Where is the fuel water separator located on a Hurricane 217?

On a 2001 Hurricane 217, the fuel water separator sits inside the starboard rear storage locker or directly on the inner transom wall for outboard models. If your boat features a sterndrive engine, you will find the spin-on filter bracket bolted to the front of the engine block or the adjacent stringer.

Outboard engine locations

Hurricane deck boats from this era shipped with various engine packages. For outboards, trace the 3/8-inch rubber fuel line from the engine primer bulb back towards the hull. This hose leads straight to the separator bracket.

Factory riggers mounted this bracket inside the rear starboard battery locker or under the splashwell access hatch. Look for an aluminium bracket holding a metal spin-on canister resembling a car oil filter. Original factory setups feature a blue Yamaha 10-micron filter, a white Quicksilver filter or a white Racor unit with a clear plastic bowl at the base.

Racor-style separators with clear plastic bowls do not require complete replacement every time. Inspect the bowl for water. Water separates and settles at the bottom as a distinct layer below the petrol. Drain this water by opening the small plastic petcock valve at the base. The upper paper filter element still needs regular replacement.

Sterndrive engine locations

Hurricane 217s fitted with Mercruiser or Volvo Penta sterndrives (typically a 4.3L V6 or 5.0L V8) house the separator in the engine bay. Open the engine hatch and inspect the front of the engine block.

Mercruiser setups bolt the separator to the front starboard side of the block near the mechanical fuel pump. Volvo Penta models mount it at the front of the engine near the raw water pump. If block space was tight, dealers occasionally installed the filter bracket on the wooden stringer alongside the engine.

Changing the filter safely

Ventilate the engine compartment thoroughly and turn off the battery switch before opening any part of the fuel system.

Replacing the filter is straightforward but messy. Follow these steps:

• Place an absorbent rag and a heavy-duty ziplock bag under the filter to catch spilled petrol.
• Use a strap wrench or a dedicated filter wrench to crack the old canister loose, then spin it off by hand. Keep it upright to prevent spills.
• Wipe the aluminium bracket housing clean with a rag to ensure the new filter seals perfectly.
• Smear a thin layer of clean engine oil or fresh petrol onto the rubber gasket of the new filter.
• Spin the new filter on until the gasket makes contact with the bracket, then tighten it by hand another half to three-quarters of a turn. Never use a wrench to tighten it.
• For outboards, squeeze the primer bulb firmly until it goes hard to fill the new filter and pressurise the system. For sterndrive engines, carefully pre-fill the new filter to about three-quarters full with fresh petrol before installation to prevent an airlock in the fuel pump.