Fuel tank breather position?

[sanglier]

Hi all, On a RIB I've discovered the fuel breather pipe and vent is just sitting loose in the compartment behind the electronics in the single centre console. I'm thinking this is a bad idea? Surely it should be mounted through the wall to the exterior? Where do they normally go?

Cheers for any help in advance.

Dan

[Jon Tallis]

Definitely not in there for a start!
They need to vent external to the console, away from anything that could create a spark and ideally somewhere not directly exposed to spray. That one looks a bit non-ideal as it doesn't have any form of hood over it and will be prone to ingesting water unless there is a self-draining arrangement that isn't obvious from the photo. Might be worth changing the terminal unless you have somewhere very sheltered to mount it or it is self draining.
Make sure you have a generous high point loop in the vent pipe to prevent water getting back to the tank.
A water-separating fuel filter is a good idea regardless of your breather arrangements

[sanglier]

Great, thanks Jon. I think i'll get one with a cover and mount it properly either in the front or side of the console.

[paintman]

https://www.boatsnews.com/story/3453...vial-operation

Dangerous stuff petrol vapour.

[Miss Guided]

Hi Dan

The guys are right, in fact I would not go out again until this is resolved...

MGx

[Jon Tallis]

Originally Posted by sanglier

Great, thanks Jon. I think i'll get one with a cover and mount it properly either in the front or side of the console.

Ideally not on the front or sides - back or a rear-facing area is better as less likely to get a real soaking in a big sea

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Miss Guided

Hi Dan

The guys are right, in fact I would not go out again until this is resolved...

MGx

Yeah. This.


Back in the 70s my father had a mooring about 1/4 mile off Salterns. I saw 2 powerboats explode on the Poole fuel barge on separate occasions .(I assume before bilge blowers became a thing?) Wasn't a pretty sight.

[sanglier]

Originally Posted by Jon Tallis

Ideally not on the front or sides - back or a rear-facing area is better as less likely to get a real soaking in a big sea

I can see that rear would be better although I don't have a lot of options at the rear. Its a single console which turns into a really long jockey seat housing the fuel tank and batteries. Behind the rear face of the jockey there is a load of battery switching gear, it might go below this but would be very close to the deck. Plus its difficult to see how I would get the high point loop in too?

[Jon Tallis]

Originally Posted by sanglier

I can see that rear would be better although I don't have a lot of options at the rear. Its a single console which turns into a really long jockey seat housing the fuel tank and batteries. Behind the rear face of the jockey there is a load of battery switching gear, it might go below this but would be very close to the deck. Plus its difficult to see how I would get the high point loop in too?

Appreciate sometimes the ideal place doesn't exist and you have to find a compromise. Mine is in the front of the console for that reason but it has a hood over it which seems to stop it ingesting water

[sanglier]

Yes I think I will have to make that compromise too, good to know others have done the same. Hooded vent ordered