Extra filters

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Sailfree

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Now boat is coming out of charter I am thinking of whether to make some improvements

1 fit bypass diesel filter so if one blocks I can switch to the other parallel filter line. For a sailing boat would you bother. Not sure whether less diesel usage is more a cause of filter blockage yes counterintuitive!

2 fit a water filter on galley tap. Currently boat usage results in frequent water change but sole use will mean water tank changes less often. Always sterilise every year. Do you bother with water filter ?
 
For fuel, we have sediment bowl/water trap with drain first in line and then a spin on filter, rather than messing around with the O rings on CAV type, quicker to change and less spill. In the 10 years we've had the boat, I've never had to drain the sediment bowl. If all fails, our diesel pipework is such that I can disconnect the flexible fuel hoses and stick them into a 25L spare can of clean fuel. I dropped a pipe down to the bottom of our 25 year old tank a few weeks ago and pumped some fuel out, quite surprised it was clear enough to put back in.

Water - We've used these water filters for many years, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whale-Aquasource-Clear-In-Line-Filter/dp/B000N9VSUY easy (and fairly cheap) to fit directly after the pump, filters all taps and lasts over 12 months, living aboard 10/12. If you are likely to fill from untreated sources, you may need better filtration. Have never sterilised tanks.
 
For diesel line, a sediment bowl and an in-line 40μ filter with the engine-mounted fine filter. Since steam-cleaning the tank 2000 hrs ago, have regularly opened the sediment trap annually (about a teaspoonful) and never had to change the coarse filter.
For water, a disposable filter on the line pre-pump, the pump filter and, on the galley tap only, a charcoal filter. The charcoal filter only removes offensive tastes, is no good for filtering bacteria (and I'd consider the claims made by many filter-manufacturers as between apocryphal and mendacious).
On leaving the boat I use a silver-chelate treatment on the water. Water tank cleaned out every 2nd year.
 
GrahamM376 said:
For fuel, we have sediment bowl/water trap with drain first in line and then a spin on filter, rather than messing around with the O rings on CAV type, quicker to change and less spill. .
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My CAV filter drives me nuts
I spend ages trying to stop it leaking & just cannot seem to win
tried all makes of filter & different tension on the nuts but no difference

What sort of filter are you using & will it work on boats using only circa 2 litres per hour

thanks
 
Daydream believer said:
My CAV filter drives me nuts
I spend ages trying to stop it leaking & just cannot seem to win
tried all makes of filter & different tension on the nuts but no difference

What sort of filter are you using & will it work on boats using only circa 2 litres per hour

thanks
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When I fitted the new Thornycroft T105, it came fitted with a Baldwin BF790 spin-on filter after the electrical fuel pump so, I bought another filter head and fitted that between the bowl and the pump (the pump has a very small integral filter but not suitable for first in line). The head's not shown on their web site and IIRC it cost around £30. Can't comment on suitability for smaller engines but Thornycroft would advise you. Reason I chose that one is that I don't have to carry 2 types of filter.
 
I fitted a parallel set of filters with on/off switches, then bleed them them both. Then if one filter blocks switch to the other, that system is standard on mobos and makes sense on yachts. Outside Europe most diesel has dirt and water in it and occasionally you can get that problem in the UK.
 
Daydream believer said:
My CAV filter drives me nuts
I spend ages trying to stop it leaking & just cannot seem to win
tried all makes of filter & different tension on the nuts but no difference

What sort of filter are you using & will it work on boats using only circa 2 litres per hour

thanks
Click to expand...
I had this problem, removed filter completely from boat and discovered that there were 2 'O' rings in the metal housing! Replaced with a new single ring after cleaning the groove and had no further problems. And I don't replace this 'O' ring when changing the filter. But am considering converting to a screw on filter, again a CAV type, without the glass bowl.
 
My vote is a "yes" to the standby fuel filter; I've done this on both our boats and it gives great peace of mind. We had the original single filter block on the delivery trip, and it was not a fun experience.

I don't have a water filter and don't miss it, but I can kind of see the appeal. Maybe try without for the first season and see if you need it?

Pete
 
prv said:
I don't have a water filter and don't miss it, but I can kind of see the appeal. Maybe try without for the first season and see if you need it? Pete
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The main problem we encountered in hot countries was warm water in marina supplies and hosepipes gave the water a taste not unlike TCP. Main use of our filter is to remove that taste.
 
The Aquasource filters are great for taking out any 'taste' in the water. Like others, ours is fitted close to the tank outlet. If I were doing it again I would move it to just before the galley tap because water standing in the pipes for more than a week or so can acquire a 'taste'.
I really ought to move ours, it's not a difficult job.
 
KellysEye said:
I fitted a parallel set of filters with on/off switches, then bleed them them both. Then if one filter blocks switch to the other, that system is standard on mobos and makes sense on yachts. Outside Europe most diesel has dirt and water in it and occasionally you can get that problem in the UK.
Click to expand...

I usually buy from road-pumps (as my consumption is 1.2 litres/hr no problem), and find that is much cleaner than any bunker and usually cheaper. In Greece there are few shoreside pumps and the mini-bowser is always filled straight from the filling-station pump.
 
charles_reed said:
Plasticiser from the pipes - which probably weren't food grade - which is mildly toxic.
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That's not good. I did replace our old hoses with food-grade ones, and unless they already are (or some other suitable type such as JG SpeedFit), I would do that job ahead of fitting any filter.

Pete
 
prv said:
Is Roger going to hot countries?

Pete
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Heading south for 6 weeks this summer (weather permitting!) so hope it's hot. Then hoping to berth in Poole for winter. As we are retiring really have no fixed plans except wife wants to do a few months backpacking in Vietnam/Cambodia.

May take boat to med in 2015 but really unsure. It's a whole new world for us as I only had a gap 2 days between leaving school and starting work! Renovating and improving boat is one project I want to do (hence number of questions I am posting) then hopefully sail more but just not sure if we will get bored staying in one area
 
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