Relocating Fuel Vent

Has anyone considered relocating the port side fuel vent? I want to surf the port side of my boat, but I am hesitant because I don't want to bring water into the fuel tank.

Thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you!

It's an easy job to move!!

Sorry to thread-jack
Ive just bought a new vent should the mesh face up or down? I'm undecided as to which way would result in least likelihood to let water in..

00cls1camaross wrote: Mine faces down. I was thinking of relocating it to inside the boat, why would this be a bad idea?

Yes since any overfill or venting of gas or fumes will go into the bilge. Do you want gas in your bilge? I don't think so!!

Waternut wrote:    If you happen to still get water in your fuel on a random incident, you can add a water separator like you'd use on an air compressor. The standard pnuematic fittings should fit the lines well. I used this and you can visually check the bowl for fluid at the end of the day and empty it out then. http://www.harborfreight.com/38-compact-air-filter-68230.html

I would not use a compressed air centrifugal moisture separator for gas. It won't work on a liquid plus, the components like the plastic bowl won't handle the gas.

BTW, here's a proper link to the cheap compressed air water separator from China.

Needless to say, the recommended separator is NOT USCG approved. Do not mess with the fuel system with components not designed for the purpose. This was a very poor suggestion.

ArtCozier wrote: Why not take the easy way out and just buy a small clamshell type vent and put it over the tank vent? Art

Art,
There you go again with the non original suggestions!!

Chris,
The clam shell vent over the fuel vent was actually used on early hulls starting back into the wood hull days. I don't feel moving the vent to the opposite side is as noticeable as putting a clam shell over it.

BTW, you do realize I was just giving Art a "hard time"!

8122pbrainard wrote: I would not use a compressed air centrifugal moisture separator for gas. It won't work on a liquid plus, the components like the plastic bowl won't handle the gas. BTW, here's a proper link to the cheap compressed air water separator from China. Needless to say, the recommended separator is NOT USCG approved. Do not mess with the fuel system with components not designed for the purpose. This was a very poor suggestion.

The whole point of that thing is to filter out liquid whether it's gas or water. That way the vent constantly acts as a vent and not a dump hose. The bowl is also made of polycarbonate which handles gasoline just fine. Yeah it's not USCG approved but neither is exceeding the max weight of the boat or running your boat with loads of ballast on one side for wakesurfing but that's what people in wake sports do. I'm not saying it's a perfect solution nor did I say this should be your first line of defense but sometimes you have to come up with unconventional solutions to unconventional problems.

You could locate the vent to the other side but then no one could wakesurf on the other side of your boat. You could run a clamshell too but that only covers you from the front. The massive wave that hits the back of the boat when you slow down with loads of ballast will funnel all of that water into the vent line. If you move the vent further forward you potentially run into problems with water ingestion at speed when the boat puts out spray from the chines. If you put it way up near the bow, you can ingest water if too many people sit up front or you slowly go over a large wave.

Link for chemical resistance of polycarbonate

Waternut wrote: The whole point of that thing is to filter out liquid whether it's gas or water.

John,
You have missed the whole point about using something not designed for the intended use and obviously do not understand how a compressed air separator works. It will remove small amounts of water in a vapor state and not in a liquid state. Note that polycarbonate is "resistant" and not proof. Don't forget the alcohol in today's gas plus the gasket material.

8122pbrainard wrote: Waternut wrote: The whole point of that thing is to filter out liquid whether it's gas or water. John, You have missed the whole point about using something not designed for the intended use and obviously do not understand how a compressed air separator works. It will remove small amounts of water in a vapor state and not in a liquid state. Note that polycarbonate is "resistant" and not proof. Don't forget the alcohol in today's gas plus the gasket material.

Like I said, it's not the first line of defense. The real fix is the looped vent line and as I said in my first post, that will block out roughly 95% of all water ingestion along with a properly angled vent. I added the comment about the air/water separator as a last resort. I don't feel it's necessary to write 2 pages of disclaimers, warnings, cautions, and notes in forum. It's a forum...you take everything with a grain of salt and use the information as you see fit. You could get rid of your anchor light and run the vent up through that and it would work 100% and be safe but would look disgusting. I wouldn't do it but if your problem was bad enough, it might be an option.

The part that annoys me is you were so quick to reject the air/water separator that anyone reading this will immediately discredit the entire post. I don't typically get insulted easily but your post definitely felt more like you slamming me over just disagreeing.    The fact that I went from having a severe water ingestion problem to successfully eliminating all water from my fuel system with these two methods wasn't even relevant. The air/water separator does work like how you state but if you pour water in one side, it goes into the bowl and won't come out the other. Regardless of the original intent, it does the job I need it to do, when all else fails.

Happy birthday Pete! I'd replied on bowvents re: front tank and I'd asked about the Separator....it occurs to me now that this question might have been misconstrued into the WATER separator discussion on this thread. My question was on the CORRECT CRAFT Separator...a similar vintage and style and v-drive system as mine.
Never seen a Separator but always been intrigued....can I presume it is same setup; i.e. bow tank, etc???

Crazy about early 70's v-drives...I'm (of course) partial to the Century Mark II but the Chris Craft X19 is a close 2nd....or maybe the very rare v-drive Donzi Sweet 16. Gotta love the Sweet 16...sexiest boat ever built..

More Separator info please........

Jeff,
The CC Separator used a belly tank. There is a great thread on a rebuild and I'll see if I can find it. When CC came out with the model, I feel their intent was going after the Donzi sweet 16.