canister manufacturer. However, he
says Inca is not using the same systems
approach other tank manufacturers are
pursuing.
“I don’t know if the one-size-fits-all
approach will work” he says.
Joint venture
At the other end of the spectrum is
(From left) A cutaway of
Attwood, which is partnering with
Stant Corp., a leader in fuel systems for
sign each system according to what the
boatbuilder requests.
“It’s pretty much what the boatbuilder wants for a system,” says Monterrey, the company’s engineering
manager. “It’s going to be customized
for each boatbuilder. There are different sized canisters based on the size of
the tanks and the boat.”
Attwood’s Scott says the marine industry is going to go through many of the
fuel system design changes automakers
underwent several decades ago.
“The automobile industry has had
this technology for 25 years because of
continued on Page 47
Kracor’s new permeation-compliant fuel tank with
cars. The two companies are working
a crosslink polyethylene
together to develop a new system for
outer shell and a nylon
inner shell; Trident
boats that Attwood says will address all
Marine’s barrier-lined hose.
the EPA requirements and ultimately
make installation easier for the builders.
“When the tank is full, the fuel can
spill out — gas can fill the vent line and
spill out the side of the boat,” says Scott.
“With the new rule … those things >]eS`
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“We look forward to offering boatbuilders a one-stop fuel system that
meets both the functional and regulato-ry requirements while improving their
customers’ boating experience and reducing boating’s impact on the environment,” says Brian Scott, category
manager for fuel systems at Attwood.
“Fuel systems today are simple,” he
explains. “The deck fill feeds into the
fuel hose, into the
tank and then
vents out.”
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That’s where the
evaporative emissions come from.
Also, while refueling spillage is not
being specifically
addressed by the
John McKnight EPA mandates, it
will have to be addressed as a result of
the carbon canisters.
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really can’t happen,” he says. “Gas
can’t come into contact with the canister; it can’t travel up the fuel line into
the canister. And water can’t come into
contact with the canister.
“Our system will prevent water from
traveling up the fuel line,” says Scott.
The system Attwood and Stant are developing will include the deck fill, fuel
tank, canister, vent and everything in <Zee _hk ]^mZbel
between. Scott says boatbuilders no
longer will have to buy separate com- & & # !!%'
ponents from different companies.
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Just in time
NMMA’s McKnight says there are
some advantages to this systems approach. “With the whole systems kit,
builders just have to install them,” he
says. “That allows for ‘just-in-time’
production.”
BETH ROSENBERG (TOP LEFT)
Another company taking the systems
approach is Florida Marine Tanks, although not quite to the extent of
Attwood. Orestes Monterrey says his
company (which builds aluminum
tanks that are not subject to permeation rules) is designing a fuel system
that will include the canister, a liquid
vapor separator and the fuel tank, but
not the hoses.
He says Florida Marine Tanks will de-
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