Fuel system on a Post 56

Dennis
My 50 gives me the option to transfer fuel from either fore or aft tank. It will be apparent from the helm labeling if yours does as well. I believe Posts tradition is/was to valve only one engine, so don't go crazy looking for valves that control the Star engine fuel supply. But do have somebody come on board to go thru ALL your systems with you. We folks are at a disadvantage "looking" from here.

VCapt J

With due respect, what you are describing is for senior operators. Dennis is new to this boat and having a challenge with the ordinary set up. TMI in my opinion ... too much snow here in NY, so I'm overusing this forum to keep busy.

Dennis

There have been a couple of suggestions made that you haven't responded to (or I've overlooked the responses) regarding getting assistance from a surveyor or and experienced captain when you get home to take you through your entire boat and all its systems.

I guess rather than us continuing to suggest that I'd ask the question now as to whether that's something you're considering, going to do, or are rejecting that advice. Either way I'm sure some will continue to try to assist you from here.

Dennis, where do you keep the boat? Is it in Naples? or on the East Coast? A good Captain might be a little better than a surveyor as a good Captain would also know how things work when using the boat/in operation (real world experience on trips and such) over a surveyor. But there are a lot of Captains that wouldn't know anymore than you do.

What is your boating experience prior to this boat? Are you using a Captain now to help you run it?

It is a bit advanced, but I disclosed to make sure not to pump it overboard, but it could also really save him if the transfer pump went down at sea and one tank was running low.

Dennis

We all wish you many years of enjoyment with your new vessel. IMO, the "new" Post has not be very helpful to existing owners, hope they prove me wrong. Do get someone to help familiarize you with a very complicated bit a machinery.

What were conditions? I'm just curious because what you're describing sounds much rougher than they were later. Last I saw was 2-4'.

Hi Dennis,
Congratulations on the new boat.
Been following this thread with interest.
Although I don't have a Post, my boat's fuel system was done by the guys at Merritt and there was little information on how the system should be operated when I first used it, so I can relate to your current situation. Also, my boat had been sitting for a while when I bought her, so the fuel was not the best quality.

Something that maybe worth mentioning.
With all the fuel transferring that you are doing, might be an idea to check your fuel filters. If the boat was on the market for a while it likely has built up some growth in the tanks. Add the fact that you have been out in rough seas and a lot of this growth would be floating around the tanks, then drawn into the fuel lines and filters. Hope you are running at least 2 Racors or similar per engine. It can be a real pain when you lose an engine while out in rough water and have to change a filter.

One of the first times I wanted to go out with my new (to me) 46 Post, the port engine fired up, but stalled within 2-3 seconds… Boat was loaded with friends, food and drinks, so you understand, that was no fun!

But that morning I learned my fuel system, because it was the only thing I could think of that time, as source of the problem. I followed every fuel line, labeled it with ‘blue tape’ and a permanent marker, and checked fuel flow.

Finally I couldn’t find the problem, everything seems to be OK, so decided to call my (US) mechanic, he heard my story and told me, it was most likely, somebody touched the emergency shut off at the flybridge, which was the case!!

That day I learned two lessons, tell everybody, to never touch anything on the dash panel, and I discovered my complete fuel system incl. fuel transfer (and prime) pump configuration…

Bleu tape is still there, I need to make some time to print some fancy Dymo labels

Dennis

You have received good advice here. Can't you afford to change racors?? I hope you don't hurt anyone with your.... I'm done. I'm beginning to think this is a bogus thread.

Answering a recent email to me:

Here's my response to your email, because I think my response should be public. I think this owner may be dangerous. I travel with my family in the block Island sound et al. Is an owner like he going to be running at me in the fog (or some one in the keys) at 25 knots with his fingers diddling on the radar, if he even knows where that is? I'm normally not emotional, but Dennis worries me. I cannot in good conscience encourage him to pilot his 35 ton missile. Carl, I hope I have stepped over any edge here.

Dennis

Please be candid with us, what is your boating experience? I'm snowed in, so I am too focused.