Poishing Fuel Is Worthwhile
Heavens YES, It is worthwhile to polish diesel fuel!
Two years ago we were moving the Ladybug, a 35.5 Ft. 1988 Hunter Legend from Stingray Point out Broad Creek Channel - (It is not really broad; and it is badly shoaled to very shallow water.)- to go to Regent Point on Locklies Creek. The tide was going out in addition to the Rappahannock River flow,and a 10-12 knot wind on our beam, just crabbing along into the wind and river flow with the Yanmar engine at about 2,500 RPM, as usual.
We were about half way out thru the channel when the engine sputtered to about 1,200 RPM. We could barely hold position into the wind.
Craig Akers was our guest on board. He ran for the anchor locker; but there was no sea room to set the hook before we'd be aground. He quickly suggested we deploy our 150% Genoa. The wind carried the Genny out on the roller furl in about three seconds; and we learned, with blessed relief, how well that Hunter Legend could claw off a lee shore.
We were able to sail up river to Regent Point Marine.
Later we learned that the filter was cloged from a bad load of fuel and I don't think the tank had ever been cleaned out since she was new.
I had the tank pumped and cleaned out by the boat yard at our marina.
Then I built a polishing system. Racor R20S filter/water seperator and a "Quick Drain" Engine Oil Change pump mounted in a nice box I built with intake and outflow diesel fuel hoses. I also use a 12 volt tire inflator from the auto parts store attached to a copper tube to "aggitate" the annual sludge at the tank bottom and thus let the filter do the work.
The pump has to be set close to level with your onboard diesel tank - It doesn't have much "head presure" ability - but works well to pump out fuel to jerry cans (I have three) and then I repour the filtered fuel back to the deck inlet- again, thru a filter. I don't think I don't think fuel can be polished/filtered too much.
Heavens YES, It is worthwhile to polish diesel fuel!
Two years ago we were moving the Ladybug, a 35.5 Ft. 1988 Hunter Legend from Stingray Point out Broad Creek Channel - (It is not really broad; and it is badly shoaled to very shallow water.)- to go to Regent Point on Locklies Creek. The tide was going out in addition to the Rappahannock River flow,and a 10-12 knot wind on our beam, just crabbing along into the wind and river flow with the Yanmar engine at about 2,500 RPM, as usual.
We were about half way out thru the channel when the engine sputtered to about 1,200 RPM. We could barely hold position into the wind.
Craig Akers was our guest on board. He ran for the anchor locker; but there was no sea room to set the hook before we'd be aground. He quickly suggested we deploy our 150% Genoa. The wind carried the Genny out on the roller furl in about three seconds; and we learned, with blessed relief, how well that Hunter Legend could claw off a lee shore.
We were able to sail up river to Regent Point Marine.
Later we learned that the filter was cloged from a bad load of fuel and I don't think the tank had ever been cleaned out since she was new.
I had the tank pumped and cleaned out by the boat yard at our marina.
Then I built a polishing system. Racor R20S filter/water seperator and a "Quick Drain" Engine Oil Change pump mounted in a nice box I built with intake and outflow diesel fuel hoses. I also use a 12 volt tire inflator from the auto parts store attached to a copper tube to "aggitate" the annual sludge at the tank bottom and thus let the filter do the work.
The pump has to be set close to level with your onboard diesel tank - It doesn't have much "head presure" ability - but works well to pump out fuel to jerry cans (I have three) and then I repour the filtered fuel back to the deck inlet- again, thru a filter. I don't think I don't think fuel can be polished/filtered too much.
