Fuel selector switch

C

C-Dude

New member
I purchased a 2013 22 cruiser. Maiden voyage this coming Saturday. The fuel selector switch has 4 labels on it. "off, port, starboard, gasoline". The previous owner duct taped a "port" label over the original "gasoline" label on the switch and duct taped "starboard" over the original "starboard" label on the switch.

He told me he runs off one tank at a time, I want to run simultaneously from both.

I would like to run out of both tanks simultaneously instead of switching tanks. It is a single engine vessel. Do one of the positions on the switch allow for simultaneous fuel burn from both tanks?

I wish I could post a picture for reference, but cannot figure out how.

My old c-dory had dual engines and no fuel switch, so this was not an issue.

In my mind, burning from both tanks simultaneously would be best for weight and balance and for convenience.

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I guess you could just take the fuel line from each tank and put them into a T fitting. Then use the last part of the T to go to the engine. I guess you could continue to use the valve but it would be just on and off and you have to remember which way was on the valve so you could label it that way. I never had too much trouble managing the levels on two tanks using the fuel valve. We just slid a cooler around or move passengers around. I thought on a 22 you could see the fuel levels. Having a reserve amount set aside seemed like a good idea for me. If I remember the standard selector valve has three ports. Port, starboard and the third to the engine. If I was to do what you are thinking on I would want to carry some extra fuel for the ride.
D.D.
 
Or the port and starboard hoses were installed backwards. I thought I remembered the shaft and the handle having a flat side so it could not slip.
The fuel valve if I remember the center connection was to the engine and the other two were for the port or starboard tanks. By pulling off the hoses and putting air to the fuel line you can hear the air in the tank the hose is connected too. I know this because our boat came with the hoses connected incorrectly. The fuel line for engine was connected to starboard position on the valve and the center connection was going to the starboard tank. That meant when you switched to the port tank you had no fuel getting to the engine. You can pull the valve and blow thru it to see how the hoses should be connected.
D.D.
 
Using the fuel valve which comes with the standard rigging, you can only run one tank at at time, except as noted above to put a "T".

Since the boats use relatively small amounts of fuel, we just alternate days port and Sub., or use the fuel to help trim the boat.

The point made about "reserve" is an excellent one. One a long run, we will run one tank going out--and the second one coming in, but always leave about 1/4 tank "reserve" on the first tank used.

This has worked well for us on the 22's.
 
Understand that "port" is intended to draw from port tank independently and the same with starboard. "off" is obviously off. What is the "gasoline" position on the switch typically for? Drawing from both tanks at the same time or something different?

Thanks

Ben
 
I assume the gasoline label is just a label identifying the valve is for fuel tank selection and as stated above only tank is able to be use to remove fuel and the other tank is closed off from drawing fuel. Good idea on the T fitting
 
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