ZZ13
Well-Known Member
My boat has fuel tank selector valves for each engine. There is a compartment in the cockpit where those valves are mounted. 8 lines go through the deck hole into the valves. 1 supply line from each tank, 1 return line input from each fuel cooler, 1 return line output to each tank, and one output line to each engines RACOR filter system. That's a lot of fuel fittings to maintain. Well, one is leaking slightly - the port output that goes to the RACOR. I am trying to figure out how to twist and turn the mounting panel to get access to the fittings behind it, but there isn't much slack in the lines so I am going slow. First question, does anyone have trick to get access to the back of the valves and the fittings? The leak appears to be coming out of the threads. So I am hoping it just needs some tightening. Anyone have an experience as to what the odds of that are?
Now, I am considering ripping it all out and direct plumbing the port tank to the port Racor, the port return line to the port tank, and the same for the Starboard. That would eliminate all those fittings and the selector valves as well as a bunch of lines could be removed from the engine room. Has anyone done this and is there a reason this is a bad idea? I believe the next generation of my boat (the 420DB) did away with this selection, but maybe wrong there.
Now, I am considering ripping it all out and direct plumbing the port tank to the port Racor, the port return line to the port tank, and the same for the Starboard. That would eliminate all those fittings and the selector valves as well as a bunch of lines could be removed from the engine room. Has anyone done this and is there a reason this is a bad idea? I believe the next generation of my boat (the 420DB) did away with this selection, but maybe wrong there.