Hello all,
I purchased a ranger clone (1997 "Ruffneck" - 16' bass boat built in Zimbabwe and based off a ranger design. Don't ask me how the previous owner got it to the US). Boat has a 115hp Evinrude.
I was in the middle of replacing all the lines going to the tank when I came across a bit of a snag.
This boat rides VERY low to the water (as most bass boats do). The vent line runs along-side the engine fuel and VRO line, into the engine, up to the top of the engine cover and back down to the back of the engine where there's a nipple to vent out the back of the engine. A bit of a unique design; I had never seen a tank vent line go into an outboard engine cover before but I suppose it makes sense given that that's the highest point on my boat.
Here's my question. The vent tube makes all the other lines going into the outboard opening VERY tight; I'm afraid that over time it may pinch the fuel or VRO line or something (maybe I'm a worry-wart as it has been this way for 15 years without a problem, but better safe than sorry). As such, I'm kicking around venting it somewhere else, but I'm at a loss as to where. Anywhere on the hull of the boat would basically be out of question due to how low the boat is. When I'm out fishing, especially if the water is rough, water is always splashing up level with the boat, so there's no 'safe zone' on the hull.
How do they do this on 16' bass boats here in the US?
I purchased a ranger clone (1997 "Ruffneck" - 16' bass boat built in Zimbabwe and based off a ranger design. Don't ask me how the previous owner got it to the US). Boat has a 115hp Evinrude.
I was in the middle of replacing all the lines going to the tank when I came across a bit of a snag.
This boat rides VERY low to the water (as most bass boats do). The vent line runs along-side the engine fuel and VRO line, into the engine, up to the top of the engine cover and back down to the back of the engine where there's a nipple to vent out the back of the engine. A bit of a unique design; I had never seen a tank vent line go into an outboard engine cover before but I suppose it makes sense given that that's the highest point on my boat.
Here's my question. The vent tube makes all the other lines going into the outboard opening VERY tight; I'm afraid that over time it may pinch the fuel or VRO line or something (maybe I'm a worry-wart as it has been this way for 15 years without a problem, but better safe than sorry). As such, I'm kicking around venting it somewhere else, but I'm at a loss as to where. Anywhere on the hull of the boat would basically be out of question due to how low the boat is. When I'm out fishing, especially if the water is rough, water is always splashing up level with the boat, so there's no 'safe zone' on the hull.
How do they do this on 16' bass boats here in the US?
