Hi - Just spotted this letter on the Freedom sailboat 35 site. Since we are looking to buy a 35 too we wonder what you think about this. Evidently the Freedom has a shallow fuel tank under the aft berth. Twice a fellow had his engine cut off after having been badly rocked by a motor boat in the ICW (note to motor boaters: Please take pity on us sailboaters and slow down. Thank you!)
He says: Happened twice, once each on hull no. 25 and hull no. 57. Both times with about seven gallons fuel remaining(or slightly less).
Both times my first thought was contamination, both times filters were clean.
Did not think "bubbles" or frothing were the cause, but rather that the fuel pickup was momentarily not submerged as the fuel remaining ran to the "downhill" side and "she sucked a gulp of air".
-----------------------
What do you all think the problem might be? We want a F35 but do not want this to happen.
One other fellow on the F35 website fixed it with added fuel pump, manifold and filters. Another friend suggested an auxillary tank, one that would be filled first and would drain, by gravity into the main tank so that the main tank was always full.
Thanks for your thoughts.
He says: Happened twice, once each on hull no. 25 and hull no. 57. Both times with about seven gallons fuel remaining(or slightly less).
Both times my first thought was contamination, both times filters were clean.
Did not think "bubbles" or frothing were the cause, but rather that the fuel pickup was momentarily not submerged as the fuel remaining ran to the "downhill" side and "she sucked a gulp of air".
-----------------------
What do you all think the problem might be? We want a F35 but do not want this to happen.
One other fellow on the F35 website fixed it with added fuel pump, manifold and filters. Another friend suggested an auxillary tank, one that would be filled first and would drain, by gravity into the main tank so that the main tank was always full.
Thanks for your thoughts.