Vessel Review and Systems Inspections for Boat Owners
October 2009 - Fuel Plumbing

Reliability, longevity and safety; an invaluable threesome of systems attributes sought after by all cruisers. Readers of the articles I've written as well as attendees of lectures I've delivered have heard me beat this drum on many occasions. The question, however, is how does one achieve this holy grail of marine systems? The bad news is there's no one, easy, all encompassing answer. The good news is, with vigilance and education on the part of the vessel operator, significant strides toward this goal may be achieved.

One step toward achieving the "threesome" revolves around ensuring the proper materials and practices are used aboard your own vessel when it is, or was, being built or whenever you commission others to carry out work aboard. Of course if you are completing projects yourself then the onus is on you to meet the standards set forth by the manufacturer of the equipment you are installing or servicing along with those of the American Boat and Yacht Council or ABYC.

The image shown in this month's ad was taken aboard a new vessel undergoing a full systems inspection. The crew, an experienced sea savvy couple, planned to first cruise their vessel in the Caribbean and Bahamas and then, after transshipment, in the Mediterranean where one of their children lives.

In this image a portion of the vessel's fuel distribution system is shown, a compound supply and return valve manifold. Valves of this sort are very handy in that they make it virtually impossible to inadvertently draw fuel from one tank while returning it to another, which often leads to an overflow and fuel spill. The installation was, like those elsewhere aboard, neat and well executed. The problems, however, lie in the materials used. The hose is Type B fuel hose, which is designed primarily for open, on deck/outboard motor applications. While strictly speaking this hose is suitable for diesel fuel, it lacks a fire resistance rating. Using it in an inboard, below deck fuel application is not only unwise; it's a violation of ABYC's recommended practices. In order to obtain maximum reliability and safety, only hose carrying a Type A rating should be used on inboard, diesel fuel applications. In addition to its enhanced robustness, this hose is designed to resist exposure to open flame for a minimum of 2.5 minutes. Additionally, Teflon tape has been used on the threaded fittings. Teflon tape, while effective at preventing leaks at such fittings is also known for its propensity to clog fuel lines and fittings when fragments make their way into the fuel stream as they frequently do. A proprietary fuel-rated thread paste should instead be used for applications such as this.

If you’re interested in finding out more about pre-purchase inspections, vessel selection assist, the Captains’ Club (simply click on these words to be taken to the relevant sections of this website) or other services offered by Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting, send an email or call 804-776-0219.