fuel spill

[LARRY VALENTINE]

Any advice on how to avoid fuel spills through the tank air vents when filling and fuel gauges not working ???
My 53 ft HAT ED has two air vents per tank Thanks

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Any advice on how to avoid fuel spills through the tank air vents when filling and fuel gauges not working ???My 53 ft HAT ED has two air vents per tank Thanks

How’s your hearing? You gotta listen and stop pumping when the sound changes.

[Bob Bradley]

Yup. Listen for the gurgling. It usually happens just as a loud boat passes you as you fuel up.

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

If you’re not sure, practice filling your fresh water tank without overflowing. It won’t be as loud so good training.

[SEVEN]

Fix your gauges.

[Bob Bradley]

Fix your gauges.

Now that's just crazy talk.

[warrenw]

Why not install the Parker LG100 Fuel/Air Separators in the vent lines? I did this on my gasoline powered Chris-Craft as the vents were right above the name on the transom so overflows would damage the lettering beyond any issues with spill. They work as advertised and are relatively inexpensive and easy to install if you have access to the vent run from the tank to vent fitting.

[Cricket]

Yep, also installed the Racor/Parker LG100's in the vent lines for all 3 tanks. Great addition, relatively easy install too.

[Finalee]

Consider not filling to the point your even close. If you do a bit of boating, chances are you know within 50 gallons or so whats left in the tanks. Listening to the sound of air coming out the vent goes without saying.

[DCMY #92]

I installed the Racor fuel air separators in the early '90s. The work great for eliminating spitting fuel from the vents, but when their internal float valve closes the air being displaced by incoming fuel can only exit up the fill pipe. If you don't shutoff the nozzle as soon as the sound changes you get a geyser of fuel belching from the fill pipe.

Do to old age and noisy boats going by at the wrong moment, I pulled the diaphragm assembly off of a cheap mechanic's stethoscope. I put the stethoscope tube in the fuel fill pipe beside the nozzle. It's no problem at all to hear the change in the sound.

I don't know what kind of gauges your Hatteras has, but mine are no where accurate enough to use for filling the tanks.