2024 230 OUTRAGE Fuel-Water Separating Canister Filter Location

[Mcirincione]

Q1: on a 2024 230 OUTRAGE, where is the fuel-water-separating canister-type filter located?

BACKSTORY

I have looked at all deck hatches on my 2024 230 OUTRAGE for a fuel-water separator filter but do not see one. I realize the fuel filter is a water separator, but every boat I have owned had a fuel-water separator canister filter.

[Survey question seeking to discover the number of readers who possess certain knowledge about a 2024 230 OUTRAGE has been deleted, and replaced with Q1, above. Thread has been moved to THE GAM.--Moderator]

[jimh]

I realize the fuel filter is a water separator...

Q2: where is "the fuel filter" you mention located?

[Phil T]

Have you reviewed the owners manual for the engine(s) and the boat"?

Page 3-3 from the 2024 Outrage 230 Owner's Manual.

Item # 12

Fig. 1. Fuel system diagram from Boston Whaler owner's manual, where it is identified as Figure 3.3.1

2024_Outrage_230_Fuel_System_Fig_3.jpg (131.45 KiB) Viewed 782 times

[The fuel-water separating filter] appears to be mounted on the forward wall adjacent to the raw water pump. I drew a circle to its approximate location.

Fig. 2. Bilge layout diagram from Boston Whaler owner's manual, where it is identified as Figure 2.10.2

2024_Outrage_230_Bilge_Layout.jpg (208.63 KiB) Viewed 782 times

[jimh]

CALLOUT 3 identifies the fuel-water separator in Figure 2 above. Because CALLOUT 9 refers to the item as being on Port, the inference is the drawing is oriented with the stern of the boat to the left. This suggests that the fuel-water separator is attached inboard of the transom. But in Figure 1 the fuel filter appears to be located forward of the fuel tank, which conflicts with what Figure 2 shows.

Q3: let's try again: what is the mystery item identified in the original narrative as "the fuel filter"?

[Phil T]

Jim - Your terminology is confusing.

It the first diagram, labelled Fig 3.1.1 the view of the illustration is from the port stern quarter.

The second diagram, labelled Fig 2.10.2 the view of the illustration is from above with "port" being on the top and starboard on the bottom.

The filter is on the forward wall of the tank cavity, on the port side.

Helpful?

[jimh]

Phil—please explain in Fig. 2 where CALLOUT 3—the fuel water separator filter—is located.

You have circled CALLOUT 10, the raw water pump.

[Phil T]

I have circled the area of the forward wall. Item 10 happens to be located adjacent.

[jimh]

Q4: What about CALLOUT 3?

[hauptjm]

Water Seperator is located under the most rear deckside hatch, center of the deck, mounted on the interior side of the transom. You can't miss it.

[Mcirincione]

Thanks everyone.

ASIDE: Mercury’s fuel filter shas a water sensor built into it. My opinion is this can not be the only water separator between fuel tank and engine.

I have read through the manual and have the diagrams provided, however after opening all access points, I can not find CALL OUT 12 as in [the] diagram [shown above as Figure 1].

[Mcirincione]

Again, thanks everyone. I will head down again tomorrow and check all stern hatches especially the transom. Quite honestly that is where I would expect it to be mounted. I tried following the fuel line from the tank to the stern and as you might guess, everything is crammed together. I will post back accordingly.

[Phil T]

Oh cripes. (rated G comment)

Yes, it's on the aft wall. Diagram Figure 3.3.1 is incorrect.

The draftsman of these figures is a idiot who needs retraining on understanding fore and aft, port and starboard.

[jimh]

PHIL--I don't understand why the device indicated as CALL OUT 3 as shown in Figure 2 in this discussion (which was taken from a Boston Whaler manual where it is identified as FIgure 2.10.2) is not the mysterious, invisible fuel-water separating filter that is being sought?

I am sure the left side of the drawing (in Figure 2) is the boat transom, as that must be inferred from the location of the SONAR transducer (optional) at CALL OUT 5.

Also the electric-hydraulic power steering boost pump, CALL OUT 2, is located there, which makes perfect sense that this is the transom area.

[jimh]

ASIDE: why we are all carefully studying these two diagrams, what are the two devices attached to the fuel tank as seen in Figure 1 above that are identified by CALL OUT 10 and described as GRADE VALVES?

[jimh]

Q2: where is "the fuel filter" you mention located?

Q3: let's try again: what is the mystery item identified in the original narrative as "the fuel filter"?

ASIDE: Mercury’s fuel filter has a water sensor built into it. My opinion is this can not be the only water separator between fuel tank and engine.

Let me ask for the THIRD time

Q5: where is this "fuel filter" or "Mercury's fuel filter" located?

Q6: is there any chance that this "fuel filter" or "Mercury's fuel filter" is a fuel filter that is located under the cowling of the Mercury engine on the 2024 230 OUTRAGE boat?

[Mcirincione]

The “fuel filter” I mentioned is under the [Mercury outboard] engine cowling. This filter filters the [water from the] fuel, and, if water is present [an electric sensor in the filter sends a signal that] indicates a fault on a SmartCraft display.

ASIDE: On [a different boat that had a] Yamaha engine [on the engine there was a similar fuel-water separating filter with water sensor], but on that other boat there was a [an additional and separate fuel-water separating filter].

ASIDE: the Mercury part number [for the engine-mounted fuel-water-separating filter with water sensor that I referred to as “the fuel filter”] is 35-8M0106635. It is an annual replacement part.

[Mcirincione]

I opened all the stern hatches. I saw several saltwater pumps for both fish boxes but no [fuel-water-separating canister-type] filter.

I opened the hatch [located forward from the] engine: [there I saw] just the [electro-hydraulic steering boost] pump in a black case and an electrical connection, and, again, [I saw] no [fuel-water-separating canister-type filter].

I examined the head compartment. I opened both oval doors, [and I saw] fresh water pumps, but no [fuel-water-separating canister-type filter].

I opened the curtain for the battery tray, and still no [fuel-water-separating canister-type filter was seen].

Thanks to everyone for your help.

I may need to consider that [on a 2024 230 OUTRAGE] there isn’t a separate [fuel-water-separating canister-type filter], and not having a separate [fuel-water-separating canister-type filter] just doesn’t sit right with me.

[Jefecinco]

You can buy an OEM or aftermarket filter and install it.

[jimh]

For a good fuel-water separating filter, I like RACOR filters. I like the gasoline filters with a clear lower bowl with a drain so that water in the fuel can be drained off without opening or removing the filter.

The size of the filter screen in any fuel filtering system should be planned so that the filter media becomes progressively smaller as the fuel flows toward the engine. For example:

• fuel pick-up tube in fuel tank: usually a mesh screen just to keep large clumps of debris from getting to any downstread filters;
• first fuel-water separating filter: usually 20-microns
• second fuel-water separating filter; usually 20 or possibly 10-microns;
• final fuel filter in the fuel circulation system in the engine: usually ten microns, or in some cases a fine mesh screen to stop large debris that has broken off from elements in the fuel system itself, like gaskets, seals, hoses, injectors, and so on.

[fno]

Not sure why you think your boat should have come with a filter/separator. Mine didn't in 2005. I installed my own Racor filter.

If you think the dealer stiffed you, go back to them and ask for the correct filter. (Or they will tell you to pound sand and pay for a filter).

Note that this website is mostly populated by a bunch of old cronies with older Boston Whalers. As such Boston Whaler doesn't pay much attention to us, and we have limited information on the newer offerings by Boston Whaler and thus the intricate details of the contract of sale for a new Boston Whaler boat.

[Mcirincione]

I understand and appreciate all of the comments, and thank you to all who made those comments.

I have reviewed the [Boston Whaler 2024 230 OUTRAGE owner's] manual, and clearly it shows a [fuel-water canister-type] separator [filter is included on the boat], but [if there is such a filter on my boat it is] not visible or [not] installed.

My initial concern [about the missing filter is because of the] upcoming decommissioning. Since the 2024 230 OUTRAGE boat is brand new boat, I wanted to ensure I covered all of the [necessary procedures to prepare the boat for long-term non-use and storage].

My marina is good [at decommissioning a boat], but I choose to do 90-percent of the commissioning and decommissioning processes myself. I enjoy [doing that work.

When I have contacted Boston Whaler, they just redirect me to my dealer, and I would rather keep my questions private.

[jimh]

At the least, I think you should go to the dealer who sold you this new 2024 230 OUTRAGE boat, and show the dealer the drawing or other information in the owner's manual you mention, and inform the dealer that you have made a careful search of the boat in all possible compartments and locations, and cannot find the indicated fuel-water canister-type separating filter on your particular boat.

I don't know your situation with moving the boat to the dealer to be inspected, but if that is a huge problem, you might ask the dealer to send a technician to inspect the boat at your marina, if not too far away.

I can only imagine that a new 2024 230 OUTRAGE was a quite expensive purchase, and the selling dealer ought to be quite agreeable to helping you discover where the filter that is clearly shown in the owner's manual is located.

Also, it seems quite odd that at the factory you cannot get a straight answer about the filter. If anyone ought to know if there is a filter on the boat, it would be the people who actually build and rigged the boat.

There could also be some clear-cut reason why there is not a separate fuel-water canister-type separating filter on the boat: perhaps Mercury has indicated their engine should NOT have an additional filter in the fuel supply line. That could be a valid reason for omission of the filter, as each filter element in the fuel supply line adds further resistance to the delivery of fuel to the engine. The Mercury engineers may have decided that increases the loss of fuel pressure due to an added filter is more a concern than only having one fuel-water separating filter.

If you look into the details of a filter like a RACOR, the installation instructions always insist the filter be location on the suction side of the fuel pump, that is upstream of the fuel pump. This prevents the fuel pump from being able to push the fuel through the filter media, and it can only try to suck the fuel through the media. But the more filters the engine fuel pump has to suck the fuel through, the more chances the rate of fuel flow may be affected, particularly at high-throttle settings when the fuel flow rate will need to be the highest.

Also, the notion that you will always need to filter water out of your gasoline fuel is really speculative. I have had a RACOR fuel-water separating filter in use for more than ten years, and there is no sign of any water having been separated in the clear bottom bowl of the filter. And I have purchased fuel at many different marina fuel docks in those years, some in rather remote locations.

The only instance I know of in which an upstream RACOR filter was quite useful was a situation where an older boat had sediment in the fuel tank, and while operating into rough head sea the motion on the boat was quite jarring, the sediment was stirred up, and the sediment got into the fuel delivery to the engine. A large RACOR canister filter stopped the sediment from reaching the engine, but soon that filter became clogged. The filter did its job: it kept the sediment out of the engine, which was a modern direct-injection engine whose fuel injectors are very expensive to replace.

[Mcirincione]

Final Comment: Went to my dealer and completed a walk through with boat manual in hand. My 2024 230 OUTRAGE does not have a separate fuel-water-separating canister-type filter installed—regardless of the owner’s manual documentation. The only protection I have from water in fuel is the fuel filter which contains a water sensor.

As noted comments, I may need to check to see if I added one if it would impeded or impact thr fuel flow to the engine.

Again, I want to thank those that commented.