Fuel Tank Vent

[rich]

Some time back when I had finished washing the boat down after a day out I noticed that the fuel tank vent was shut. I asked the crew if they had closed it when we packed the boat up, but no. I know the vent had been open as I had been running the engine for a couple of hours and it would'nt have run for anywhere near that time if the vent had'nt been opened in the first place. At the time I put it down to one of those things.

A couple of weeks later I returned to Baiter after a day out, went to turn the vent off and found the vent shut and the fuel tank partially collapsed. I know I had opened the vent before I went out.

On previous fuel tanks I have always undone the vent two or three turns, never completely undone and never had a problem.

I happened to be talking to Allan Green ( Leicester Fisheagle ) and he had experienced the same problem. We both use the 25 litre Yamaha tanks supplied with the Orkney 520.

I now undo the vent fully untill it is tight against the stop and have experienced no further trouble. It would appear that the vent was vibrating shut after several hours running. Not what you need as you navigate the Haven or the run at Christchurch!

 

Rich (S)

 

 

[Mike Fox]

I'll pass this tip on to the RNLI SEA Check community Rich.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[Dreamcatcher]

Hi Rich (S),

 

Thanks mate, you have solved a mystery for me. 2 trips ago I went out to Utopia from Chichester and coming back into the harbour, very busy at the time, the engine stalled. A quick check over and I found that the vent on the fuel tank was closed. I was sure I had opened it that morning. The round trip had used a full (25L) tank.

 

Oh and what engine???? a Yamaha 30hp on an Orrkney 520!! Sounds like you have identified a small problem, easily remedied though, thankfully.

 

Cheers for the tip, I shall be opening the vent all the way in future.

 

Gary.

[Leicester Fisheagle]

Thanks for adding this one Rich. It appears that we are not the only ones.