Slight List to Port on our 198 38 Open

[Momentai]

We brought our "New" (1998) hope Thursday on a 93 mile trip. We filled all three tanks and the boat was level.
After the run, and very please with burn rate, 101 gals over 5.5 hours and 93 miles, when we docked at the home marina, the boat was listing 3" to port.
We ran another 4.5 hours on Sunday.
Yesterday because she had two saddle tanks and a main tank, I thought it could be fuel imbalance because of the saddle tanks drawing into the main.
The port tank was full, as expected because that was the side she is heavy on.
The starboard tank only took 41.5 gals. She was still listing 2" to port.
We filled the main tank, 116 gals and that did almost level the boat but it still has about a 1" list to port.
Puzzeling since she was level with full fuel when we left Thrusday.
I now understand but not confirmed, that the main tank in the 38 Open sit off center and that if you do not use the fuel transfer from the saddle tanks properly, she will list based on fuel.
I would apprecaite any confirmation from any experience.
We are very pleased with the cruise burn rate at 2200 to 2400 RPM over the 10 hours.
Thanks to everyone,
Jack

[flbluerunner]

I am on my 2nd 38 and have not had the problem you are describing. Sounds like you are not transfering fuel evenly when you turn on the transfer pump. On my 1996 I would normally just fill the rear tank and leave the saddles empty unless I was traveling a long distance.
My 2006 uses a much smaller rear day tank and is gravity fed from the larger saddle tanks, I like this setup a lot better. I always worried about the transfer pump failing on long trips.
I have over 3400 hours on the 1996 with lots of long trips so not sure what to check. Blockage of somesort??

John :patriot:

[Momentai]

Thanks John,
We believe you are correct. Now that we are topped off, this week end we have shut off the saddles and when we return I will transfer from the port until she is level.
I believe it is a matter of fuel/weight management.
Thanks so much for the help.
Regards,
Jack

[HisDoghouse]

Jack,

I've seen a similar thing with my 2004 38 Open. With the valves open to the saddle tanks, when the fuel is being burned from the main tanks, some is sucked in through the transfer pump.

I now keep the saddle tanks about 1/2 full as a backup, and keep the valves closed. When fueling up, I will transfer the saddle tanks to the main, and then top up the main. If not going offshore, I'll then fuel the saddles about halfway to maintain that emergency reserve.

Joe

[Momentai]

Joe and John,
You guys have been awesome helping me "learn" this boat.
When you transfer fuel, do you open the saddle you want to transfer FROM? How do you know when the main is fuel and when to stop?
Also, there are two (2) switches on the help for "fuel Transfer" and another for "fuel transfer pump", can you help me though the transfer process.
Thanks so much,
Jack

[HisDoghouse]

Jack,

When I transfer fuel from my saddles to my main, I start out opening both valves. As I start pumping down, eventually I'll lose suction on one side or the other. That's when I'll close one and pump until I lose suction, and then close that one and open the other.

BTW, this is normally done at the dock prior to taking on new fuel (my way of rotating the stock so to speak). I don't attempt moving the fuel until I know I have more than enough room to hold what I'm pumping from the saddles.

I only have one fuel transfer switch, so Im not sure what your second switch does. That'd be a question for the folks from Luhrs here.

Joe

[Momentai]

Thanks Joe.
I will try it and advise.
Jack

[flbluerunner]

Not sure what your 2nd switch is?
I normally would keep both saddle tank valves open on a long trip, once the main 400 gallon tank was at about 1/4 I would pump all of the saddle tank fuel until the pump made a high pitched noise which would indicate that the saddle tanks were empty.

John :patriot:

[Momentai]

John,
I did that on the maden voyage from Charleston and what happened was it drained the starboart tank, then used the main tank but did not take any fuel from the port saddle. This was with both saddles full and the valves in the OPEN position. This, as I discovered is why she was listing so bad to port.
You and Joe have given me some excellent fuel management tips that I will be trying over the winter.
We are starting to get the November fall run off shore so we are going to try to make some longer runs to make sure we know what we are doing.
Thanks so much,
Jack

[Momentai]

Joe,
Attached is picture of my two (2) fuel transfer switches on the helm.
FYI
Jack

[HisDoghouse]

Jack,

I have absolutely no idea what those two switches do. Or at least the second one.

What do you hear when you throw one and then the other?

Are they on-off switches, or do you have to hold them in the on position?

FYI, my fuel transfer switch is one that you have to keep holding for the pump to stay on.

Joe

[Momentai]

Joe,
I am traveling until Monday so I will not be able to tell you what happens. Honestly, that is why I was asking you and John for help because I was afraid to do anyting without some knowledge about how to transfer.
When I get back, this is the first thing I will do and post back here.
Thanks for all the help.
Jack

[flbluerunner]

I have a feeling that the switch that says fuel transfer just provides power to the pump switch. I would leave both valves open and hold the pump button until I heard a change in pitch of the pump. I also found that when I pumped while on plane I was able to get more fuel out of the saddle tanks.

John :patriot:

[Martuni]

I have a 2002 and it too lists to the port about 2". To solve this issue I only keep the port saddle tank filled half-way. This keeps the boat level. Should I need the fuel for a trip, I fill up the port saddle tank and transfer the fuel from that tank to the main once there is room. I know this is not a sound engineering response but it works.

[flbluerunner]

I think that the left switch turns the power on for the pump switch. Try the pump switch with the left one off.

John :patriot:

[Momentai]

Thanks Martuni and John. Been gone this week so will try this weekend. Keeping about 1/2 of port saddle seemed about right to me as well Martuni.
Hey, giant sea going commercial vessels play the ballast game all the time so I do not mind as long as I know what the heck I am doing...OK I heard everyone laugh from here.
Luhrs has been helping me put a manual together so that is helping also. The only section I am missing...the fuel section.
If anyone needs any manual sections for a 2000 40ft Open, similar to my 1998 38 Open, I have scanned the whole thing and can help if you need any sections.
Cheers,
Jack

[davebanks]

where are your saddle tanks located and how much do they hold?
cheers dave

[flbluerunner]

The one on the left puts power to the pump and the one on the right you have to hold on to get the pump to work. It takes about 15 minutes to fully empty the saddles.
If you are still having trouble with an uneven flow from your saddles you may have a bad valve.
Mine would pump evenly.