Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

[bowfisher8967]

I am trying to offset weight in the back of my boat, so I want to move my fuel tank to the bow. It's a 14' boat, so the fuel line would need to be around 12 feet long. Is this too long/too far away for the motor to pull gas from? Its a 15hp merc 4-stroke (hence the heaviness).

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

No.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

Should work just fine.

Used a 20' hose with a 15 hp for years.

Remember, the fuel pump is really only lifting the fuel up from the tank height, to the motor height.

 

[oops!]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

to expand on what rosco just said........traditionally speaking........your bow will ride higher than your stern...so the fuel will be travelling down hill except for the last few feet up to the motor.
so the pump wont have to work so hard.

you will be fine.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

It isn't distance but rise that will make it not work, the pump can pull fuel a long distance but it can't raise it more than a couple feet.

I ran the set up you are talking about for a few years on my old jon and it worked great, it took some pumping to prime it but once it is primed you are good.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

Hi all. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. To take it a step further, which side of primer bulb would be better to add the extended fuel line to (i.e. between the tank and the bulb, or the bulb and the motor), or does it even matter. Thanks!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

Bulb near the tank.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

consider running and securing the line along the side on top of the seats rather than on the deck, if you plan to leave the line in the boat.

while putting the bulb near the tank is better engineering, I find with older motors I'm messing with the bulb at the motor, so having it close by may be better.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

definitely put the bulb as close to the tank as possible.... If for some reason you need a bulb at the engine (to keep it running?) then you will need two of them.

As for the length yeah eventually it could become a problem but you would have enough hose coiled up in the boat to fill it LOL

 

[pecheux]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

I've been running the same gas line lenth setup for more than a decade ... no problemo.

Cheers

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

Fuel lines comes generally factory assembled with bulb near engine than to tank, personally would extend line from tank to bulb, once you prime bulb once, no need to prime it again, unless you have fuel starvation issues.

Happy Boating

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

Fuel lines comes generally factory assembled with bulb near engine than to tank

I'm sorry but no, they don't.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

I'm sorry but no, they don't.

That's the way my 03 Merc 20 came. I've seen them both ways.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

I'm sorry but no, they don't.

There's a big difference from : comming and generally comming factory assembled, anyway most Tohatsu, Mariner, Mercury, Yamaha fuel lines comes with bulb near engine than tank in portable/medium models; the thread was reffered to a 15hp merc 4-stroke...

Happy Boating

 

[lakelover]

Re: Is there a maximum Fuel line Length?

After thinkg more about this, it seems I've seen more J/E's with the bulb closer to the tank, and Mercury had them closer to the engine. Don't know about the bigger motors. But then my '04 Merc 9.9 has it closer to the tank. Who knows the reasoning for the difference.