Water Ski - July 01, 2018

BOAT DOCTOR /// Q&A

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FUELED AGAIN
Q: I have a 2000 Four Winns
180 Horizon powered by a
130 hp Johnson outboard.
About three years ago, I
noticed that when I would
purchase fuel, the fuel bulb
would be collapsed. It would
do this shortly after getting
underway and remain so. If
I stopped to purchase fuel, it
would not inf late but remain
collapsed. This in no way
affected performance. After
docking for the day, it takes
about an hour for the fuel
bulb to recover. My mechan-
ic has replaced the bulb; he
has replaced the fuel line; he
has replaced the anti-siphon
part; he has replaced the
vent ... or checked it any way.
It does have a fuel/water

separator installed. Finally,

I asked him what he thought,

and he is unsure. I told him

that I would write to you.

He thought that was great!

Thank you.

John Burns

Cape May Courthouse,

New Jersey

A: A collapsed primer bulb

is indicative of not enough

venting and/or a fuel-line

restriction. It could also be

a bad bulb, but you replaced

that. Check the screen on the

bottom of the fuel-tank pick-

up. It may be clogged. There

is likely a deck plate in your

cockpit sole that provides

access to the top of the tank

and that fitting. Also check

these items:

1. Open the fuel-fill cap and
   run the boat. If the bulb
   doesn’t collapse, you have
   narrowed it down to your
   vent. Be careful not to do
   this on a rough or windy
   day where spray will get
   into the tank.


2. You can also connect the
   engine to a portable fuel
   tank and run it. If the bulb
   collapses on the portable
   tank’s fuel line, you know
   it’s a problem with the en-
   gine (maybe a lift pump). If
   all is well on the portable,
   you know the problem is
   somewhere in your boat’s
   fuel system.


3. Likely, the problem is
   related to ethanol, which
   degrades hoses. Fuel hoses
   are laminated, and the

ethanol can cause the liner

to collapse under suction.

This makes it hard to trou-

bleshoot. Change the vent

hose and then the supply

hose, if changing the vent

hose does not work.

HATCH SCRATCH

Q: Dear Doc, I own an old

Caravelle Seahawk 230

cuddy that has a cabinet

for the electronics at the

helm. The door for this is

black — or gray — plastic.

It is badly scratched, and I

cannot source anything from

Caravelle. What can I do?

Peter McMahon

Westbury, New York

A: Please see the answer for

Mr. Arrington on page 32.