www.iFourWinns.com

Just picked this boat up and taking it for first long cruise this week. Has twin Volvo GSI 5.7L 280 hp motors.
Perhaps I missed this in the manuals, but what are the "correct" positions of the fuel supply valves on this boat, and what is the purpose? I'd like to run the boat so that it draws from both tanks equally at the same time as I want to burn through the old gas from the prior owner at the same time, rather than draw from one tank and then the other. These are the lever valves on the brass block on the forward bulkhead of the engine compartment, in the center, just above the generator

Also, on the electrical panel box in the cabin, on the lower 12V panel there is a circuit breaker and switch for a Fuel Transfer Valve. What is the proper postion for this? Where is this valve physically located? Is it a valve and a pump? What does it do, and why would there have to be an electrically controlled valve to (I assume) transfer fuel from one tank to another? Does it actually pump fuel from one tank to another and do this autmatically--or is just an electronically controlled valve that lets the fuel equallize between tanks?

Sorry for all the newbie questions but the boat is new to me and my first boat with twins

Thanks!

I don't know about the second part of your question but the valves should be configured as follows... port should be open ( horizontal) center should be closed (vertical) and starboard should be open (horizontal). That will let the port engine get it's gas from the port tank and the starboard from the starboard tank

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Bryan Mutter

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Your generator will pull off one tank as well, if you have one.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

There's usually no way to pull from both tanks evenly. There's too many variables to make it work. Generally you have to operate the ball valves manually and just pull from one tank or the other, not leaving the other one open during the process. This typically only gets done when you know one tank's gas is bad or having delivery problems. If you get seriously uneven due to the generator that would also be an opportunity to run from just the other tank for a while to more closely balance them.

I've never seen a transfer setup on a boat this size. Was that a factory install or something added?

But given the small amount of fuel involved here, it's simpler and safer to just re-fill the tanks most of the time.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thanks for the tips guys! Yes, I have a generator, but haven't used it for any length of time yet--needs an impeller and the remote start fixed

I asked the local Four Winns dealer about the fuel transfer breaker on the interior electric panel. He said it is a dummy and not connected to anything--because it is a "generic" panel with some functions that are not used on my or on every boat manufacturer the panel is sold to.

yes, I think the transfer valves are factory. I ran it 80 miles last weekend from Boston to Martha's Vineyard. I used about 2/3 of a tank on the port side (@ 55 gal.) and about 30 gal. off the stbd. tank with all 3 valves open. But I may have a fuel problem or vent or supply problem with the starboard tank--it is being checked out today as a matter of fact.

Thanks

The center valve should be closed. If your vavles are on the port side of the boat like mine, it would make sense pulled more off the port that starboard with the center valve open.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

I also set the fuel valves so that the port engine can only draw from port tank and starboard draws from starboard tank. From memory I think my generator is set to draw from starboard tank only.

When adding fuel thru out the season (without filling tanks) I try to put an equal amount of gallons into port/starboard tank then when I find a good price on fuel I will fill both tanks and monitor how much the port/starboard tank took. With both tanks filled now I know my fuel is balanced in both tanks and if I run for a month or so before filling full again I can monitor to make sure each engine is burning the same amount of fuel or close to it when considering generator useage.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

The center should stay closed most of the time. There are too many variables involved with trying to oull from both. Factors like air pressure at the vents, spring strength in the check valves, hose constriction, etc. When you open the center you should likewise close the valve leading to the tank yo dont want to use. In reality its not worth bothering most of the time. Not unless youve spent a very long time with the generator pulling from just one tank.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

If you havent already, pull up a manual for it from here:
http://www.fourwinns.com/customer-servi ... nuals.aspx

There are electrical schematics at the end. Those would show whether there was a factory option for the fuel valves.

I don't believe the dealer comment made about a generic panel. These boats are all individually built, such that it wouldn't seem likely they'd use a generic panel unless it was common across several of their own models. Anything's possible, of course. Perhaps someone else here with a 01 328 could chime in with how their panel is arranged?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

When I first bought my 328, I had issues with one tank drawing more than the other. I had the dealer adjust it, and it has been fine since. I will take a pic this week of the valves and post. My memory is foggy, but I remember the way he set them did not make sense to me but it seems to work. I'll have to check.

_________________

2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Does your breaker panel show a fuel transfer position?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

On mine, if you look under the DC System, middle row, top breaker says fuel transfer. I always assumed it was a dummy.

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2001 328 Vista

Previous Boats:
2004 Sea Ray 220 Select

Well, there you go. Good to have fellow members with cameras handy!

I'd love to have a spare position in my panel. Instead I hijacked the 'Overboard Discharge' breaker to provide power for my wifi gear (which I don't really bother using most of the time).

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Mine is just like yours--it's the breaker that my dealer says is a dummy. I have no switch for fuel transfer anywhere. Just a brass block with 3 levers on the engine bulkhead
FYI, the repair shop found the remote start issue (but will cost me about 3 hours and $300 labor). It was wired wrong! Seems the yard that did some work on it 3 years ago for the prior owner rewired it wrong when they fixed some other problems and / or put it back in the boat!.
Bad news is I have a fuel delivery problem on my starboard tank. Yard is still working on isolating what is going on. They're giving it one more shot today. Starboard motor loses power in choppy water. They put a sight glass in the fuel line and a fuel pressure meter. The pump works OK, but the sight glass got air bubbles in it as if it was sucking air not gas. They had the pickup tube out of the tank and it seemed OK, even sucked some fuel from the bottom of the tank and that looked OK. Right now the tank is half 3 year old fuel and half new fuel within the last 30 days (but with plenty of Star Tron and Lucas fuel conditioner and also some Octane Boost to help out with the old gas) Funny thing is the boat ran fine for 50 miles from Boston Light all the way down to the Buzzard Bay side of the Cape Cod Canal

Will let you guys know what happens.