Fuel line on a BBSB

SCOTT SALZER

SCOTT SALZER

Active member
Is it a bad idea to cut a hole in the rear deck to run the fuel line through and up to the front where I plan to keep the fuel tank? I just don't like the thought of a fuel line flopping all over the place. I have a MLB Chuck Huff.
 
A hole in the rear deck is a bad idea.

Male and female brass hose barbs seated over brass flat washers and a dab of marine sealant is a good idea. Make sure to double hose clamp.

The fuel line won't be portable, but the tank will be.
 
I was going to put a hole in the rear deck for my gas line as I have seen it done a few times. What do you mean male and female hose barbes and washers how will that go together. Have any pics? I can't picture it.
 
A BBSB is seaworthy because the fore and aft decks, along with the cockpit coaming, shed water. Why would you purposely create an entry point for water on the aft deck?

The hose barbs essentially are thru-bolted through the deck. A male threaded barb can be seen here: http://www.westmarine.com/1/3/brass-hose-barb-1-8-npt-x-3-8-male-thread

and a female hose barb can be seen here:http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/14818-1-4-npt-brass-hose-barb-5-16-female-thread.html

You'll need to size them as appropriate. And, make sure that the threads extend all the way through the deck plus some.

Since the decks on a BBSB are cambered, the flat washers can be used to conform to the surface (they'll bend) and provide generous surface area for the sealant. They may not be necessary, though.

Don't slop sealant all over the threads. Just apply to a few of the threads away from the fuel flow and the washers. Use permatex (#2?) to seal the brass to brass connection.

As an alternative, you could also use something like: http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/14817-straight-3-8-brass-bulkhead-fitting.html

Securely hose clamp your fuel line to the barbs.

And, Charlie D is right. The fuel line on the deck isn't a problem. But, I find it annoying
 
West marine also makes something just for this it is 2 pieces of plastic with a ruber center that you drill to the size of you hose or wires or whatever you pass through the deck and has a ruber gaskit I couldn't find it on there site though that's what I bought just haven't put it on yet I thought you wouldn't put a hole in the deck at all but as long as its sealed its ok thanks for the imput you can see the part I am talking about it is on davey w's estuary on his post boat work that's where I got the idea
 
Maybe that was a bad choice of words on my part. I didn't mean chop a gaping hole in the deck. What I meant was to use some type of fitting as mentioned above. Thanks for the info.
 
Chris,

The grommet/seal assemblies you mentioned are neat. I'd consider those if my boat had a motor well and I could mount them on a vertical surface.
 
Is it a bad idea to cut a hole in the rear deck to run the fuel line through and up to the front where I plan to keep the fuel tank? I just don't like the thought of a fuel line flopping all over the place. I have a MLB Chuck Huff.
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I personally wouldn't use the hose barb suggestion because that would be prone to breaking to have a rigid barb sticking out of the deck and it woudl put a lot of stress on the fuel line, that isn't really a standard way boats are rigged. The way I'd do it is to drill a hole (possibly in the transom) and rig through that hole (could be a rigging tube or have a boot on it if you are worried about waterproofness). The fuel line needs chafe protection and needs to run in a way that it isn't prone to kinking. Usually in rigging lines come out of the transom and loop so that the turning of the motor is accomodated by the loop of fuel line. I wouldn't worry about the amount of water that would go through the hole unless it was draining on to electronics or dry storage.
 
Scott, I have my tank in the bow on the port side of the daggerboard trunk on my BBSB. I use some clips to route the fuel line off the floor and along/below the port side shelf. It then comes up and over the coaming, and the rear deck to the motor. With the port side tiller on the OB, the fuel line is not in a position to be in the way. The fuel line is certainly rigid enough to handle the decoys or 2 that might be set on it.... in my hull, the fewer holes the better! one more place of water to migrate from. And since I have no drain plug, as mine is a displacement hull, I really don't water in the extreme stations of the hull, where I can't reach it with a sponge between hunts.

Backing down on decoys to pick up, I have water washing over the rear deck....

Dave
 
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Scott, I have my tank in the bow on the port side of the daggerboard trunk on my BBSB. I use some clips to route the fuel line off the floor and along/below the port side shelf. It then comes up and over the coaming, and the rear deck to the motor. With the port side tiller on the OB, the fuel line is not in a position to be in the way. The fuel line is certainly rigid enough to handle the decoys or 2 that might be set on it.... in my hull, the fewer holes the better! one more place of water to migrate from. And since I have no drain plug, as mine is a displacement hull, I really don't water in the extreme stations of the hull, where I can't reach it with a sponge between hunts.

Backing down on decoys to pick up, I have water washing over the rear deck....

Dave
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Makes sense not to have a hole draining water to where it doesn't get already if there aren't limber holes.
 
Scott, pm me with your cell phone number and I will send you pictures of the rubber boot which is used to bring the entire fuel line through the rear deck as I have done on all of my bbsb's. Bob Williams
 
The rubber ones you are talking about are called "motor well boots". They are not 100% waterproof, in most cases there is a slit cut up one side so you can pass gas & electrical lines through them. It is much nicer to have the fuel/electric start lines go through your deck rather than into your cockpit, but not necessary. I did it on my boat because I wanted a finished look and I didnt want to worry about the fuel line getting pinched on the edge of the cockpit.

You drill a hole in your deck large enough to pass your fuel line through, then the boot goes around the hole on top of the deck. A few screws holds it down and a few plastic zip ties holds it in place.... maybe 95% waterproof. Make sure that you place the hole where it will not interfere with the swing of your motor or anywhere you may step into your boat. I have one installed on my duckboat (not a BBSB), see photo below.

Here they are online:

http://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Corporation-12820-5-Motor-Well/dp/B0009TS3VU

View attachment boot.jpg
 
Notice how the above setup is almost 18" above the waterline. That's pretty safe.

I wouldn't do that in a BBSB.

Again, I'd recommend either using a sealed pass-through or leaving the fuel line laying across the deck.
 
I was out looking at the boat and realized something. There are screw holes in the decks for the lights, dodger brackets, etc. So another hole (sealed) should not be an issue. I think I'll figure out a good spot for it and use a fitting. I don't see any harm in it as long as it is out of the way. Thanks everyone for your help.-Scott
 
Another idea for you would be to use a steel fuel line and have a fitting above the deck where you can snap in your rubber line. You could glass that right in.
 
I too cut a hole for the fuel line on my 17' TDB without any problems but I would be very hesitant to cut my Bob Fricke bbsb..That hole would be much closer to the water...and coming from someone who survived a boat sinking (not a duckboat)I can tell ya the fewer holes in your hull the better.
 
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