Notices
General Boating Discussion

Close call yesterday!!

Thread Tools
 
Old 07-14-2025 | 11:48 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 163
Likes: 68
Default Close call yesterday!!

We were out in the Velocity cruising about 75 and she started to lay down, quick glance at the gauges and everything looked fine. Looked again and saw fuel pressure dropping.
Slowed down and could smell fuel. stopped and opened hatch to see 3 gallons of fuel in the bilge!!
Quick look and found that an AN fuel fitting broke off the fuel head!!
I am still sick to my stomach thinking about what could of happened to us if she would of lit on fire.
I have been doing fuel lines for 35 years and i have NEVER seen this happen before. It was a sniper fitting.
I happen to have a manual bilge pump to get the fuel out and a towel to clean the rest.
I was able to get the broken fitting out of the fuel head and move some things around to get fuel hooked up again and got to the dock safe.
SCARY!!
hpmaniac is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 12:22 PM
  #2  
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 279
Likes: 88
From: WI
Default

What fuel head? Is it an Not to AN fitting? Need pics!

My fuel pressure gauge is in the engine bay at the rail, but maybe I should find some space on the dash...
CheckmateScarab is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 12:40 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 163
Likes: 68
Default

Originally Posted by CheckmateScarab
What fuel head? Is it an Not to AN fitting? Need pics!

My fuel pressure gauge is in the engine bay at the rail, but maybe I should find some space on the dash...
It is the factory murcury mechanical lift pump on a sci 575. I ran a An fitting from fuel pump up to the factory fuel head. The factory line was very restrictive. It was just a short 12 inch hose with a 90 degree on each end. Low pressure 8 psi. The straight fitting 1/4 pipe to -8 an is what broke off. It was not under stress or rubbing on anything. Just crazy strange. Must of been vibration or it was just a bad fitting.
hpmaniac is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 01:34 PM
  #4  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 153
From: Tygart Lake, WV
Default

Glad you found leak before it got ugly. BTW How did the prop test go?
Ryan00TJ is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 02:31 PM
  #5  
Registered
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 388
Default

Harmonics due to vibration can be destructive. Prev owner of my Fountain said he was breaking alternator brackets left and right for no apparent reason. He added a stiff spring to each bracket to break-up the harmonics and never broke another bracket again. He also had a rigid 1-piece fuel feed line for the Holley double pumpers crack soon after installing it. It's now a 2-piece feed line assy and 10+ years old.

Dash mounted fuel press gauges are a good thing. Been thinking abt adding an instrument pod for fuel press and wide-band O2 gauges.
zz28zz is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 04:33 PM
  #6  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 163
Likes: 68
Default

Originally Posted by zz28zz
Harmonics due to vibration can be destructive. Prev owner of my Fountain said he was breaking alternator brackets left and right for no apparent reason. He added a stiff spring to each bracket to break-up the harmonics and never broke another bracket again. He also had a rigid 1-piece fuel feed line for the Holley double pumpers crack soon after installing it. It's now a 2-piece feed line assy and 10+ years old.

Dash mounted fuel press gauges are a good thing. Been thinking abt adding an instrument pod for fuel press and wide-band O2 gauges.
That's the strange part, this boat and drive engine combo is VERY smooth. At any speed I feel zero vibration.
hpmaniac is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 04:35 PM
  #7  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 163
Likes: 68
Default

Originally Posted by Ryan00TJ
Glad you found leak before it got ugly. BTW How did the prop test go?
hey man, good prop. Feels like it has less lift than my other bravo prop and the velocity likes that. I noticed the barrel is shorter on it. Boat will do 90 with that prop you sold me.
hpmaniac is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 08:49 PM
  #8  
Registered
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 388
Default

Originally Posted by hpmaniac
That's the strange part, this boat and drive engine combo is VERY smooth. At any speed I feel zero vibration.
Same here. Runs like a sewing machine.
zz28zz is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-2025 | 08:57 PM
  #9  
seafordguy's Avatar
Gold Member
15 Year Member
Gold Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 959
From: Seaford, VA
Default

You have my sympathies. Experienced a similarly scary event recently it stays with you for a bit.
seafordguy is offline  
Reply
Old 07-15-2025 | 09:38 AM
  #10  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 163
Likes: 68
Default

I have 2 brushless bilge fans that move a ton of air.
maybe that was just enough to help keep fumes down. Solid tight electrical connections and good plug wires.
Makes you realize how important this stuff is. I run with fans on all the time to help move air through the engine bay.
hpmaniac is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.