Anyone replace fuel and fresh water hull vents?

[Porkchunker]

A plastic cover fell of the Perko thru-hull fuel vent (again). It is the second time one has been knocked off by a dock. Can't find them at any of the big box marine stores or on-line cateloges. Looks like the design was problematic and it has been pulled from the market.

So...I need to replace them. My vents have the 90 deg. bend in the pipe coming into the back side. The bends face up as installed by Parker. The new SS vents I've found so far, only bend down...which causes me to modify the way the hoses approach the vent. Not much space back in there to work, so I want to do it right the first time, and get in/out fast.

Has anyone done this on their Parker? If not, I'll muck my way through and capture some pics along the way to upload here.

 

[TomS]

I just went through the same thing.

I ended up replacing with the same Perko fitting that was there originally, I ordered it here:

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/store/ ... rd~%20.htm

If that long URL doesn't work, go to http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com and search on "Perko vent"

Another option is a chrome plated brass fitting from:

http://www.gemlux.com/gemproducts.php?p ... artnum=942

They have an "up" and a "down" 90* fitting. I believe the "down" version is what you want. Check the PDF diagram though.. "down" has the vent holes pointing down when the vent line is running "up".

-- Tom

 

[rangerdog]

Man, mine is stainless from the factory. :wink: See if you can get Tri-State to order you one. Chaaaaa...CHING!!

 

[warthog5]

A lot of us replace with these.

http://www.orcasmarine.com/default.aspx ... *TANKVEN@@

http://www.orcasmarine.com/default.aspx ... de=8906222

They make another special fitting that attach's to this, but I don't see it.

You install the vent fitting with the 90deg end pointing up. This fitting attach's to that and then turn's down. Kind'a like a "P" trap on a sink.

This add's to protecting from water gotting into the tank thru the vent. Call them and ask about it. Their website is still under construction.

 

[DaleH]

They make another special fitting that attach's to this, but I don't see it. You install the vent fitting with the 90deg end pointing up. This fitting attaches to that and then turn's down. Kind'a like a "P" trap on a sink.

Bobby:

Is this it?

Listed as item # 9006229, a "Nylon Loop for 90 Deg Tank Vent", only $3.56, click here. I will say that Gem Lux sells all types of investment cast SS fuel vents, but those Orca prices are a few dollars less!

 

[Megabyte]

Dave, Does the back side of your vent look like this?

 

[warthog5]

That's it Dale. It is a 2 piece deal with a "O" ring and 2 screw's to clamp it on the piece I showed.

The Orca's stuff is 316 stainless too.

 

[Porkchunker]

Kevin...yes that is it.

I believe the hose is 5/8" and the hole in the hull is 3/4"

But...there are vents with 7/8" and 1" dia that require a larger hole through the hull. I don't want to be expanding the holes in the hull with this little maintenance task.

Maybe I sould e-mail Robin and ask her what hose and hole size they used for my model/year.

 

[Porkchunker]

Kevin,

You always seem to have the right pic at the right time. What do you do...walk out the back door take a pic and come back in to upload it?

 

[Megabyte]

Kevin,
You always seem to have the right pic at the right time. What do you do...walk out the back door take a pic and come back in to upload it?

I'm not really that efficient...

Shortly after buying my boat, I took an entire series of photographs, documenting everything... from the general layout, to the canvas, electronics, motor, plumbing and wiring, and all of the major deck hardware.

Since the time of that initial documentation, I have continurd to take photographs of anything that I add or modify on the boat. When modifications or upgrades are performed, many times I'll take before, during, and after photos to document the install.

In the case of the photo above... that particular one was actually taken to document the installation of the Icom CommandMic, but it also shows other items (such as my LED cockpit lighting)... and it just happens to capture the item you were looking for. When I take 'area photos' like that one, I try to keep in mind what the lense will be recording, and position myself accordingly. :wink: One well planned shot can capture a lot of data.

The difficult thing for me to do sometimes... is to remember where, in my photo library, a particular shot resides. :roll: I will know that I have the shot, but sometimes finding the right angle or feature out of three years worth of project photos is tough.

I hope that other owners find my photo library useful.

 

[TomS]

Minor thread-jack here, but you guys should try Picassa from Google for managing your photos. Its the fastest indexer/thumbnailer that I have seen. It also lets you manipulate your photos (crop/rotate/color adjustments/etc) without effecting the original picture.. Very nice program.

http://picasa.google.com/

Then again, I just remembered Kevin has a Mac..

-- Tom

 

[warthog5]

Porkchunker The hole in the side of the boat does have to be modified to install the Orca's vent pictured above.

Yes I just ran outside took this pix and uploaded it.

As you can see the actual vent is shielded from boat spray.

 

[Porkchunker]

I like it because it is also flush and not prone to getting bumped by a dock.

If I pull up to a dock and it is padded, I don't normally deploy my own fenders. But sometimes the padding catches the existing vents either from the top or the bottom as the boat rises and falls in the waves. The bumping has knocked two of the plastic caps off exposing the opening of the vent to water intrusion.

What you have looks like the perfect solution to my problem.

 

[Porkchunker]

I just went through the same thing.

I ended up replacing with the same Perko fitting that was there originally, I ordered it here:

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/store/ ... rd~%20.htm

If that long URL doesn't work, go to http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com and search on "Perko vent"
...
-- Tom

Tom...That first Perko item is exactly what is installed on the boat now. I'll order one just to get the plastic cap until I can install a more permanent and appropriate solution, e.g., the orca.

For the life of me, I don't understand why Parker builds such a great boat, but puts cheap plastic thru-hulls into them.

The orca model is what I'll order and install when I get some time.

 

[dcunniff]

I've bought my 90 degree Perko vent fittings at my dealer. Haven't seen them in marine stores.

I had more problems when I was on a mooring when inattentive launch drivers sheared them off.

Haven't lost one on a slip since been on one three years.

My dealer doesn't put them on display but has them on a back shelf, so doesn't hurt to ask sometimes. I think they cost around $15.

Dana

 

[Porkchunker]

Thanks for all the tips, guidance, and pointers (links).

Now that my gelcoat repairs are complete (except for buffing and waxing), I'll go get one of those cheap Perko vents and rob the plastic cover for the current installation. I'll order a pair of those SS orca vents and make that my next major project.

 

[Porkchunker]

A lot of us replace with these.

http://www.orcasmarine.com/default.aspx ... *TANKVEN@@

http://www.orcasmarine.com/default.aspx ... de=8906222

...

Thanks...Just ordered two, one for the fuel vent and one for the fresh water vent. I robbed the plastic cap from the freshwater vent last weekend and put it on the fuel vent. That should hold me until the new SS orcas come in.

 

[Neckbone]

Bobby, Thanks for that picture of the Orca vent. I couldn't figure it out from the pictures on the website. I'm going to order a couple of these. They look like the best choice out there.

 

[Porkchunker]

Ok, my two Orcas vents came in. Looks like they will be fairly easy to install.

Now need to get one of those gizmos that keeps the fuel from flushing up through the vent and onto the Bay.

 

[Megabyte]

Now need to get one of those gizmos that keeps the fuel from flushing up through the vent and onto the Bay.

Not sure where the cheapest place is to get em, but here they are a go2Marine.

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=91699F