After a frustrating and frightening experience when a clogged fuel filter shut the engine down at a very inconvenient (read extremely dangerous) time, I decided to build a duel filter system that would allow switching to a fresh filter if the engine started to sputter.  This is a simple system that is quick and easy to use and allows the old clogged filter to be replaced while the engine is still running.  I enlarged a small cabinet beneath the aft end of the V-berth to accommodate the system and also added a vacuum gauge.  The front of the cabinet is removable so as to allow easier access for filter changes.  At the same time I wanted to tackle the problem of a dirty fuel tank with years of accumulated gunk at the bottom.  I installed two new fuel tank ports to allow access to the entire inside of the under V-berth mounted tank.  I then pumped out all the remaining fuel, degreased the inside of the tank and sandblasted the entire interior.  I layed a wide fillet of colidal silica thickened epoxy into the corners of the tank where it had been welded, thinking that if there were ever to be a pin hole weld failure, this is where it would occur.  The next piece of my fuel system overhaul was to change out all copper fuel lines for USCG A-1 rubber fuel hoses.  Finally, I now make it an annual maintenance project to remove all fuel from my tank and wipe down the entire interior by hand with clean rags.  In the six years since the fuel system refit I haven't had a repeat of the fuel filter clogging nor have I ever found any debris of any kind in the tank.

Ralph Richardson
TERRA NOVA
T-37 ketch #406
Portland, Oregon