Due to poor weather and and a busy summer away from the boat, our engine use has been minimal this season. Last season also was light use. (Maybe 15-20 hours between the two seasons)
We do use an anti bacterial fuel additive and have always kept the tank full to eliminate condensation. Over the past two seasons, there has been virtually no water to drain from our separator bowl and the fuel shows no visual contamination.
All of that said, I know fuel has a life expectancy, and I'd like to drain 10-15 gallons from the tank and replace with new fuel prior to winter storage. Is there an easy, mess free approach to drain fuel? I'm thinking about a inserting long siphon hose down through the fuel inlet when the boat is on the hard and letting gravity do its thing after the flow is started.
Other thoughts? Leave things alone and apply another dose of biofuel additive when we add a couple of gallons to top off?
The best way to avoid this is to use the boat more. My goal for next season.
Thanks
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Buy 3 5gsllon diesel fuel containers, disconnect the fuel line from the primary fuel filter and insert into the 5-gallon containers. It takes 15 minutes per 5 gallon container.
Or you can disconnect the fuel line from the output side of the fuel pump and apply 12v to its 12v input and fill the containers.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
I'm not an expert in these matters, but if it were me, I'd put my time and energy into other things first. If you are not experiencing any engine problems, and you have a good filter, and you are seeing no signs of crud in the filter, I'd think you should just stick to your plan of using the boat more! Years ago we bought a Norseman 447 that had three fuel tanks, with only two of them hooked up to anything. The third (40 gallons) was full of fuel that had been there who knows how long. I had it polished and we used it all with no problems.I'm also thinking of all the sailboats I see in our harbors that rarely get used...yet somehow their engines keep on ticking. Again, just my two cents.
Al Fricke
S/V Jubilee San Francisco Bay
Catalina 36' MkII #1867
Universal 35-B
I've used my oil removal pump. I took out the fuel gauge sender unit and inserted the pickup tube through the opening. The pump I have has a 5 gal bucket so you'd have to make a couple of trips but diesel fuel is thinned down oil so you can dump it in whatever tank takes old oil.
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
All very good ideas.
I purchased a low cost diesel fuel transfer pump. The hose run from the deck filler to the tank looks like its only a couple of feet. I'll use maybe 5' of hose. This length should allow me to remove a sufficient amount of fuel and avoid contact/damaging the fuel gauge sender which is on the other side of the tank. If this works, I'll keep the diesel fuel stink from any drips/spills exterior to the cabin. I'll follow up after I get time to try it.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Follow up...
I discovered that the fuel tank has a baffle. This eliminated the possibility of inserting a suction hose through the fuel inlet to remove fuel. So, I went with plan B and motored more and sailed less. I burned off 10 gallons and filled with new fuel and a biocide treatment in prep for winter storage.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B