Balance Pipe.

[Flynnbarr]

Help needed from the wise ones on here please.

I have had to have a new balance pipe installed between fuel tanks on a twin engined mobo.Left the engineers to do whatever was needed.
Feed and returns are on the tank lids.Tanks are fibreglass.Balance pipe is just for balance.
Coming out of the side of the tanks it now goes galvanised fitting,brass fitting,about 50mm fuel hose with a shut off valve in the middle.This is all new with relocated holes in the sides of the tanks.
My questions are.
1. Will I get any problems between the two metals?
2.Wouldnt it have been better to have a shut off valve on either tank,fuel hose in between.As things stand if I get a problem with the hose at least one tank is going to have to be drained fully before hose could be replaced and I have fuel in a pipe constantly when it doesn't have to be.
Need to decide if all is ticketyboo before they pump 200 gallons of fuel back in!
Thanks in advance.

 

[pvb]

It doesn't sound like the most sensible solution! A valve on each tank would be safer and more practical. Don't think there'll be major problems with the dissimilar metals.

 

[NormanB]

How big is your boat, how much fuel do you use in a day and do you have room for a day tank?
If so, that is a better solution.
Otherwise a valve on each tank.

 

[NormanS]

Galvanised is not recommended, but I had galv fittings for 30 years on my previous boat without problems. I would definitely have an isolating valve on each tank.

 

[Flynnbarr]

No room for a day tank.
Thanks for the replies.I will ask them to alter it.
Phew...I'm not mad,it didn't look right!

 

[PCUK]

Hose in a balance pipe is a cheap and nasty solution and sounds pretty dangerous to me. My balance pipe was 1.5 inch galvanised water pipe with a standard gate valve at each tank. Been OK for 30 years or so. You need a proper plumber for this job!

 

[NormanS]

Hose in a balance pipe is a cheap and nasty solution and sounds pretty dangerous to me. My balance pipe was 1.5 inch galvanised water pipe with a standard gate valve at each tank. Been OK for 30 years or so. You need a proper plumber for this job!

Why? Mains water supplies are now plastic.

 

[PCUK]

Yes, but if they melt in a fire they don't dump gallons of fuel into it.

 

[NormanS]

Yes, but if they melt in a fire they don't dump gallons of fuel into it.

The OP is talking about (quote) fuel hose. In the event of a fire, it's probably a toss-up between the hose and the fibreglass tank. Hose is better than steel pipe at standing up to vibration, and much easier to install, though probably dearer.

 

[PCUK]

Properly supported pipes won't vibrate and regardless of the tanks I'd rather have the job done properly rather than bodged with tube and hose clips. That is, unless the tubes are properly made up with swaged and screwed fittings which is marginally better.