Engine Spits and Sputters on Broadside Wake and Dies

[Mike D]

I just replaced my out dated primary fuel filter last week with a Racor 120A 10 micro on my Westerbeke 30B. After taking a while priming the system it started and ran fine. Ran it at the slip at various RPM's in neutral and under load and all seemed fine. Took a motor out on the creek at various RPMS for about a three mile run and all was well. Took off for Mill Creek above Annapolis about an 8 mile run and got to mile 7 and it died and then came back to life. Sailed home and got towed into the slip. Replaced an under sized hose nipple , I had to replace the hose between the filter and the engine, and it started and ran fine. Motored the next day and when we got hit with a large broad side wake it spit and sputtered for a while and then roared back to life. It happened 3 times all broad side wakes. It ran fine all the way back to the slip at various RPMs. Any Ideas as to what it could be. I'm think I may have a pin hole in my pick-up tube that when it gets above the fuel level when the tank is aggitated it sucks in air and spits but never dies.
Thanks in advance Mike D

[Chief Engineer]

That is an excellent first educated guess.

I have seen this a few times over the years.

[DeepFrz]

Your hunch may well be right, but because this has just started after replacing a filter its possible you have a tiny air leak at the filter, then the rocking may cause that air to be picked up by the filter outlet.

[Sunspot Baby]

If it is the pick up tube, it seems funny you didn't have the problem with the old filter. I'm sure you have already done it, but I would start by rechecking every connection and seal on the filter system and lines.

George

[delmarrey]

When you replaced the filter unit, did you replace hoses or, at least, cut off the ends of the old hoses for a fresh seal???