On 12 Nov 2006 10:10:05 -0800, "Skip Gundlach"
wrote:

So, I'm at the point of doing my fuel system, as the mechanic is coming
Saturday to do the servicing of the engine and align the tranny with
me.

At the St. Pete Strictly Sail last week, I saw a presentation on "fuel
polishing" which was really a pitch for Algae-X.

I think the only honest answer is that the jury is still out on
Algae-X. The discussion has been going on for years now. Some people
have claimed to get positive results but their claims have always been
of a subjective nature. There have never been certified results from
a reliable source that I am aware of. Without certified results I
find it hard to believe that either the navy or USCG would sign up.

That said, I can tell you from experience what does work. My tanks
and fuel were in really lousy condition 2 years ago when I started.
We now have parallel Racors and vacuum guages on each engine. The
Racors can be switched in and out with ball valves on the input and
output of each filter, allowing filter elements to be hot swapped
underway. I also installed a fuel polishing system that allows the
fuel to be continuously circulated through the Racors when I'm at the
dock. I use Biobor fuel conditioner in the recommended quantities,
carry a good supply of spare Racor filter elements, check the vacuum
guages every few hours when underway, and drain a fuel sample from the
bottom of the Racor bowl at every filter change. Since doing all of
that we've had zero problems.