I wished I'd have known about this earlier, rather than while we were negotiating the Northwest Channel near Chub Cay. We have a '97 Hunter 310. In the bottom of the "almost inaccessible" fuel tank, at the bottom of the fuel pickup tube, there is a metal screen. It's just waiting for a terrible time when you need the engine the most to plug up. Get to it asap and CUT IT OFF. By the way, to remove the pickup tube, you'll have to also remove the return fuel line elbow first.
plugged fuel pickup tube screen
- Thread starter jim ho
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There we were crossing the shipping lanes, 30 miles from land in all directions, flat calm, motoring at 6 knots and everything goes quiet. Checked the main Racor fuel filter which was perfectly clear - but no way could I get fuel to flow to it. Feeling very vulnerable because of nearby shipping we emptied the inflatable and just about everything else out of the stbd side stern locker, pulled the dip tube and there to my surprise was this dratted little filter - completely clogged. Cursing and swearing I pulled it off the end of the tube, reinstalled the tube and saved the day.
What I hadn't realised was that the real cause of the problem was diesel bug.
A couple of days later whilst returning to England from France the engine stopped again. This time the Racor was clogged, changed it but still no way could I get any fuel to it. Got towed home most of the 60 miles across the English Channel by my pal.
This time the entire fuel pipe between tank and filter was solid with the bug. It had to be stripped out of the boat and blown through on my air line at home.
Would probably have been much easier to just clear the little gauze filter on the dip tube - but I had taken it off.
All that happened ten years ago.
The final chapter was played out last year. We were motoring (again) and I had not troubled to fill up. Gradually the fuel gauge went down until it showed no fuel. No wind and so we had no alternative but to motor on; thinking all the time we were risking an airlock. We made it to port and I measured the length of the dip tube against the depth of the tank and realised that about 3 more gallons would be available if the tube were longer by the length of the gauze.
I now regret removing it.
What I hadn't realised was that the real cause of the problem was diesel bug.
A couple of days later whilst returning to England from France the engine stopped again. This time the Racor was clogged, changed it but still no way could I get any fuel to it. Got towed home most of the 60 miles across the English Channel by my pal.
This time the entire fuel pipe between tank and filter was solid with the bug. It had to be stripped out of the boat and blown through on my air line at home.
Would probably have been much easier to just clear the little gauze filter on the dip tube - but I had taken it off.
All that happened ten years ago.
The final chapter was played out last year. We were motoring (again) and I had not troubled to fill up. Gradually the fuel gauge went down until it showed no fuel. No wind and so we had no alternative but to motor on; thinking all the time we were risking an airlock. We made it to port and I measured the length of the dip tube against the depth of the tank and realised that about 3 more gallons would be available if the tube were longer by the length of the gauze.
I now regret removing it.
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