Who plugs there fuel vent when wakesurfing

[Millertime]

I have a large crew heading to the lake this weekend, I expect we are going to have a pretty good lean when we are wakesurfing. Any issues with plugging the fuel vent when were surfing on that side, in case it dips into the water.

[woody]

I wouldn't plug it with anything. I repositioned my fuel vent to point towards the stern.

[Ndawg12]

How does that help anything?

Are you concerned with fuel leaking out or water leaking in??

[WakeGirl]

You do realize that the vent is there for a reason?

[Millertime]

Sorry wasn't suggesting something permanent, just during the surf run on that side.

Are people not concerned that water could find its way into the fuel vent?

If the vent is taped over could that cuase some other problem.

Its not been an issue in the past, as we have not had the people or the extra ballast to get the waterline above the rubrail.

But it just hit me, that I am going to have a bunch of people it could get close and wondered if other BU crew people thought it was an issue and if so what they did about it.

[WakeGirl]

Among other things, the vent is there because the tank needs to displace the fuel that gets used with air. If you plug that, you may have a non-running boat. With the tank being somewhat flexible, it may work for a short amount of time, but I would bet that you'd run into problems if you did it for very long.

Just angle the vent back, that should be enough to prevent any issues. I never even did that & would bury my vent with regularity while surfing....never, ever had a problem.

[skyskier]

Agree with WakeGirl. I lost an ATV race once because my fuel vent plugged up with mud and the bike shut off. However, if that happens while surfing, you are doing it wrong.

[Brad B]

I too run with mine buried all the time and have never had an issue.

I did wonder about it at first (2003) but then just forgot about it.

[68Slalom]

Don't we all have vents on both sides, so effectively you could plug it if it's submerged all the time. I could be wrong

Edit: But if it is submerged then I'm sure your getting a butt load of water in the boat!

Edited July 30, 2009 by 68Slalom

[WakeGirl]

No, the vent is only on 1 side. Maybe you're thinking of the fill ports?

[68Slalom]

No, the vent is only on 1 side. Maybe you're thinking of the fill ports?

Oh, I was just thinking about after I wrote my last post. I should know since I've had to wax around it

So theoretically there is no way to get water in there

[Brad B]

Its such a tiny tube and designed not to allow water in

[Millertime]

BU Crew -

Thanks for posts, its great how you can always get advice from people with "real" experience.

[Surfin247]

To be sure it is not getting water, open your rear hatch and find the tube coming off the vent and make sure it is running uphill. On my Vride it runs up to the gunnell and then along the sundeck and rear seat back. Because this is uphill especially when listed to port no water is able to travel up due to gravity. I would be careful about moving the vent to face the stern. A big wake from a following sea when stopping could force water up the tube. Facing straight down is the best to maximize the force of gravity. Just make sure your vent tube runs up before dropping to the fuel tank.

[Millertime]

Great idea, I will check tonight.

[Chia]

well despite all the theory, i have been taping over my fuel vent for the last 5 years on 2 different boats without a single problem. I don't even bother taking the tape off anymore between surfing outings. I use that not quite clear medical tape that tears easily. ymmv

[JasonK]

My vent is on the transom(back) and gets flushed with water when we stop while weighted. My vent line did not run up inside the boat. It went right down to the tank. After we started surfing I started have a running problem. I tried a bunch of fixes. My last batch of fixes was a carb rebuild, the racor in the line, an inline fuel filter (with sight tube) and a resistor added to the wiring harness.

If your vent line goes down and you don't have a racor, I'd add one.

[Dusty14]

So...........where are we people. To plug or not to plug ( or tape over) our vent when surfing.

[D-GOOSE]

Don't plug just turn the vent to the back. I'm sure most of you have seen my boat half way under water while surfing. I have not had one problem with water entering the tank at all.

[Chia]

So...........where are we people. To plug or not to plug ( or tape over) our vent when surfing.

Don't plug just turn the vent to the back. I'm sure most of you have seen my boat half way under water while surfing. I have not had one problem with water entering the tank at all.

just plug the vent and forget about it.

hope these last two posts help you out.

[atxfletch]

I'm not worried about the water getting into the tank in the position its at. The BIG problem occurs when you have a full tank of gas and surf on the port side first. Sometimes when the vent dips below the water line, it siphons a bit of gas out, and everyone gets a tremendous wiff of fumes and not just a mildly annoying gas smell. Fortunately, we typically wakeboard first, so we don't have a full tank of gas when we start surfing on that side. I've been considering taping over my vent hole...but only when surfing on that side. Anyone know for sure if it's a big problem to tape over the vent hole for a couple hours while surfing that side?

[Chia]

I'm not worried about the water getting into the tank in the position its at. The BIG problem occurs when you have a full tank of gas and surf on the port side first. Sometimes when the vent dips below the water line, it siphons a bit of gas out, and everyone gets a tremendous wiff of fumes and not just a mildly annoying gas smell. Fortunately, we typically wakeboard first, so we don't have a full tank of gas when we start surfing on that side. I've been considering taping over my vent hole...but only when surfing on that side. Anyone know for sure if it's a big problem to tape over the vent hole for a couple hours while surfing that side?

ummm, i do, its not a problem.

[atxfletch]

ummm, i do, its not a problem.

overlooked your previous post....

have you had the same problem - gas siphoning out, before you started taping?

[WakeGirl]

I doubt that tape would keep that from happening, but installing a Racor will.

[atxfletch]

I doubt that tape would keep that from happening, but installing a Racor will.

ohhh duh...I forgot all about those! I have vent overflow problems when filling up too.

You've used one, Wakegirl?