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I have a 2004 190 Nantucket, first time wimterizing her and was wondering where this filter is located, is it in the bilge area? Also whats the best way to change it? I was told to change this every year.

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Trace your fuel line in from the tank to the outboard. Looks like an oil filter. You may not have one if you have portable tanks.

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John,

What engine do you have on the boat? I do not believe that Whaler installed the filter on boats with a 115HP 2 stroke. For the Nantucket they only installed them on those boats delivered with 4 strokes.

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It has the 115hp merc 4 stroke

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I'm not familiar with Merc 115 4-stroke but maybe a filter/separator under the engine cover?

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The engine should have a very small gas filter on it. Calling it a fuel/water sep is overkill. Do yourself a HUGE favor and install a Racor fuel/water sep in the spring. Ethanol treated gas has a very nasty way of attracting water.

I just had one installed on my Dauntless 180 / Verado 150. I went with a 60 gallon/hour flow rate which is 4X the amount I burn at WOT

You never winterized before?

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If you have a 4 stroke open the hatch center in the deck behind the seat assembly. Look all the way to the port side on the wall, I believe you will find it there it it is installed.

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Thanks,
I just got the boat in april that is why its my first time winterizing her.

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Whats winterizing?
Heck, we fish and play all year round, LOL

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Unless it was added by the previous owner, it most likely didn't come from the factory with one on it. The fuel filter/separator that is mounted on the engine is small, but is adequate (sorta) If you check the transparent filter you'll see a red "donut" inside. As long as its on the bottom of the filter unit, there's no water in it. It's made to float on water but not on the fuel. With the problems associated with ethanol fuel and phase separation, an external unit is not a bad idea. Then again, fuel additives can help also.

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Duane, what kind of fuel addative do you recomend ? I had intermitant trouble last year with both my engines and my mechanic said it sounded like fuel trouble to him and I have a racor on them and am always using the boats.

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Stabil at a minimum, but most recommended is Startron

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Fuel additives... pick your snake oil. Its all a crap shoot IMO.

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I am a big fan of Seafoam. I use it for everything from the string trimmer to the outboard.

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Johnny does have a point to an extent. The biggest consideration is stopping the phase separation that happens over time when the alcohol releases the trapped water molecules and it settles to the bottom. Todays ethanol blends can do this in as short as a month. The best way to keep it from happening is, use the boat and use it often. Thats the easiest (and most fun) way of keeping this from happening.

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I've become a bit disenchanted with the gasoline additives throughout the last year. I was a huge Stabil fan, until I siphoned off more than a gallon of water/alcohol from the bottom of my tank. I've been using E10 for at least two years now. I cant say exactly where the water came from, I may just have pumped a bad batch of gas during a fill-up.

Because of my profession, I have regular contact with the local Shell distribution facility. I've solicited the personal opinion of one of the chemists there that has also become a good friend of mine, about the many additives available. He said NONE of them will prevent or slow phase separation. He also said the phase separation issue is grossly exaggerated. According to him, current E10 blends should be stable at least 90 days even in the worse humidity of Florida and even then usually only detectable in a laboratory. He said if I can manage to turn my fuel load over within 90-120 days, I'm good to go without a doubt as long as the gasoline was not contaminated before pumping.

Until some non-biased authority comes out with in-depth scientific testing, we all only have our own personal experience and the opinions of others to go by.

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Good stuff Johnny, however, and I'm by no means trying to discredit your friend, but if the case he makes is true, Why have we seen such in increase in "bad gas" since the nationwide release of E10? I know ethanol is a valid fuel source, heck the Indy Cars use it and you see what they can do. I'm just not a big believer in coincidence and being in the marine industry, we've definately seen an increase in fuel related issues and not just in older boats that are not "rated E10 ready"

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I don't disagree that E10 has been the root of many new problems. But phase separation is only one potential issue. E10 has other traits that can reek havoc on fuel systems unfortunately.