I think I have found my next boat. I'll be moving from a 25ft with an outboard to a 28ft with a inboard diesel. The boat has not been used for three years. I'm concern about the diesel, and more specifically, the three year old fuel. Have any of you dealt with this issue? What is your advise?
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agree
All of the above. Was the boat outside or inside all this time? Just like a car anything rubber( hoses, seals, ect) may be suspect. Make sure when launched for the first time you leave it in the bay for some time then check all through-hulls, run the engine up to temp, so in case you have a leak or hose bust you can come right out and make repairs. bottom line is be careful in the first 24 hours and then your first few times out. Listen for noises that sound strange and trust your gut. Also check your chain-plates well before purchase, wouldn't want a failure when under high load, I went through that, not a graet day on the lake. Pray for Wind, Lugeman
All of the above. Was the boat outside or inside all this time? Just like a car anything rubber( hoses, seals, ect) may be suspect. Make sure when launched for the first time you leave it in the bay for some time then check all through-hulls, run the engine up to temp, so in case you have a leak or hose bust you can come right out and make repairs. bottom line is be careful in the first 24 hours and then your first few times out. Listen for noises that sound strange and trust your gut. Also check your chain-plates well before purchase, wouldn't want a failure when under high load, I went through that, not a graet day on the lake. Pray for Wind, Lugeman
engine
What make engine does the boat have? My previous boat had a Westerbeke 30 1977 vintage that sat for about the same time. I changed the fuel and cleaned the tank, changed the filters and hoses, changed the oil in both the trans and engine, bled the system and she started on the first try and ran like a charm. Never had a problem with the engine in the 5-years I sailed her other than typical small stuff dealing with a 25+/- year old engine.. Good Luck!! Greg
What make engine does the boat have? My previous boat had a Westerbeke 30 1977 vintage that sat for about the same time. I changed the fuel and cleaned the tank, changed the filters and hoses, changed the oil in both the trans and engine, bled the system and she started on the first try and ran like a charm. Never had a problem with the engine in the 5-years I sailed her other than typical small stuff dealing with a 25+/- year old engine.. Good Luck!! Greg
Yeap, dump the old fuel
buy cheap 5 gallon gas cans. Disconnect the fuel line from before the secondary fuel filter (the one closest to the fuel tank). Use a hand or drill pump and fill the cans. Replace the fuel with new. When the boat is in the water replace the primary and secondary fuel filters. NOTE: You can use the old fuel for home heating oil.
buy cheap 5 gallon gas cans. Disconnect the fuel line from before the secondary fuel filter (the one closest to the fuel tank). Use a hand or drill pump and fill the cans. Replace the fuel with new. When the boat is in the water replace the primary and secondary fuel filters. NOTE: You can use the old fuel for home heating oil.
Great advise, but follow-up
Great advise, thanks....now here is the follow-up question. Clear the tank? How do you do that?
Great advise, thanks....now here is the follow-up question. Clear the tank? How do you do that?
never done it
Maybe a duct cleaning service(like the ones in your house) would do it. I doubt that they would come to your boat, but if you brought the tank to them, maybe?? Might be just as easy to replace tank at that point. Pray for Wind, Lugeman
Maybe a duct cleaning service(like the ones in your house) would do it. I doubt that they would come to your boat, but if you brought the tank to them, maybe?? Might be just as easy to replace tank at that point. Pray for Wind, Lugeman
Replace the tank
When I overhauled my fuel system last spring I had a plastic fuel tank that the PO had installed and I found a hairball type of crud in the pickup tube and no inspection plate to see what the tank looked like so after yanking the tank and seeing how much of a pain to clean with out being able to see into it I just replaced it for 150 dollars (West Marine) and then I was able to reinstall mine into a tighter space giving me more storage space below and piece of mind
When I overhauled my fuel system last spring I had a plastic fuel tank that the PO had installed and I found a hairball type of crud in the pickup tube and no inspection plate to see what the tank looked like so after yanking the tank and seeing how much of a pain to clean with out being able to see into it I just replaced it for 150 dollars (West Marine) and then I was able to reinstall mine into a tighter space giving me more storage space below and piece of mind
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