We have a 1998 Passage 450 and ever since taking delivery we have had a problem in re-fueling the boat. When fueling, there is never any indication of the tank being near full by fuel coming from the vent/overflow. The tank, rather abruptly, bubbles out the filler tube instead of the vent as the first and only indication of a full tank. A mechanic from our dealership said that the vent is clear HOWEVER, when the tank is full it is full to the point of the fuel tank swelling. The mechanic said that the tank was "overfilled"!? Other than pulling the main cabin bunk apart to actually view the level what other method is there? With the recent couple of reports of tank failures in 450's I admit some concern here. Could the vent loop tube be too high as to cause the fller to act as the "vent/overflow" first? Anyone have a similar experience?
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Mark Johnson
Listen to it
I always know approximately how much fuel I'm going to take, so when I get close I slow the flow down and listen. On my boat there is a different sound to the fuel going into the filler tube when the tank is almost full. It almost sounds like filling a bottle and when the liquid reaches the neck of the bottle it just sounds different. Make any sense? Mark Johnson
I always know approximately how much fuel I'm going to take, so when I get close I slow the flow down and listen. On my boat there is a different sound to the fuel going into the filler tube when the tank is almost full. It almost sounds like filling a bottle and when the liquid reaches the neck of the bottle it just sounds different. Make any sense? Mark Johnson
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Paul Akers
Calculate it
On our 37, I know that I usually use about 1/2 gallon of fuel per hour. This is wether motoring or charging batteries. Keep a log of your running time. Then you will be able to calculate how much fuel you will need at fill-up. This also serves as a reminder for oil changes, fuel filter replacement and other maintenance.
On our 37, I know that I usually use about 1/2 gallon of fuel per hour. This is wether motoring or charging batteries. Keep a log of your running time. Then you will be able to calculate how much fuel you will need at fill-up. This also serves as a reminder for oil changes, fuel filter replacement and other maintenance.
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Pete Burger
Fuel overflow
George, we have a 430 that is equipped with fuel gauges for the holding tanks and the fuel tank. With the bigger (and more expensive)450, doesn't that come with a factory-installed fuel gauge? If not, I agree with the other answer of listening to the sound of the filling. It is easy to hear when you are getting close. Pete Burger KAILANI
George, we have a 430 that is equipped with fuel gauges for the holding tanks and the fuel tank. With the bigger (and more expensive)450, doesn't that come with a factory-installed fuel gauge? If not, I agree with the other answer of listening to the sound of the filling. It is easy to hear when you are getting close. Pete Burger KAILANI
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Willy Gregoir
Fuel overflow
I don't know if you can buy VETUS equipment in the USA, but they have a small recipient wich you install in the vent line. It can contain aprox. 3 liter fuel spilled through the vent line. Happy sailing Willy Gregoir s/v JASON (Hunter 45)
I don't know if you can buy VETUS equipment in the USA, but they have a small recipient wich you install in the vent line. It can contain aprox. 3 liter fuel spilled through the vent line. Happy sailing Willy Gregoir s/v JASON (Hunter 45)
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Revett Eldred
I have the same problem
It must be endemic to 450s. I have just learned to slow down when the gauge reads three-quarters (my wife stays below as the official shouter of same) and then I stop fueling when it sounds like it is about to back up the filler pipe. I tried one of those overflow catchers and it didn't work, by the way.
It must be endemic to 450s. I have just learned to slow down when the gauge reads three-quarters (my wife stays below as the official shouter of same) and then I stop fueling when it sounds like it is about to back up the filler pipe. I tried one of those overflow catchers and it didn't work, by the way.
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Shawn Severn
Never Spill Bottle
We also have a P450. We also have the same problem. My wife is also the official screamer. We have tried listening. My first sound is the gurggle and then the fuel dripping from the air vent. You are probably already going slow because the boat won't take the fuel fast anyway. So here's what we did. We went and bought a now spill bottle. We place it over the air vent. When the vent goes gurggle, it catches the fuel and I stop filling. We then pour the over fill into the tank. It has almost completely eliminated spills, fights among the crew and the embarassment of fuel in the water. What I still haven't figured out is why they put a fill port on the boat that is too small for every single fill station on the West Coast?
We also have a P450. We also have the same problem. My wife is also the official screamer. We have tried listening. My first sound is the gurggle and then the fuel dripping from the air vent. You are probably already going slow because the boat won't take the fuel fast anyway. So here's what we did. We went and bought a now spill bottle. We place it over the air vent. When the vent goes gurggle, it catches the fuel and I stop filling. We then pour the over fill into the tank. It has almost completely eliminated spills, fights among the crew and the embarassment of fuel in the water. What I still haven't figured out is why they put a fill port on the boat that is too small for every single fill station on the West Coast?
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George Kornreich
Same on 430
This isn't endemic only to the 450. We've has some mighty exciting fuel "burps" on the 430 also, and this even when fueling as slow as possible and listening for a sound change, which didn't happen before the burps. We did find that the fuel hose was too long and had a loop (like a sink drain P-trap) in it. We shortened it and straightened it, and so far so good, but we've only fueled a few times since, so I'm keeping fingers crossed. We also had a loop in the fuel vent line, which led to fuel starvation because of a fuel block in the vent line, so we shortened/straightened that also, and put in a new vent fitting which (supposedly) prevents fuel from coming out/water from coming in. Hmmm. We'll see how that works out!
This isn't endemic only to the 450. We've has some mighty exciting fuel "burps" on the 430 also, and this even when fueling as slow as possible and listening for a sound change, which didn't happen before the burps. We did find that the fuel hose was too long and had a loop (like a sink drain P-trap) in it. We shortened it and straightened it, and so far so good, but we've only fueled a few times since, so I'm keeping fingers crossed. We also had a loop in the fuel vent line, which led to fuel starvation because of a fuel block in the vent line, so we shortened/straightened that also, and put in a new vent fitting which (supposedly) prevents fuel from coming out/water from coming in. Hmmm. We'll see how that works out!
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