Old fuel problem updated. Still no Joy

If you kids remember a post a couple of years ago talking about fuel problems on a gen-set. A few of us got carried away and I injected my problems.

http://www.yachtforums.com/threads/generator-question.19857/page-4#post-167061

This last fall we were still having the diesel fuel snot problem in the aft tank.
I hate snake oils. Tried a few with no results. Last ditch try was Valvetech Micro-Biocide from West Marine. A overdose of a shock treatment and the snot went away. However, when the bow comes up, instead of snot, I get water. I assume the snot was water based.
Remember; forward end of tank lower than the aft end. Fuel pickups in the aft of tank. Forward end of tank under bath tub. last forward tank access is the fill adapters, fore & aft from here are internal baffles.

My built in fuel polishers use the existing pickups & returns. They work great but can't get to the low end.

The original GM primary fuel filter cartridge system was replaced with a Donaldson spin-on with plastic water bowel. Fuel system is now; Dual Racor mud filters 1000s @ 30mic, spin-on primary with water bowel @ 16mic, spin-on secondary/final somewhere between 5 & 10 mic. Trials last Thursday night found some water in the Racors, new secondary bowl had water also.


I built my own fuel filter assembly and tried again to reach the water with a copper tube wand. I was able to reach around some of the corner openings in the baffle but all I got was dissolved snot and dirt (more dirt than the $400 fuel polish gut got 2 years ago).

What I have learned;

Racor 1000s (30 & 10mic) will pass water.
Those big white, tan & brown snot blobs were water based.
Fiberglass tanks are intact.
Bertram 37 year old fuel tank design for service sucks.

Looking for a pair of lift bags to set under the bow.

Have a nice filter to rent out in the Jax area.

Pictures on next post.

For rent in the Jax area.

I was serious about the lift bags. Raise the bow safely, send the water to the after fuel pickups and filter out with my built-in fuel polishers.
Anybody around Jax with a pair of 2 to 4k lbs lifting bags?

Not many sand bars left around for a controlled grounding.

It started over 3 years ago at a local marina. Taking on fuel in the aft tank, we drained the marinas above ground diesel tank. The next day white snot was plaguing the Racors.

Been fighting it since.

We ran the tank low and had it cleaned / polished with disappointing results.
Yesterday I tried (cleaning) again.

Talked today with our yard. They agreed to some sling time lifting the bow during lunch and letting my polishing pumps do the water filtering.

So, I hope to have good news by weeks end.

The forward end of the tank is the headache. It's lower than the pick-ups. I can not transfer the fuel out and pump the water out. When the bow comes up, the water travels to the lowest point,,, Aft,,, then the pickups...

No lift bags available here in south Georgia (N/E FL). Travel lift next best plan.

With two 3/4" water line, looped copper vents per tank,,,,

Been thinking about the condensing idea. It could be a contributor; The tank is under our stateroom sole. If there is a place for condensation to occur, it could be here (running A/C & heat in our full beam master stateroom).. We live on board year-round. Funny for it to show up rite after taking on fuel from that place when we have already been on board for 9 years prior (or it took 9 years for the water to come up that high?).
AND, were not rich & famous, can not keep the tanks full.

Bow up during lunch Thursday or Friday. Updates quickly after then.

Old Bertrams use threaded caps over above threaded deck pipes. Not the typical flush deck fill. Deck water usually does not travel up 2 inches to get into tanks fills from there.

Thx all for your thoughts. Hopefully good news by weeks end.

We tried hose, plastic & ole poly tube but it did not help. We were able to form the copper tubing as it passed thru the small baffle opening and on withdrawing it, some pressure here & there it form form back for withdraw. Thx for your thoughts.

More;

Good news

Never knowing how much water was in the tank, I could just assume lots by the quickness the water was filling the Racor bowels.

During lunch today, we did pick up the ships bow in the slings a lil beyond running angle, just picked up a couple of drops after an hour. Pretty depressed that my idea was not working, the bow was lifted a good bit more. 30 minutes later picked up just a fat pint & a half of water. Running the pumps, not a drop more while slowly dropping the bow back down.

Near panic, that not that much water was picked up, we resolved to go back in the river and tag-team the dual Racor filters.

Well,, never got another drop.

Not knowing, it seems we already got most of the water out already.



We deploy to the Dry Tortugas Monday morning.