Heard this from a local fisherman and is common practise on fishing boats.Whether fuel bug,water or just plain dirt what do you do if system packs up?

Fit a small tank Eg. a small outboard tank-pipe in to top your injector spill pipe and fit an overflow back to main tank. Run fuel line from tank back to fuel system past main filter with extra inline filter if you like-fit necessary isolating valves.

You are then guaranteed a reserve tank of totally clean uncontaminated and probably warm already filtered fuel to bleed and run through your system and get you home!

Phil

Thought someone might say that although boat in question was only a 30ft lobster boat-and I am lucky in that my boat has similar lines and as a result I would have enough space-perhaps more appropriate for motor vessels when if you only have the one engine and it packs up you have a major problem.Of course in a sailing boat you could get away with a very small tank-say just enough to get into the marina and manuever into a berth.

Space in the engine compartment is something I really appreciate there being a little extra as well because someone resited the batteries in a side locker.

I can stand straddling the engine/stand on gearbox and can access all the engine bar the sump with reasonable ease.,gearbox and front end of prop shaft.This is also helped in that the Merc OM636 tend to have a narrow tall configuration rather than squat and broad.

Phil

As an emergency fuel tank, I have the following.

An outboard motor tank with the usual pipe a priming bulb/bladder, filled with diesel.

The connector at end of the fuel pipe that is normally attached to the ouboard is cut off.

If I have a fuel problem, all I have to do is disconnect the flexible fuel pipe that mormally connect the the fuel system to the engine, and then attach the the pipe from the outboard tank.

The advantage of this system, is that if one suffered a lift pump failure all that is needed is the position the outboard tank above the level of the engine and one has a gravity fed system.

I also use this tank for transporting diesel out to my boat ( I have a swinging mooring and my local marina fuel berth is not accessiible at all tides), All I have to do is poke the pipe into my fuel filler, squeeze the bulb to get the diesel running into the main fuel tank, the syphoning then keeps it going.

This is much easier and cleaner than messing around with jerry cans and funnels.

David I like it-in case of my boat may be inclined to keep a flexible pipe with outboard type bayonet conector and isolater valve plumbed into my engine between lift pump and injector pump.

One thing though-the only time I got diesel bug was in one of my two 5 gallon jerry cans I normally keep full on board and use for filling my main tank-they tend to get left and forgotten about.

Phil

I think that is pobably the best idea, might well do it myself.

One thing though, I wouldn't fit the connector between the lift pump and the injector pump as you are either going to have to gate-valve off the supply coming (even if erratically) from the lift pump and route it back to the tank, or you'll blow up the pump as it tries to compress incompressible diesel!

You'll find that diesel will flow though a lift pump by gravity alone even if the pump isn't running.

You'll need to ensure that no air can be sucked in via the connector or you'll get air in the diesel problems that we are all too familiar with!

Yes-before pump but if aim is to isolate from existing fuel system prob best idea is a two way fuel tap-can be had from specialist car sites on internet

Phil