ISO 10088, Permanently Installed Fuel
Systems and Fixed Fuel Tanks
H-24, Gasoline Fuel Systems
DIS 21487, Permanently Installed Petrol
and Diesel Fuel Tanks
H-33, Diesel Fuel SystemsISO standards are available from several
sources, including the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI), http://www.ansi.org.
Using ABYC and the CFR as a starting
point, we’ll go through good practices in
sound fuel systems, including details such as
return oil coolers and piping manifolds,
which aren’t specifically covered in the CFR
requirements or ABYC recommendations.
Running Pipe
The piping schematics in this chapter show
simple and reliable arrangements for twin-
engine inboard vessels with twin tanks—
diesel or gas. If the boat has no generator, just
omit the generator piping. If the boat has two
gen sets, draw in another branch for that. If
the boat is single-engine, eliminate the valves
and piping for the second “side.” Small
runabouts and day boats can be fitted with
one fuel tank. Larger craft preferably should
be equipped with at least two. It costs a bit
more to do this, and some less expensive
cruisers have only one tank, but it’s not good
practice. Why? With diesel, if the lone tank
springs a leak or becomes contaminated,
you’re done—no more fuel. With twin tanks,
you can almost always manage to motor
home. Even with gas, you have a second
chance should one tank become contami-
nated with dirt or water (though if even one
tank springs a leak you will have to shut down
both gas engines to avoid risk of explosion).
Accessibility of Fittings
Keep in mind when arranging fuel piping that
you have to be able to get at important com-
ponents. Under ABYC and CFR for gasoline,
it’s a primary requirement that all fittings,
joints, connections, and valves be fully acces-
sible for inspection, maintenance, removal,
or repair without the removal of any perma-
nent part of the boat structure. (ISO 10088
asks that all of the fuel pipe and hose be ac-
cessible as well.)
Where a fitting, joint, or piece of hard-
ware is concealed behind a panel, liner, or
similar structure, an access panel or deck
plate must be installed to permit access.
If you’re doing a survey, be sure to
inspect all systems with this accessibility
requirement in mind and to note any prob-
lem with access clearly in a report. If it’s
your own boat, be sure to correct the
problem.Double Your Filters, Double
Your Fun
The only slightly unusual feature of these
fuel-piping schematics in this chapter is theChapter 4: Fuel Piping and Fuel System Bonding
Figure 4-2.
Required fuel
system access
panels (Courtesy
ABYC)