about the seemingly unique setup

Could be wrong but I don't recall the 260 having a genny option. Fitting it in the ER would have been difficult. Also, a 6.5kw would be ridiculously oversized. You would be running the fridge, the hot plate and battery charger. Never saw an a/c unit on a 260 back in that era. Something seems not quite right about this thread.

PlayDate · Dec 11, 2019

sbw1 said:
Something seems not quite right about this thread.

Yup.

hpcrank · Dec 13, 2019

sbw1 said:
View attachment 77508 Pretty sure a gas tank forward of the v berth is unsafe. For that matter it's hard to imagine an oversized genny installed in the space forward of the v berth on a 260. We owned a 1979 260 and a genny was not an option. Would you mind posting a picture of your set up? It sounds pretty unconventional. Will be interesting to see what you have.

Next time I am at the boat I'll get some photos.

hpcrank · Jan 15, 2020

sbw1 said:
View attachment 77746

Could be wrong but I don't recall the 260 having a genny option. Fitting it in the ER would have been difficult. Also, a 6.5 kw would be ridiculously over sized. You would be running the fridge, the hot plate and battery charger. Never saw an a/c unit on a 260 back in that era. Something seems not quite right about this thread.

Hpcrank the 6.5 MCCK generator guy

Well I do have a camera function on my semi-intelligent flip phone so I will get some photos and then try to figure out how to transfer to my laptop then post them here. (I'm obviously a carb and points kinda guy). To add to the indication that gen. set is a factory install, there is a thru hull in the engine bay same as for the raw engine cooling water with a USCG rated 1 1/2" raw water hose running all the way up to the gen set. The gen. compartment has the Sea Ray foam over its entirety but none on the gen.set. The generator's raw cooling water hose is behind everything, aft bunk wall, head wall, galley cabinets and under framing of the v birth, not cobbled in. In places the gas line and the water line are covered over a little by the dreaded Sea Ray spray foam. This is the same route as is taken by the gas line from the 100 gal. gas tank in the engine bay. Now I will probably learn that a 100 gal. tank was not an available option either.

In Colorado there is no such thing as a boat title so I am taking the model of my boat from the bill of sale as a 260 Sundancer. I suppose it could be wrong. I measured the boat LOA to include the swim platform and the bow pulpit as aprox. 30 feet. I assume only the actual length of the hull would be included in the 260 designation (?).

Hpcrank

PS. The gen.set weighs 430# and there is a generous anchor rode locker in front of the gen. compartment with an electric windlass. Just sayin........................

hpcrank · Jan 15, 2020

b_arrington said:
I agree it does seem like an odd configuration. I've not seen such an installation before. However, I think we have to take it on faith that the installation is described by the OP.

A 6.5 kW genny does seem a little oversized for the boat; but again we have to trust what the OP is seeing. For reference my 270 AJ had an option for a 4.0 kW or 5.0 kW gas genny. The standard genny for my Back Cove 34 is 5.0 kW; the optional one I have is 7.5 kW and that's for stove, 3 AC units, microwave, 2 fridges, ice maker, battery chargers, hot water, lights, etc. etc.

I'd also like to see a couple photos of the bow genny installation because I'm really curious about the seemingly unique setup

Gentlemen

Do any of you know how I could get a list of available options for a 1981 260 Sundancer? I tried to get some info from the Sea Ray site but all that was available were copies of old advertisements.

Hpcrank

hpcrank · Jan 20, 2020

sbw1 said:
View attachment 77508 Pretty sure a gas tank forward of the v berth is unsafe. For that matter it's hard to imagine an oversized genny installed in the space forward of the v berth on a 260. We owned a 1979 260 and a genny was not an option. Would you mind posting a picture of your set up? It sounds pretty unconventional. Will be interesting to see what you have.

Hi

Here are some pictures of the generator in my boat.

Hpcrank

hpcrank · Jan 20, 2020

sbw1 said:
View attachment 77508 Pretty sure a gas tank forward of the v berth is unsafe. For that matter it's hard to imagine an oversized genny installed in the space forward of the v berth on a 260. We owned a 1979 260 and a genny was not an option. Would you mind posting a picture of your set up? It sounds pretty unconventional. Will be interesting to see what you have.

Hi

I posted some photos in a later thread.

Hpcrank

39 year old gen. gas line

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