Suntracker fuel tank design/placement Problem??

[BoatCop]

Water doesn't mix with gas. It will "puddle" at the bottom of the tank. While water may be suspended in gas if the tank is agitated and gas sloshed around, after sitting still for a while, the water will settle at the bottom with the gas floating on top of the water.

Coating the bottom couple inches of a stick with water sensing paste will tell you how much of a layer of water is at the bottom of the tank. (See my diagram)

You show that your engine is a 2010. The fuel filters installed on your engine, if you're using Mercury filters, do collect and filter out small amounts of water. If there's an excessive amount of water, the filter will fail (fill up) just as it would with excessive amounts of other contaminants.

There will always be some some minute amount of water in the fuel, due to condensation in your tank or the tank at the gas station/marina. Although most stations have water filters in line between the tank and the pump. With today's gas mixed with up to 10% ethanol, that water will bind with the alcohol and remain in suspension. This is the water that the filters, even your engine fuel filter, are designed to collect. The water paste will not detect water in suspension with the fuel. Only that which has collected at the bottom of the tank. If there's an excessive amount of water, the water will collect the ethanol and also settle at the bottom.

If you ever look at fuel treatments designed to eliminate water in fuel, you'll see that they're pretty much just alcohol.

[SoCalAngler]

Thanks BC, very clear explanation and great diagram.

Is there a way to determine if my engine fuel filters ( I was told there are two.....one below cowling and one above) have collected water?

Thanks!

[BoatCop]

If you pull the filter and pour what's in it into a glass or mason jar and let it sit for a minute, any water will settle at the bottom and you'll be able to see the layer of water at the bottom.

[hyper]

This is the reason I did not buy a suntracker. I love the looks of the boat, but once I saw the fule tank I bought a smokercraft. Really that was the only reason.

[copwad]

I had an 04 24 ft tracker with the tank buried in the rear transom. Constantly sucking ion water into the tank. Tracker would not replace under warranty . So I cut it out and installed a smaller tank up top. Poor design!!!

[Drago]

A good kit for testing your fuel can be had at

http://www.fuel-testers.com/index.html

[Waterlogged]

I have the same fuel tank setup and have noticed no problem with water in tank. I am going to pick up some of that gasoila and test just to be sure. I have never run with the cover of the fueling area removed so I don't know what the water flow is like in that area, but I think I will try that also. Probably won't get back to the boat until Thanksgiving week, but will check it all out then.

Glenn

[ToonGuy]

Most major OEMs are and have been placing the tanks in the transoms for a few years now. It's just like Oil Injection, Fords, Chevys, and so on...you're always going to find some one that had a bad experience. If 99% of them weren't perfectly OK the OEMs would stop doing it. SoCalAngler, if you haven't had a problem yet I doubt you will. Also, with a 60hp on a 21'er I doubt your "trimming" the bow up or down much if any. It may make a difference in your wake right a the transom, but I doubt it makes the boat ride any in the water.