Boating How-To’s - Two fuel filters?

I bought a 1995 hydrasports vector with a 200hp johnson last summer and I've recently been replacing alot of general maintenance parts. I've discovered that my boat has two fuel/water separators. One behind the oil tank on the port side and one behind the battery area on the starboard side. Are two filters necessary? It seems to me that this will put alot of stress on my fuel pump?

I'll have to add that I'm not very mechanically inclined so if this is a stupid question I apologize. I just want to understand the reason for the extra filter.

NO!

NO!

Care to elaborate on that? Do you mean no it's not necessary?

Do you have a single tank or dual tanks? Could be set up to have a filter for each tank or possible a dual system with a valve so you can switch from one to another on the fly without having to change filters...you normally don't need 2 in-line for a single engine.

I have a single tank. I followed the path of the hose and there is no switch, just two filters. One has a plastic "bowl" on the bottom with some sort of bleeding valve on the bottom and the other is just a plain screw on filter. Can I eliminate one to ease up stress on my fuel pump? If so, which one do I eliminate?

It the filters are replaced periodically and are free of trash then there should not be any significant stress placed on your fuel pump.

You could install a vacuum gauge to indicate when the filters are become clogged if this is a concern of yours.

My HS boat has 4 filters for 2 motors 1 tank just like you said yours has 2 for 1 motor. Guess what they save you trouble. I change my filters and cut them in half just to see what they caught, Lets me know whats going on in the tank and lines

Ok so I shouldn't be too concerned with the stress on the pump. I replaced both filters and plan to do so at least once a season. Thanks for the help guys.

I have a single tank. I followed the path of the hose and there is no switch, just two filters. One has a plastic "bowl" on the bottom with some sort of bleeding valve on the bottom and the other is just a plain screw on filter. Can I eliminate one to ease up stress on my fuel pump? If so, which one do I eliminate?

Yeah, you can leave it alone as a 2 filter set up...the filter with the bowl and screw are for seeing and periodically draining if you get water or junk in your system...its a filter/water/fuel seperator.....the second closed filter just doesn't have the drain feature...but the filter housing on that second one should be able to mate with a filter that has a bowl as well....so you would have 2 identical fuel/water filter seperators...10 micron size...belt and suspenders....