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I was out this weekend and had a fuel line leak. I actually lost the connector from the end of the hose that teed off the main line to the kicker (the kicker mount came with the boat, but I don’t have a kicker yet). It had plastic hose clamps on it and we must have kicked it off when we were climbing up the ladder. It was a relatively easy fix on the water, but I now want to have some spare parts on board for next time. My question is what do you recommend? Do you just carry a bulb with the hose and some extra hose clamps or do you also have the connections to the tank and motor? I’m not sure how prone to failure those connectors are.

Jeff

In one of my outings, as I tried to change from one tank to another, the connector to the tank totally exploded on my, with spring, o-ring, ball, etc., flying all over the cockpit. I managed to catch everything before flying over to the water, and managed to reconstruct it sufficiently good to go back to the marina. Since then I have two of these as spare. Of course I also have spare clamps.

It's cheap enough and the most vulnerable part of the mechanical propulsion system. So I have a complete extra fuel line, bulb and fittings.

I got rid of the exploding bayonet connectors and went for straight barbed fittings, clamps, hose bulb and a three way fuel valve to select from my two tanks. I carry spare line, barbs, clamps and bulb, as well as a spare Mercury fuel connector.

I carry my Towboat US card. Saves space and work until I get home. If something goes wrong, call and have some fun while waiting for them to come.

Jib, Spinnaker and Main line and as a last resort dingy tow line

I got rid of the exploding bayonet connectors and went for straight barbed fittings, clamps,

+1 after replacing the fittings a few times.

If you have extra hose and clamps you skip bulb and motor connector and connect the fuel line directly tank to motor under the cowl in a pinch too.

I like the idea of adding a valve. It will increase the life of the connector to the tank. It will also get me going again much faster. Do you have to use the primer bulb after the switch? Where did you mount the valve? I want to add a platform to cover all the steering linkage, cables and fuel lines. This should increase the life of everything back there. Maybe I could find a way to hide a valve under it, but still make it quickly accessible. Anyone ever done something like this? What about mounting inside the starboard fuel locker?

If some of you have had them fail, I'll definitely get the extra connectors also. They won't take up any extra room. Good tip about connecting the fuel line directly under the cowling in a pinch. I'll have to look at how easy this would be to do on my Honda 50.

Jeff

Here is a description of how I added a fuel selector switch http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... od#p286331

I carry a complete second tank with hose and fittings.

My boat has lots of space under the cockpit

I always have a spare fuel line and bulb along with all of the clamps. I also have spare gaskets for the fuel tanks.

Years ago I forgot to unscrew the vents on the two twelve gallon tanks. They swelled to the point where they literally blew a gasket. I purchased spares along with the replacements.

Ray

RobertB wrote:Here is a description of how I added a fuel selector switch http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... od#p286331

Adding my version for searches..Not as neat an install as Roberts nice mount and protector but saves a bit more transom space. Apples, oranges, pairs, limes....everyone loves peaches.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 20#p299720

Catigale wrote:....everyone loves peaches.

I see what you did there.