Carbon canisters & fuel systems

[GearToGo]

Hi just joined but have been reading the forums for a while. So first off let me intro myself. I'm part of a two man team that work on rentals everything from jon boats to pontoons and ski boats. We rent to the military and are part of the morale welafe and recreation division of the army for any vets reading this you may know of us. Anyways we have a couple new pontoons 21013/2014 model years that have the new EPA fuel emissions carbon canisters on them.
Anyone have any experiences on these things? How long to that last and when should they changed or have some type of maintances done on them if any? We aready had to replace two gas caps due to the renters misplacing them and they are not cheap or availalbe let at the local boat supply shops but just want a heads up on what else may go wrong with them.
I expect they are some what like the canisters in autos and may never have to worry about them, but then again these are rental boats and if thr GI can tear it up they will.
Thanks. :joyous:

 

[gm280]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

First things first. Welcome to iboats GearToGo. :welcome: Always great to have a new boater aboard.

First I appreciate what you are doing for military folks. The surely deserve some quality relaxation from their jobs...

I have never messed with charcoal canisters (other then vehicles) but they are merely a filter to help keep gas fumes from exiting into the air. So if they are the same type setup as vehicles use, they are most likely to last a very long time before any service is needed. But that is only my opinion.

I use to rent out boats/trailers from an air base some years ago. But without fail, every boat I rented out needed the trailer completely rewired. So I would rewire the trailer so that all lights were working and wired according to the standard trailer code. New wires, lights and whatever it took to go on the highway legally. But then the next time I rented another boat, I'd get another setup to rework as well. One year I think I rewired every trailer they owned. Now I have my own setup, so no telling if those trailers work or not...

Keep up the great work though... :thumb: :thumb:

 

[GearToGo]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

I have never messed with charcoal canisters (other then vehicles) but they are merely a filter to help keep gas fumes from exiting into the air. So if they are the same type setup as vehicles use, they are most likely to last a very long time before any service is needed. But that is only my opinion.

That's what I'm thinking too they should last a while, these boats only get about 100 hours of use a year so don't think I'll need to replace them.
As for our trailer wiring they are all to the standard 4 wire and before the renter can take them the tow vehicles get inspected and lights hookups are checked with the simple little testers. Our biggest issue is they don't unplug the lights before launching and we go though a case of 1157 bulbs every year.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[gm280]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

That's what I'm thinking too they should last a while, these boats only get about 100 hours of use a year so don't think I'll need to replace them.
As for our trailer wiring they are all to the standard 4 wire and before the renter can take them the tow vehicles get inspected and lights hookups are checked with the simple little testers. Our biggest issue is they don't unplug the lights before launching and we go though a case of 1157 bulbs every year.

Thanks for the welcome.

Two options you may consider for those 1157 bulbs. First is you can buy 1157 LED bulbs now and that would eliminate constantly replacing them. Yes they do cost more buy would pay for themselves easily. Second, you could upgrade your trailers to LED setup lights and never have to worry again about them...that is unless someone cuts the wires somehow. Never underestimate what people can do to things. But either one of those options should solve your replacement problems. Just remember, if you use 1157 LED replacement bulbs, use some type grease (very lightly) on the base of the bulbs to help keep them from corroding between the bulb base and the connector the bulb pushes into. And them it should work nicely too.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

In the auto world, if they are not damaged, they last more than 10 years. Usually the big issue is the hoses and the control valve.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

Two options you may consider for those 1157 bulbs. First is you can buy 1157 LED bulbs now and that would eliminate constantly replacing them.

its a really nit-picky issue, but as far as I know, there are NO dot certified drop in replacement LED light bulbs that can replace a 1157. 99.999% of the time that won't make a difference, but it could affect rental insurance if there ever was a a wreck.

 

[gm280]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

Smoke, I just today seen them in an auto parts store (O'Reilly Auto Parts) for about $5 to $6 dollars a piece. But I have to admit that I didn't read the package to verify if they were DOT certified or not. But the do have them on the racks along with the LED side marker bulbs as well.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

its a really nit-picky issue, but as far as I know, there are NO dot certified drop in replacement LED light bulbs that can replace a 1157. 99.999% of the time that won't make a difference, but it could affect rental insurance if there ever was a a wreck.

I'm not sure what kind of a deal you are getting from your supplier, but you could buy 100 AC Delco 1157LL bulbs from Amazon for under $50

 

[GearToGo]

Re: Carbon canisters & fuel systems

I'm not sure what kind of a deal you are getting from your supplier, but you could buy 100 AC Delco 1157LL bulbs from Amazon for under $50

Everything sounds good on the led replacements but I think some missed the "morale welafe and recreation division of the army " in my first post. Meaning this is the goverment trying to get led lights for replacements is also and act of congress, believe me we tried.
One of the reasons I am looking into the carbon filters is once the EPA folks here find out about them they will be asking questions. Then again as fast and up to date they are I will be retired from here by then.