My 1997 Gulfstream is due to have all of the 3/8" fuel feed lines replaced. While I`m in there I would like to replace the fuel fill hoses along with the vent lines. I have two tanks in this boat. My question is
1. Will the old hoses pull out easily ? Curmudgeon was correct, they won't.
2. Are there clamps retaining the hose in the hidden part of the deck floor? There were in mine... on the stbd side of the stringer to the right of the main tank. When I pulled the fill hose towards the tank, I was able to get a hold of the plastic zip tie just enough to cut it with nippers.
3. Can I just attach a piece of rope to the old hose to act as a guide for the new hose or are there better ways to do it ? I did, when I replaced the fill hose to my main tank. It was easier for me to pull the old hose out (which takes a set over the years it sits in your boat) without a new hose attached. Then, with the rope in the new hose and the front of the hose taped so dirt doesn't get inside, I pushed the hose from the tank side through the stringer, let the rope guide the hose towards the back of the fishbox, then while someone pushed the hose from the tank hold, I guided the hose up toward the gunwale from in the access hole by the fishbox. This worked pretty well for me.
It looks like I would pull the fill fittings off and work from that end.
All advise appreciated. You will need to cut a hole in the side of the gunwale abeam the fill hose port. This is to access the nuts to the bolts holding the fill port to the gunwale and to unscrew the hose clamps. I used a rotozip to cut a round hole and later covered it with a color-matched tempress screw in cover. The rotozip makes a lot of dust, but that cleans up with a shopvac. Make sure you don't cut too deep, into the fill hoses and vent hose. You can see how much clearance you have by looking up there from the forward end of the under gunwale rod rack on the stbd side of the boat. If you have plastic thruhulls, I would recommend you take this occasion (while the fill hoses are out) to replace the thruhull for the fishbox. You won't have an easier time to get to it..
glemboh