Fuel valves

[bigdave603]

I have a F32 1985. The boat has 4/55Gal tanks. Does anyone know if it will cause a problem setting the fuel valves to draw off all 4 tanks at once?

[The Dog House]

My F26 has two fuel tanks (port and starboard) and if both fuel valves are open fuel is only drawn from the port fuel tank. The fuel line from the port fuel tank is much shorter than the line from the starboard fuel tank so the path of least resistance is from the port tank.

[mikeandanne]

My F26 has two fuel tanks (port and starboard) and if both fuel valves are open fuel is only drawn from the port fuel tank. The fuel line from the port fuel tank is much shorter than the line from the starboard fuel tank so the path of least resistance is from the port tank.

I agree.....I have the same 4 tank setup and with all the valves open to pull from all tanks ,it will empty the front 2 tanks first, then when one tank or tanks are empty the engines will pull air and have problems.....there is a reason I know this marina summerized engines and kindly tech opened all the valves without telling me..grrr

[bigdave603]

Thanks for the info. The PO told me I could only run on two at a time, just wanted to verify. That is a PITA, it seems like they always run out at the worst time.

[captainmaniac]

Actually, 'running out at the worst time' is the primary reason for the second set of tanks... the idea is that you run off of one set and keep the other set turned off. If you get too low or do run out (ie you run offshore and have issues getting back), you still have enough capacity to get back to shore in the other set of tanks.

At normal cruise, you will cover 100-150 miles off of each set of tanks depending on speed (planing around 2800RPM, vs displacement speed of 8 knots at 1500RPM).

Or, you could just default to the credo - 1/3 out, 1/3 back, 1/3 reserve.