Fuel Lines
 

Has anyone had it questioned about Coast Guard Approval and Braided fuel lines and fitting. Is there anyone who has documentation of certification. Of course, they exceed but documentation may be key.

I replaced all my fuel lines a few years back and looked into this. Didn't find any braided fuel lines that were approved for boats.

IMHO, it's unlikely the coast guard will do a surprise inspection for your fuel lines, but if insurance company investigates a fire claim, they will most likely be checking certification.

Id guess that most custom engines have braided lines whether they are SS or cloth, Im running braided cloth for water and fuel with compression type fittings and have had two surveys done by a SAM's accredited folks for insurance purposes and there was no issue.

I’d consider what the boat actually was equipped with when new also. Just thinking out loud but I’ve seen some pretty elaborate expensive hoses, fittings etc of many different kinds have a failure (sometimes major) (myself included) VS good quality non SS braided hoses, barbed fittings with double clamps.

Sometimes simpler is better! I’m trying to think of the Cat I think that burned up on the water outside the boyne thunder poker run a couple years back. I don’t recall the particulars but pretty certain was a faulty fuel hose or fitting.

that was a guy local to me who had a -10 or -12 an fitting crack that started that fire.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...98d5c39ee5.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4ddda448de.jpg
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Factory is not an option.

Yeah I get it. Maybe it would be worthy of a stop to see what the coastguard would have to say about certification and documentation of. With insurance companies cracking down more and more with all the endless claims it would be kinda sucky to find out they could perhaps determine a claim based on US coastguard standards or some other independent CO’s findings. I opt to self insure (water toys) as a simple auto claim nowadays can turn into a $hit show and in the end you typically get fked unless you have the time and patients to fight ongoing.

I think one reason they are not approved is so they don't short out on a hot wire.

Some of the new fuel hoses are rated for 15% ethanol.

The coast guard and insurance could care less about your fuel lines. Don`t over think it .

They`re either E85 friendly or they arent.
Every hose is 15% compatible because that`s just regular gas for most of us.
The evils of ethanol are very exegerated.
As a matter of fact I hate marina no ethanol fuel .It`s 90 octane and it burns up blower engines. Ethanol lowers intake temps, you get higher octane and it`s more forgiving .
I fill up on land and only Top Tier fuel.
If I`m forced to get non ethanol I have to treat it with boostane which is not cheap.

The USCG fuel hose is super thick walled that I have seen. I was thinking it must be for either fume permeation prevention or give you a few more seconds of protection in the event of a fire. Maybe both?

I started using the non conductive braided teflon /steel braided hose about 8 years ago, it doesnt abraid and cut your fingers once installed, its not the easiest stuff to work with as coating is pretty rugged BUT works well!https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/s...BmYuQ&usqp=CAc

Actually i was told from a coastie a few years back that one of the reasons is most people will run braided line all the way to the tank and the problem with this is electrical grounding. If you look at a stock fuel system....even if they have metal tubing like mercruiser does from the fuel pump to the carb or efi system....there is always a section of rubber fuel line acting as an isolation. If your main ground wire was to fail, then when you go to start the engine, the electrical load will search for a new grounding source.....so if your braided fuel line is now the next best ground for starting and completes the electrical loop....what do you think will happen when you try and run 600amps on that fuel line? POOF and up in flames the boat goes! :(

Thats what I ended up with and you’re right. It can be a bit of a fight so to speak but it’s nice. When I first used it I swore my fittings or hose was off like (1/2 AN)

Way less cat whiskers poking fingers!

KOOL tools is a must for making AN lines.
I replaced all my lines with Mr Gasket E85 compatible .

https://www.holley.com/brands/mr_gas..._braided_hose/

Heard a similar story abt someones clutch cable that kept breaking. Found eng ground was loose and clutch cable was the next best source for ground. It happens.

A ‘race’ car of mine was arching from braided line next to fuel regulator and arching to the firewall. I was lucky !

I question how good that hose is with e85. The manufactrer rates it 3 out if 5 stars for e85??

Curious if you smell gas fumes when stored inside?

I forget what hose I used (black nylon braid) but it leaches fumes. Very annoying. Only hose I will buy going forward will be ptfe lined.

The inner lining of the hose determines it's permeability. The extra wall thickness is how it gets it's A1 fire rating.
The regulations say it must survive 2 1/2 mins of exposure to flame. If the flames haven't been extinguished after 2 1/2 mins of a gasoline fire, you've probably already lost the boat. Also part of the testing requirements say the hose must be exposed to a surface temp of ~1200 degs F within 1 inch of the hose during the flame test.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...6341bb694f.jpg


https://newboatbuilders.com/pages/33CFR_Fuel.html

For fuel hose I used USCG-rated hose and pushlock fittings with Oetiker (pinch-style permanent) hose clamps. It all came out nicely.