Transport and fuel

My wife and I just purchased a 2009 R21EC and can't wait to get her in the water. I have a couple of questions. The boat is in NJ now but being trailered to our home in FL. Should the fuel tank be filled before transport? Should I change the fuel filters when the boat arrives in case any sediment gets dislodged? Any other helpful advice?
Thanks. Capt'n Karl and first mate Sara.

Karl,
I trailer my R-27 from Rhode Island with a full tank only because when I winterized it I like to have full fuel. If your tank is not full now I wouldn't bother filling it. If your filter is good I wouldn't bother changing it. The "dislodging" of sediment , in my opinion, is no more likely on the road than bouncing in the water.

Mike Rizzo

Need more info.
How many hours on the engine?
Any idea when the filter was changed?
How much fuel is in it?

I would be tempted to road it with the tank partially full and let it slosh to loosen any deposits.
As soon as you get it home run the engine - in the water or on the trailer.
(For on the trailer let a hose run onto the sea strainer - do not pressurize the engine water intake, just let it run into the sea strainer bowl fast enough to have the bowl running over the top a bit.)
Give it a good half hour run at half throttle either way, sea or trailer.
Then change the filter and you are good to go.
Cut the filter open to see what it looks like.

Because of the smaller tanks on our tugs, the dirty fuel tank issues you read about in Passagemaker, etc. are not as much a problem for us. Those boats often hold 500 to 1000 gallons of fuel. They fill the tank when there is a bargain to be had. Then the fuel sits for years with the tank sweating inside - and turns back into dino poop. Often their old tanks leak rainwater and seawater.


Where are you in Florida?
When is delivery?

The engine only has 238 hrs. Don't know when the filters were changed. We are East of Pensacola. Delivery is this Wed. Thanks for the reply

If you do not know when the filter was changed, or other maintenance performed for that matter, I would perform all scheduled maintenance for up to 250 hours, just to be safe. Basically, change the oils, filters, and impeller and perform the other checks in the manual. You can do it yourself and save a ton of money. Read the manual - it is easy on the 3YM30. Don't forget the two fuel filters.

I would not fill my fuel tank for a long trip. I have had fuel come out the vent when on the road. Besides dripping fuel down the side of the boat and looking nasty, it could be dangerous. I usually fill the tank at the last gas station before the launching the boat. Actually, on my R21-EC, I only fill the tank before every third use. That could be about 10 gallons or about half tank. I don't like the tank to get below half full.

Capt'nKarl":1a693l7d said:

The engine only has 238 hrs. Don't know when the filters were changed. We are East of Pensacola. Delivery is this Wed. Thanks for the reply

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Maybe our boats will pass each other on RT 95. I recently purchased a 2010 R25SC in Fl and this Wed it be leaving Fl on a truck and coming North to RI.
The engine has 88 hours on it, the 50 hour service was done. I am going to be replacing all filters and oil and have it checked over by a Yanmar tech to be on the safe side.
Enjoy your tug, we are certainly looking forward to the upcoming boating season.