T&T: fuel transfer pump, lift pump plumbing

[Mark Andrew]

The way my engine room is arranged, my filters need to be at about chest
level, about 4 feet above the bottom of several fuel tanks.  I take fuel
from the bottom of the tanks so I need a lift/transfer pump to prime the
filters, and occasionally bleed the lines to the fuel 'users' (main, gen,
furnace).  I was thinking the Jabsco Junior Gear Puppy.don't need a lot of
fuel flow, or duration, just fuel movement, basically.

 

Here's my question..It may be very dumb and obvious, but because of the
suggested complexity, I'm thinking maybe I'm thinking of this in the wrong
fashion..

 

Once the fuel begins to flow, don't I need a bypass around the pump for the
fuel to keep flowing once the pump is turned off.  In other words, the fuel
does not continue to flow through the pump, I imagine (Is this a dumb
question?).  Then since I imagine I need a bypass around the pump, don't I
need some sort of check valves in the bypass and on the 'output' side of the
pump, so fuel flows only toward the filters and 'users' rather than in a
circle?

 

Is this how it's usually done?  I know it's best to have a gravity system,
but given that I need a dual Racor for the main, and single 500MAs for the
gen set and furnace, there doesn't seem to be practical room to mount the
filters lower for gravity feed..unless I mount them beneath the boat, but
that might lead to other problems.say changing elements.or being scraped off
by whales.or mermaids.

 

Seriously, it's a dumb question, I think my plan will work, but am wondering
if there is a more graceful solution, or if this is actually common.

 

Mark Andrew

"Black River", 56' steel circa 1955

Holland, MI

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