I am going through this refit decision too. I have an 8 foot run from tank to engine. There is also a short section of hose from a shutoff valve on the tank to the fuel/water separator filter. The main line appears to be original copper tubing from the fuel/water separator filter to near the fuel pump, terminating in another short section of hose to the fuel pump.
I have three references (with nice details about how to construct boat fuel systems): ABYC standard H-24 Gasoline Fuel Systems (I purchased it), the U.S. Boatbuilder's Handbook Subpart J Fuel Systems Title 33 CFR Sections 183.501–183.590 and the Canadian Construction Standards for Small Vessels TP1332E Transport Canada 2004. All three appear to share the same standards, from what I can tell. The TC standard says "Fuel fill lines shall be hose or metal pipe" and goes on to specify hose and metal types, connections, etc. The other two references also do not seem to specify any requirements for metal over hose in the main run in the fuel distribution system from tank to engine, and like the Canadian appear to specify no preference for hose over metal fuel lines (?).
To my mind, the disadvantages of copper are: much harder for a DIY'r to make sound connections than for hose, harder to insert new filters, pumps and valves in the distribution line, and harder to route around corners without risk of causing small breaks in the metal tubing. The main downside of hose seems to be that it ought to be changed every 5-10 years, but that does not seem like a big deal.
So, I too would like to know if there is any reason why I cannot remove the metal line and change it to A1 fuel hose throughout?
UPDATE: Since I posted this early this morning, I have removed all the fuel distribution parts and that old primary filter. I am using the old copper tubing as a model to make a new exhaust dry stack. So I am now committed to a new fuel line.
I have three references (with nice details about how to construct boat fuel systems): ABYC standard H-24 Gasoline Fuel Systems (I purchased it), the U.S. Boatbuilder's Handbook Subpart J Fuel Systems Title 33 CFR Sections 183.501–183.590 and the Canadian Construction Standards for Small Vessels TP1332E Transport Canada 2004. All three appear to share the same standards, from what I can tell. The TC standard says "Fuel fill lines shall be hose or metal pipe" and goes on to specify hose and metal types, connections, etc. The other two references also do not seem to specify any requirements for metal over hose in the main run in the fuel distribution system from tank to engine, and like the Canadian appear to specify no preference for hose over metal fuel lines (?).
To my mind, the disadvantages of copper are: much harder for a DIY'r to make sound connections than for hose, harder to insert new filters, pumps and valves in the distribution line, and harder to route around corners without risk of causing small breaks in the metal tubing. The main downside of hose seems to be that it ought to be changed every 5-10 years, but that does not seem like a big deal.
So, I too would like to know if there is any reason why I cannot remove the metal line and change it to A1 fuel hose throughout?
UPDATE: Since I posted this early this morning, I have removed all the fuel distribution parts and that old primary filter. I am using the old copper tubing as a model to make a new exhaust dry stack. So I am now committed to a new fuel line.
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