Question for the Old Salts

It does sound a bit weird. Racor (Parker) still says to fill the cannister before putting the lid on. On the older Racor "turbine" units, the center tube had the outlet opening at the top. I see that newer models have the outlet at the bottom of the tube so depending on the part number, fuel either exits top or bottom of the interior of the element.

Leaving air in the cannister is an invitation to admit air to the fuel system downstream of the filter, especially if the outlet is at the top. I don't see what is gained by not filling it. As far as the fuel level being down when opened, it had to leak back or get sucked in because fuel doesn't make air and Racors don't collect "off gassing" from fuel.

I have changed a lot of Racor elements but have never seen one half dirty. One left to sit for a long time with nasty contaminated fuel in it will be dirtier on the bottom just because crud is heavier and it settles there.

Leaving the canister 1/2 empty is an invitation to vapor lock. It always has to be filled. But it sounds like Capt. J was saying that the fuel is only drawn through the bottom half. I can understand the theory, but I've never noticed it and it doesn't sound efficient.

No, always fill the racor to the top when changing filters. Everytime I check a racor that's not dirty, fuel is never to the top of the canister and only about the bottom half of the filter will be black and the top half will be clean. The level always seems to work its way down. The racor uses the bottom half of the filter to filter, then as the filter gets dirty the fuel works it's way up the element and it uses more and more of the filter until the entire filter is dirty and the fuel level is at the top. Where the air comes from in the filter housing I have no idea.......but on tons of racors, the only time I see the fuel level at the top is when the element is totally dirty. I always shut the fuel valves over before breaking open the racors, so the fuel isn't draining back......

There is no such thing as a 2 week weather window. Best you can predict with any certainty is 4 days. You have plenty of places to tuck and hide along your route that you are never more than about 6-10 hrs from a secure enough anchorage in your boat and 2 days from a proper hurricane hole, and that much notice you'll have from a major storm. Just go, keep your eyes and ears open and keep tabs on your barometer.... SSB is good for weather as well, Sci Tex makes a nice little receiver that lets you get all the weather products including weather faxes if you have the little demodulator to hook it to your laptop.

Neal-- this guy might be just what you're looking for...

http://www.ocean-pro.com/htmfiles/routing2.htm

Too late to edit my earlier post...for the past 20 years (up to today, as a matter of fact), almost every delivery skipper I have ever spoken with has praised/used Herb:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/hehilgen/vax498.htm

Don't forget a good shake-down cruise before heading out on your journey.

Still in Saint Lucia or have you moved on?

What is your current status, still motoring, made it to home port, or in still in Saint Lucia?

My Racors are always full when checked, even when the element is clean, the only time I seen a partially full racor was when I had air leak in the system and the filter drained down about 2 ", generator quit, logic would dictate that a partially full racor has air in the canister, death to diesel engine running unless all I was told by DDA and Parker Hannifin tech support was incorrect.
Just my 2c, ....