posted 11-01-2008 10:15 PM ET (US)            

I installed a Racor fuel-water separator under the RPS in a client's 2003 Montauk 170 last winter. Seemed to work great with no reported problems this summer. Their 170 has an 2003 Mercury FOURSTRIKE 90-HP. I often recommend some sort of external fuel-water separator. I think it's a great idea for a little extra protection against fuel related problems. My Outrage 17 has an OMC/BRP cartridge filter and separator that also seems to work well.

posted 11-02-2008 06:11 AM ET (US)            

Do you have any photos of the installation? I am thinking of locating it under the leaning post and helmsman seat on a teak panel

posted 11-02-2008 11:31 AM ET (US)            

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj32/LPBagi/Whaler/IMG_1594-1.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj32/LPBagi/Whaler/P1000332.jpg

posted 11-02-2008 03:55 PM ET (US)            

Step by step pictures:
http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/srcbell/2008%20Season%20Prep/ Northstar%20F210%20Install/

posted 11-02-2008 08:55 PM ET (US)            

Here's a pic of the Racor filter installed on the 170. The filter is just bolted though the side of the RPS with stainless bolts, finish washers on the outside and washers, lock nuts on the inside. I thought it was a good easily accessible location. [IMG]http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a84/95Outrage17/03%20Montauk%20170/IMAGE_026.jpg[/IMG]

posted 11-03-2008 06:58 AM ET (US)            

Thats exactly where I am thinking of placing mine.

Nice and easy to access so it will not get overlooked

posted 11-03-2008 07:44 AM ET (US)            

I am waiting on a price for the Racor Filter kit but decided to check out the Mercury kit as well.

I looked in BassPro and it is like $25

I contacted a UK Mercury agent and here is his reply.

Dear Mr. Spencer,
Thanks for your enquiry. We can order a Mercury fuel filter kit for you at £54.26 + VAT + P&P. Alternatively, we do have in stock a Johnson/Evinrude fuel filter kit which is essentially the same part for £45.57 + VAT + P&P.
Regards
Mark Chapman

Now VAT = 17.5% so

£54.26 X 17.5% = £9.50 total £63.76 now multiply by todays exchange rate of 1.61 and the UK equivalant is $102.65

Somebody is making one hell of a profit.

posted 11-03-2008 09:58 AM ET (US)            

Is this the unit you used

RACOR 320RRAC02 Spin-On Filter

posted 11-03-2008 06:15 PM ET (US)            

quote:

---

real pain to install and service

---

A pain to install, perhaps. Cleaner look though in my humble opinion. Service? It's easy to replace the filter and a RACOR fits in there as well. I see changing out the filter once a season. Also keeping the filter out of the splash well keeps it out of the weather and salt air/water.

Things to think about.

posted 11-03-2008 06:51 PM ET (US)            

I have seen Seth's rigging in person. I would go with the inside the compartment location since it protects the filter from water, maintains a clean look in the splash well and RPS, and it is easy to replace the filter.

posted 11-04-2008 12:09 PM ET (US)            

I am going with Seths method.

It involves a little more work but I like the fact that it leaves the RPS and splashwell clear.

Thanks to everyone but Chris and Seth in particular for their input.

posted 11-04-2008 01:22 PM ET (US)            

A little pain up front pays off when you can preserve the factory look of your boat.

posted 11-05-2008 10:31 AM ET (US)            

Ordered and paid for the kit fine.

I just tried buying 90 degree 1/4NPT to 5/16 hose barb

Guess what. Not here in the UK we have BSP (British Standard Pipe Thread, we have NTPF,metric but not NPT)

Can anyone point me at a store that sell the right angles barbs shown in Seths setup

posted 11-05-2008 01:38 PM ET (US)            

I got the fittings at the local race shop

posted 11-05-2008 02:55 PM ET (US)            

quote:

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there is not enough room for a filter wrench

---

Two words...HAND TIGHT.

I plan on replacing the filter every spring so I hope that doesn't allow enough time for it to corrode on there.

posted 11-06-2008 10:36 AM ET (US)            

swist,
splashwell is nice place and easier to gain access for sure. Some people have made the splashwell location look very neat and tidy. That said, I'm a perfectionist and prefer to have the boat look as factory as possible. Keeping the filter out of the North Atlantic elements was a deciding issue in my case.

posted 11-06-2008 06:50 PM ET (US)         

Has anybody ever noticed that those boats without built-in fuel tanks, like the Montauk 170, never come equipped with a water spearating fuel filter? And that boats with a built-in tank do. It's not that Whaler is being cheap on the Montauks. They don't need it.

When you're running a boat with on-deck red tanks, metal or plastic, a water separating filter is a waste of money and needless rigging clutter and expense. This form of tank doesn't get condensation dripping into it off the tank top surface.

If you're concerned that dirt particles may exist in your fuel, keep the engine mounted filter clean. Some EFI engines even have their own water separating filter in case you get bad fuel.

posted 11-06-2008 07:46 PM ET (US)            

With the large investment made in a new or recently produced Whaler, I think a $50 filter kit is a small investment to prevent water and crap into the fuel system. My experience with fuel sold by mainland marina's is not good and island suppliers is worse.

With the introduction of blended fuel, there is, in my opinion, an additional reason to take this added step.

Why Boston Whaler does not install a water separator fuel filter on non-Verado equipped boats is a mistake, in my opinion, but that is a totally different topic and not germane to AJ's post.

If the filter kit was $200, I would agree with Larry. : ~)

posted 11-06-2008 08:17 PM ET (US)            

You've never seen water in an above deck fuel tank? I can confidently say that most above deck tanks I look in, when they're nearly empty, have some water and often dirt at the bottom. I agree that most boats probably don't need these filters, but I certainly wouldn't call them a waste of money. I recommend these filters to most of my clients because for many of them it's not about the minor cost of such an item, it's about reliability. Anyway that's just my view and experience.

posted 11-12-2008 02:34 PM ET (US)            

Placing it under the seat prevents it from being kicked or damaged, or out in the spray, which would be the case if it were located out in the open.

I've had no carb problems since installing it.

posted 11-13-2008 04:07 PM ET (US)            

Well I have followed your install but added a 5/16 hard rubber pad between filter and the hull to space the filter out. I can get a filter cup wrench on the filter so should not be a probem changing it.