Thanks for all the helpful comments you guys. It does sound to me that a couple of Racor 1000's on each engine might be the way to go providing there isn't a problem with flow being too little for water separation on this large a unit. Estimates seem to vary widely from 20-40 gals p.h. perhaps Detroit Diesels should be able to answer this? The other question is how to set up the manifolds. It does seem advisable and probably easier from the plumbing viewpoint to have separate filtering systems for each engine and I currently have vacuum gauges after the Frams (the Frams I intend to replace)replace. I suppose one could plumb it so that the fuel line flow valves would offer 3 options - both filters, or either of the two, in case of a foul up underway. Does this make sense - I am new to all this trawler stuff since when anything failed I used to put up the sails and hope for wind! The idea of Vaughan Mitchell's elements plugging up in 5-10 hours of local cruising is disturbing! Ron Barr M/V Lady Brookhaven 42" Hatteras LRC Presently W. Coast Florida.

ronald barr wrote: > Thanks for all the helpful comments you guys. It does sound to me that a > couple of Racor 1000's on each engine might be the way to go providing > there isn't a problem with flow being too little for water separation on > this large a unit. > Ron, Racor makes a pre plumbed manifold that has two filters and the appropriate valving so you can run on either one or both filters. We have a manifold with the racor 900s on our boat, a KK Whaleback. We run a Cat 3208 that only burns about 3 gph at cruise. the return flow is not much more than that and the filters worked fine even before we added the Gulf Cost F1. The low fuel flow was not a problem. It is very handy to just flip a couple of valves when the vacuum goes up and it is not convenient to change elements. Dolph Mc Cranie The Right Whale