Breather pipe for diesel tank

bumblefish

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I have a very small diesel tank on my Elizabethan 30, no more than 3 gals, I have been advised to change the breather pipe so that it does not vent in-board, as it currently does. It is probably a 1/4'' pipe than just vents into the locker where the tank is. Any thoughts on how I should go about this?
 
You can buy a purpose made vent and mount it where rain or spray won't hit it, normally high up under the rubbing strake or on the transom somewhere, and make sure you have a swan neck in the pipe inside the hull so if any water gets in it can't run down into the tank.
 
If it is any help the tank vent on the Westerly Berwick I sail is in the lazerette. In best part of of 30 years we have seen no reason to suggest that this is unsatisfacrory.
 
Interesting, as I am about to change my diesel filler to accommodate the large fuel nozzles in use in many Med marinas. Browsing the catalogue in my local chandlery, I see that you can now buy a filler similar to a car one, in which the vent is located alongside the filler and opens into it. Fitting one of these would overcome your problem.

However, I am not going that route as my boat is fitted with a breather. The outlet for this is on the aft part of the cockpit coaming where it is not a problem at all. The vent fitting is sold by many suppliers, including Vetus, and can usually be found in chandleries.
 
Funny enough my breather is just what NOT to fit - but works fine and never have I had water in the tank from it .....

It's a Delrin through hull fitting that is horizontal through cabin side halfway up from deck........ just visible above my foot here ... with deck filler by my knee on cabin top.

Yarmouthmay-day2006maintenance.jpg


Many timews I have considered fiiting a small hood over the breather pipe - as it is open permanently .... It was fitted by original owner many years before I got the boat. Inside the breather pipe ... normal DIY shop plastic pipe has a full loop above the breather to provide protection against water ingress.

Simple and works .....
 
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