Had a bad experience today in F5

[charles_reed]

It runs for 5 mins at low revs then runs out of fuel creating a vacuum in the filter. It has done a couple of hundred hours in the last 8 weeks down to Ile d'Yeu and back. The only thing today was being thrown about as we left Trebeurden into a F5 before we turned the corner 30 mins later. But we were sailing then!

Probably a blockage at the end of the lift pipe from the tank (ie the bottom of the tank)

I had very similar problems which took about 10 weeks to sort out - it always happened when the tank contents get stirred up by a bit of a sea.

The biocide won't have helped.

The final solution was to have the tank out and steam-cleaned.

PS my final episode ended with me beating, single-handed, against a bora, entering Brindisi under sail in the dark, tying up at one of the ferry berths in the outer, cleaning the lift pipe and then having the damned Pilot cutter call out the Costiera who arrived just as I was about to cast off.

 

[Heckler]

It runs for 5 mins at low revs then runs out of fuel creating a vacuum in the filter. It has done a couple of hundred hours in the last 8 weeks down to Ile d'Yeu and back. The only thing today was being thrown about as we left Trebeurden into a F5 before we turned the corner 30 mins later. But we were sailing then!

if you are creating a suction and the fuel doesnt come thru, there is a blockage! In the pipe! or gauze at the end of the stack pipe.
Stu

 

[TonyS]

if you are creating a suction and the fuel doesnt come thru, there is a blockage! In the pipe! or gauze at the end of the stack pipe.
Stu

I did give a comprehensive answer a couple of days ago. It was a blockage, probably in the shut off valve, which has a tiny bore. I cleared it with an electric bike pump.
Thanks anyway, and you were right. I didn't realise that you need high pressure to clear such a blockage. We all live and learn and it is only when you have a problem that you find out more about boats and their systems.
Perhaps it is time for a brand new boat, not one that is nearly 10 years old and will cause more worrying problems.

 

[havandra]

Have you checked the fuel filter on the engine, assuming you have one, looks like an oil filter. Try changing it. Worked for me!

 

[macd]

Perhaps it is time for a brand new boat, not one that is nearly 10 years old and will cause more worrying problems.

...especially if the ash trays are full

You fixed this problem, I'm delighted to hear. You can fix the next. And newness is no guarantee of perfection.