Hello fellow sailors. I am planning the many aspects of a 45'
catamaran refit for an off grid long voyage. The
advice I am seeking is about the
fuel system. I am going to have 2
fuel tanks and I am thinking on installing
Racor pre-filters. I am looking into Keenan filters. Andy, the owner, took the time to explain and sent some literature my way. His systems are impressive but EXPENSIVE! Now I don't want to speak without knowledge, maybe he is priced just right. His products look like top of the line in terms of materials and engineering.
My question is what other options are available in the market that can do the following:
* Provide pre - filtering, fuel/water separation.
* have a fuel transfer
pump for
lift pump back up and fuel transfer/polishing.
* warn operator if vacuum is out of whack.
* warn operator when
water is present in fuel.
Keenan has 2
catamaran systems; the first is made of two (one for each motor)
single racor filters housing and built in pump and manifold for various operation (drawing fuel from a
single tank, fuel transferring/polishing, etc. etc.) and a
remote with warning audio buzz / LED for
water in fuel and bad fuel pressure. This system with mounting
hardware is north of 4k.
The 2nd system is the same except each
motor is getting a dual racor filter housing with the same options except the operator can switch from one filter to the next remotely in the event of fuel
alarm. In the very unlikely bad luck event that the
boat engine's die while trying to leave a tight place, potentially you can start it right back from the
helm if this was due to bad fuel or filter. This system is just north of 7k.
Like I mentioned before, top of the line but a high tick
price item. What is out there? What do most sailor are doing in this department. Any input is appreciated! Thanks