Parallel Primary Fuel Filters II: What I did

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Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
A little over a month ago, I did a post inquiring about installing a second primary fuel filter in parallel with the first. This was motivated by a rough day out on the ocean last summer which stirred up crud from the bottom of my fuel tank and partially clogged my Racor causing engine RPMs to vacillate up and down--definitely not a good feeling. So I thought I'd share what I did. At the suggestion of the woman who owns and runs my marina, I bought a Racor 75B/32009 dual filter housing with a switch. The switch enables you to select either one of two filters or to run them both at the same time. That way if one filter becomes clogged, you can switch over to the other without difficulty and without the necessity for bleeding the fuel lines of air. It's a real benefit which keeps you running in an emergency or keeps you from being buried in the engine compartment on a rough day at sea for 15 minutes while you change the filter and bleed the lines. Total cost for the project (I did the installation myself) including connectors and some fuel line extensions came to about $500.00. If you do much sailing on rough waters, this could be a very smart investment. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 

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Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
A little over a month ago, I did a post inquiring about installing a second primary fuel filter in parallel with the first. This was motivated by a rough day out on the ocean last summer which stirred up crud from the bottom of my fuel tank and partially clogged my Racor causing engine RPMs to vacillate up and down--definitely not a good feeling. So I thought I'd share what I did. At the suggestion of the woman who owns and runs my marina, I bought a Racor 75B/32009 dual filter housing with a switch. The switch enables you to select either one of two filters or to run them both at the same time. That way if one filter becomes clogged, you can switch over to the other without difficulty and without the necessity for bleeding the fuel lines of air. It's a real benefit which keeps you running in an emergency or keeps you from being buried in the engine compartment on a rough day at sea for 15 minutes while you change the filter and bleed the lines. Total cost for the project (I did the installation myself) including connectors and some fuel line extensions came to about $500.00. If you do much sailing on rough waters, this could be a very smart investment. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
W

Warren Milberg

This is one nice installation!

And I bet it gives you a lot of confidence. Where are the flow switches located? Are they electronic or manual cut off/on switches? I assume to the two hoses shown are coming from the fuel tank. Is that right? Where is the output from the filters to the lift pump?
 
W

Warren Milberg

This is one nice installation!

And I bet it gives you a lot of confidence. Where are the flow switches located? Are they electronic or manual cut off/on switches? I assume to the two hoses shown are coming from the fuel tank. Is that right? Where is the output from the filters to the lift pump?
 
Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
Thanks, Warren

The switch is a manual three-position switch on the front of the housing. In the pix its kind of hidden behind the hose on the anti-siphon loop. There are only two hoses. One comes into the housing from the tank, and the other goes out to the lift pump. The rest of the plumbing is internal to the filter housing. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
Thanks, Warren

The switch is a manual three-position switch on the front of the housing. In the pix its kind of hidden behind the hose on the anti-siphon loop. There are only two hoses. One comes into the housing from the tank, and the other goes out to the lift pump. The rest of the plumbing is internal to the filter housing. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
Manny

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
Vented loop?

Gary, a bit off topic, but is that a vented loop for your cooling water intake? Is that something that is required? Manny
 
Manny

Manny

.
Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
Vented loop?

Gary, a bit off topic, but is that a vented loop for your cooling water intake? Is that something that is required? Manny
 
Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
Manny

The vented loop runs between the heat exchanger and the exhaust elbow. It contains cooling water. The loop has a valve in it above the water line to break the siphon effect to keep cooling water from running after the engine has been shut down. Yes, it's required. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
Manny

The vented loop runs between the heat exchanger and the exhaust elbow. It contains cooling water. The loop has a valve in it above the water line to break the siphon effect to keep cooling water from running after the engine has been shut down. Yes, it's required. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

.
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
Looks Good!

I have a single primary mounted in the forward part of the engine compartment, starboard side. The footprint that you show doesn't take up too much space. Well worth the cost for security. Thanks for the info!
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

.
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
Looks Good!

I have a single primary mounted in the forward part of the engine compartment, starboard side. The footprint that you show doesn't take up too much space. Well worth the cost for security. Thanks for the info!
 
tcbro

tcbro

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Jun 3, 2004
375
Hunter 33.5 Middle River, MD
It is my understanding...

...that fuel filters that are in the engine enclosure must be all metal. Yours (and mine) have the plastic bowl under the filter. I believe that is not up to "code". I think there was a recent discussion on this site about that. Tom s/v Orion's Child
 
tcbro

tcbro

.
Jun 3, 2004
375
Hunter 33.5 Middle River, MD
It is my understanding...

...that fuel filters that are in the engine enclosure must be all metal. Yours (and mine) have the plastic bowl under the filter. I believe that is not up to "code". I think there was a recent discussion on this site about that. Tom s/v Orion's Child
 
Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
Tom

Not sure about that. My old single fuel filter also had a plastic bowl and was also in the engine compartment. The combination never created a problem. When I bought Wanderlust, it was surveyed by a guy who was VERY picky and who said nothing about it. I presume the concern would be the impact of engine heat on the plastic? Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
Gary Wyngarden

Gary Wyngarden

.
Mar 4, 2004
347
Hunter 37.5 Orcas Island, WA
Tom

Not sure about that. My old single fuel filter also had a plastic bowl and was also in the engine compartment. The combination never created a problem. When I bought Wanderlust, it was surveyed by a guy who was VERY picky and who said nothing about it. I presume the concern would be the impact of engine heat on the plastic? Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

.
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
If Plactic Sight Bowls...

...weren't legal then, I think, that Racor couldn't/wouldn't sell them. Would they? Mine is important to me.
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

.
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
If Plactic Sight Bowls...

...weren't legal then, I think, that Racor couldn't/wouldn't sell them. Would they? Mine is important to me.
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

.
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Metal bowls are required by the CG on vessels for hire.

Commercial boats with paying passengers that are inspected. Why the rule? Good question. Throw-back to when modern plastics didn't exist??? Last year I was shopping for a replacement cartridge and was in my local West Marine store. The filter assemblies (complete units) with cheap looking, stamped metal separator/drain bowls cost twice as much as the plastic ones. Yet another example of government benefits. Plastic is for the rest of us. Gary, believe me, I was checking out your work as soon as you posted it. Good job. Thanks again. Oh, sorry that you need that anti siphon fitting. That's what you get for having a big-boat. ;) I tossed mine before the rebuild. Good riddance.
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

.
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Metal bowls are required by the CG on vessels for hire.

Commercial boats with paying passengers that are inspected. Why the rule? Good question. Throw-back to when modern plastics didn't exist??? Last year I was shopping for a replacement cartridge and was in my local West Marine store. The filter assemblies (complete units) with cheap looking, stamped metal separator/drain bowls cost twice as much as the plastic ones. Yet another example of government benefits. Plastic is for the rest of us. Gary, believe me, I was checking out your work as soon as you posted it. Good job. Thanks again. Oh, sorry that you need that anti siphon fitting. That's what you get for having a big-boat. ;) I tossed mine before the rebuild. Good riddance.
 
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