Engine died after running for hours

[SeaHarlequin]

Guiding a stick to access the low part of the tank is great idea; now that you mention it, I think I recall seeing a tank access plate which would make that idea a breeze.

I did have issues with the OPSS once before, I'll re-check that.

Thank you for the reminder about the auxiliary tank. I don't have an extra tank so hopefully I can pinpoint the issue and resolve it before I need to buy one.

[hpweisse]

Few years back I had a similar problem a day after riding through a rough storm - lost rpm and engine would die and retart/run and repeat. I did not think it was fuel related because of recent fill up. I drained the tank and shined an inspection light into it and was amazed at the crud/gunk on the bottom. I started there- cleaned the tank repeatedly, updated the fuel lines to A1 low permutation [needed for ethanol], new fuel filter, changed the electric fuel pump [there is built in a filter inside], cleaned the carb AND most importantly added a 0-15psi fuel pressure gauge. This will help with any diagnostics regarding fuel vs spark.

And only use Marine or non-ethanol gas. Ethanol is water absorbant, especially if it sits a few weeks. Look for tank stations posting ‘non-ethanol gas,’ or fill up at the gas docks.

[sastanley]

And only use Marine or non-ethanol gas. Ethanol is water absorbant, especially if it sits a few weeks. Look for tank stations posting ‘non-ethanol gas,’ or fill up at the gas docks.

http://pure-gas.org - I would not guarantee that 'marine gas' is E-zero.

[ndutton]

And only use Marine or non-ethanol gas. Ethanol is water absorbant, especially if it sits a few weeks. Look for tank stations posting ‘non-ethanol gas,’ or fill up at the gas docks.

For the ethanol alarmists, I've run on a steady diet of E-10 (10% ethanol blend) for 15 years with only a single fuel related shut down and it had nothing to do with ethanol.

[Dave Neptune]

I too ran on E-10 right up until I sold the boat and never an issue with the "fuel". I did have one fuel failure at the dock when my mechanical pump shot craps. I LOOKED AT THE FUEL PRESSURE GUAGE for diagnosis and it read zero. Twenty minutes later we were on our way to Catalina with no OPSS and a "hot wired electric pump.

The problem with the E-10 is not the fuel but how long it is stored. Some boats use the engine just to get in an out of the slip so a tank may actually last a few years. Those who cruise a lot like me use up the fuel long before any problems occur.

Dave Neptune