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ELDEAN OPERATING MANUAL
NW Explorations
4L: Fuel System
4L1: Fuel System Concept
The Diesel fuel aboard Eldean is carried in two tanks of 650 gallons each. This gives the boat great cruising range, but
it also means there can be a significant imbalance between the tanks if fuel is only used from one tank for an extended
period.
You should understand that Diesel engines pump an excessive amount of fuel from the tank,
use the excess to cool the injection pump equipment on the engine, then return the unused
excess to the tank! Typically, an engine might pump 40 gallons/hour, but use only three or
four: The 36 or 37 gallons “makes the circuit” through the pump and back to the tank.
4L2: Filling the Fuel Tanks
With the large fuel tanks, you can fuel the boat pretty fast using a standard hose and nozzle
(like those on auto gas pumps). Fuel each tank, taking the hose around the fore-or-aft deck to
reach the outside fill pipe (don’t drag the hose over the decks or rails: have someone help you
handle it). Fill both the tanks completely but do not spill fuel! You can control the flow rate by
sound, as the fill pipes make the characteristic “getting to the top of the bottle” pitch change
when they begin to fill to the top. (The tank vents will gurgle before the tanks are full, so
when the vents begin gurgling, slow down until you hear the fill pipes’ pitch change.)
Please use the absorbent pads that are supplied under the fuel fills
to protect the teak deck when fueling.
Fuel levels
are checked by using the Computank System.
Please return the dip stick to its clip when done!
4L3: Fuel Fill Pipe Locations
The fill pipes are on each side of the salon house recessed into its sides.
One of the fuel fills in
the saloon side.
