Hidden fuel filter in my ranger

I just wanted to throw this out there. During my recent tune up, and all the ethanol troubles, I discovered a water seperator/fuel filter on my Ranger. the performance of my boat had been slipping and after reading everything I could find on ethanol, I decided to upgrade to "EPA Approved" fuel lines. This required me to remove my oil tank in the battery compartment. When following the gas line down I discovered buried way down at the bottom of the bilge area a filter that the line ran into. This looks just like an automotive oil filter and says "water seperater on it. It is a mercury/quicksilver part. Apparently none of the previous owners/mechanics knew it was there either as it appeared to be original. After removeing this filter and looking inside over half of it was stopped up with a substance I can't even start to describe. Replaced it along with the other necessary tune procedures and she runs good as new.
I thought I would post this for any one else that is still struggling with fuel/performance issues. This was in a 1996 Ranger boat with a 1996 Mercury 150 XR6, which I'm sure is a little before the whole ethanol craze. I do not know if it was a normal/standard add from Ranger and or Mercury or if it was an option but there it was hiding over all these years. Hope this might help someone that has done everything else and the damn thing still won't run.:popcorn:

Welcome to Bbc !

Sounds like it was added on afterwards. An XR6 doesnt come with one. IDT .....

I found it interesting to get to know my boat's insides well. I've prevented several costly things from happening by doing so. And learned allot in the prosess.

I also replaced the fuel lines on my ranger 617 last fall and discovered an extra mercury filter also. It was not in too bad of shape in my case. The mechanic put in a new one for me and I am going to swap it out each year now that I am aware of it.