I'm sure my question may sound "dumb" to some and I may be rebuked for my ignorance, but I'm puzzled about how to determine when I've filled my diesel tank to the top. I have sailed for many years, in various conditions, but honestly have not had to "top off" a diesel tank before. I have a 2002 Catalina 350. It has a gauge on the helm that works when the key is "on". I don't think I should rely on that or risk a "spark". I've read about overflow from the tank vents; obviously I would like to avoid that. But, I want to FILL my tank. Please give me some insight into this seemingly simple problem. Thanks Frank Kemah, TX
Filling a diesel tank
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Spark isn't an issue
Frank, An erandt spark isn't an issue with diesel the way it is with gas. The most accurate way is when the vent overflows. West sells a little catch can for a few dollars to avoid fuel in the water. Relying on the guage is probably close, but boat guage have a history of being inaccurate. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
Frank, An erandt spark isn't an issue with diesel the way it is with gas. The most accurate way is when the vent overflows. West sells a little catch can for a few dollars to avoid fuel in the water. Relying on the guage is probably close, but boat guage have a history of being inaccurate. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
Listen
Use your ears to tell. Have you noticed when you fill your water tanks, the sound changes as the water approaches the top of the tank and begins its way up the fill tube. The same is true with your fuel tank. The gauge and the vent trick both work, but have their disadvantages. Fuel gauge shows full long before you're full and the vent dumps diesel on your boat and in the water when it's full.
Use your ears to tell. Have you noticed when you fill your water tanks, the sound changes as the water approaches the top of the tank and begins its way up the fill tube. The same is true with your fuel tank. The gauge and the vent trick both work, but have their disadvantages. Fuel gauge shows full long before you're full and the vent dumps diesel on your boat and in the water when it's full.
Track Usage
Keep a log of gallons purchased and engine hours. You will soon determine the consumption rate in gal/hour and know how much you used before you reach the pump.
Keep a log of gallons purchased and engine hours. You will soon determine the consumption rate in gal/hour and know how much you used before you reach the pump.
Alan's way works
Both of my diesel tanks have whistlers on them. The tanks and most of the fill hose fill and then the whistle stops. We never spill a drop.
Both of my diesel tanks have whistlers on them. The tanks and most of the fill hose fill and then the whistle stops. We never spill a drop.
Full tank?
While in the Coast Guard we would use a sounding tape to see how much fuel we had, or needed, while refueling.
While in the Coast Guard we would use a sounding tape to see how much fuel we had, or needed, while refueling.
vent whistle
This sounds like a very simple solution. Not that I would want to "top it off", but I wonder if it would be of value on the holding tank vent line too.
This sounds like a very simple solution. Not that I would want to "top it off", but I wonder if it would be of value on the holding tank vent line too.
No such luck Bill
Whistlers work because air is displaced from the tank when it is being filled. That means the nozzle has to be flowing FAST. Very important. One soon learns not to set the lever catch at too low of a setting. If you're worried about a holding tank vent I'll bet Peggie can help.
Whistlers work because air is displaced from the tank when it is being filled. That means the nozzle has to be flowing FAST. Very important. One soon learns not to set the lever catch at too low of a setting. If you're worried about a holding tank vent I'll bet Peggie can help.
Pre-filtering diesel
I would think that the trickle of diesel through a Baha-type prefilter would not give enough air through the vent to enable the whistle to operate. I think that I'll stay with the clean filtered fuel and continue to baby it in.
I would think that the trickle of diesel through a Baha-type prefilter would not give enough air through the vent to enable the whistle to operate. I think that I'll stay with the clean filtered fuel and continue to baby it in.
Fueling your Catalina
Frank, The gauge on my Beneteau 321 is useless; so bad that it has know been replaced with a battery monitor (far more useful). First, we only have to fuel about 2-3 times a year. I usuallly keep track of fuel by recording engine hours at fillup. About 1/2 gal/hr is a safe guess for a Yanmar 27hp. I keep a catch can for the vent and absorbant pads handy and fill the tank slowly with lots of pauses in the process. No spills to date. Jon
Frank, The gauge on my Beneteau 321 is useless; so bad that it has know been replaced with a battery monitor (far more useful). First, we only have to fuel about 2-3 times a year. I usuallly keep track of fuel by recording engine hours at fillup. About 1/2 gal/hr is a safe guess for a Yanmar 27hp. I keep a catch can for the vent and absorbant pads handy and fill the tank slowly with lots of pauses in the process. No spills to date. Jon
Fill fuel from a separate can.
Maybe I am just paranoid, but there is NO WAY I will EVER bring that pressurised gasoline hose on board my boat. Blame me for having grown up working inventory control; but the method I prefer is to fill a 2-1/2-gallon plastic gasoline can at the dock, lift it down into the cockpit, and fill at the deck pipe using a funnel. Even having to repeat the process half a dozen times, this has a couple of major advantages. 1. I control the flow, not the overzealous mechanics who souped up the fuel pump at the dock. 2. The long nozzle does not threaten to shove loose or burst through the hose clamped on the other end of the deck plate. (I have pipe on mine anyway.) 3. I know exactly how much fuel I am putting into the tank, simply by counting canfulls-- or partial canfulls. 4. Perhaps best of all-- if I ever spill any, it amounts to 2-1/2 gallons, not as much as the fuel pump wants to gush out all over the cockpit seat and deck and sole and my feet and into the bilge and the harbour at something over 50 gallons per minute. Also, you always have the emptied gas can on the boat, so you can always hike to a nearby gas station on the road, where the fuel is cheaper, or the place is more likely to be open, rather than count on exorbitant and unreliable terms of the marina gas dock. 2-1/2 gallons weighs 15 lbs-- NOT the end of the world especially if you keep on board a motorised folding scooter with a milk-crate bolted on back. This boat's tank is only 12 gallons so I doubt very much I will ever use more than four or five canfulls to take on enough gasoline for any trip that has to be made between gas docks. JC 2
Maybe I am just paranoid, but there is NO WAY I will EVER bring that pressurised gasoline hose on board my boat. Blame me for having grown up working inventory control; but the method I prefer is to fill a 2-1/2-gallon plastic gasoline can at the dock, lift it down into the cockpit, and fill at the deck pipe using a funnel. Even having to repeat the process half a dozen times, this has a couple of major advantages. 1. I control the flow, not the overzealous mechanics who souped up the fuel pump at the dock. 2. The long nozzle does not threaten to shove loose or burst through the hose clamped on the other end of the deck plate. (I have pipe on mine anyway.) 3. I know exactly how much fuel I am putting into the tank, simply by counting canfulls-- or partial canfulls. 4. Perhaps best of all-- if I ever spill any, it amounts to 2-1/2 gallons, not as much as the fuel pump wants to gush out all over the cockpit seat and deck and sole and my feet and into the bilge and the harbour at something over 50 gallons per minute. Also, you always have the emptied gas can on the boat, so you can always hike to a nearby gas station on the road, where the fuel is cheaper, or the place is more likely to be open, rather than count on exorbitant and unreliable terms of the marina gas dock. 2-1/2 gallons weighs 15 lbs-- NOT the end of the world especially if you keep on board a motorised folding scooter with a milk-crate bolted on back. This boat's tank is only 12 gallons so I doubt very much I will ever use more than four or five canfulls to take on enough gasoline for any trip that has to be made between gas docks. JC 2
Deck Filters
JC2 offers excellent advice. Let me add that I always fill my boat tank through a fuel filter (Baha or others). See the article: http://www.practical-sailor.com/sample/Fuelfilter.html Having done so for over 30 years, I've never HAD to change an engine fuel filtre - I only do so out of prudence (every 100 hours or so).
JC2 offers excellent advice. Let me add that I always fill my boat tank through a fuel filter (Baha or others). See the article: http://www.practical-sailor.com/sample/Fuelfilter.html Having done so for over 30 years, I've never HAD to change an engine fuel filtre - I only do so out of prudence (every 100 hours or so).
Some of us (like me) forget there's guys still
filling with gasoline. That's another ballgame. You gotta do it right. My diesel system is talked about on my web site. See photos #48-50.
filling with gasoline. That's another ballgame. You gotta do it right. My diesel system is talked about on my web site. See photos #48-50.
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