Replacing or not the fuel pre-filter units

There are worse case examples where different bowls and the cups under them offer a little more fire damage protection.
It sounds at first you have the gasoline bowls that can not be transparent. Maybe other reasons for the metal bowls (near batteries?)
I assume you had a surveyor for your purchase, consult him before changing any fire considered fuel devices.

Next, fuel consumption and fuel flow are different. Much more fuel goes thru your motor and returned to the tank than consumed.
Get the correct spec for max fuel flow thru.

The best setup is the standard Racor with the removable element. They re the easiest to change, just pop the cover and swap.

Clear bowl with the metal guard is fine on a recreational boat

Are we talking spin on filters or drop in filters on the O P?

Is that a battery cable wrapped around the filter in the second pic?

To ensure the protection of you, your ship, your investment; I'd ask your insurance company for their lead local surveyor and have him advise.

The boat mfg may have just inventoried one style of filter. Volvo may of had a package for the boat mfg that included that filter.

Or, some code some where was satisfied with the metal bowls that the DIYr may not understand.

In the back of my mind, I remember reading (CFRs, ABYC) the concern with fuel filters, fittings and valves installed above or near batteries and switches.

Romulo
We all are trying to offer our best advise. Many here have many years of experience working on boats. What has been observed and learned thru the years is a great deal of info.

It is still up to the owner to best protect his investment and himself. That electrical cable and box, even though enclosed, still has me concerned.
My advice is to get a surveyor that can quote the rules for your boat and intended use, that would hold up as best attempt to satisfy any claim.
It may be nothing, it may be something. For liability reasons I'm not going to tell you it's o k.

I had the same reaction about the cable and the breaker box so close to the filter. Probably ok by looks sloppy

Typically I like a 30 microns racor and then the manufacturer supplied 2 microns secondary. I also like the racors to be on the bigger side, like capt J suggested as you get more surface.

What HP are those engines. I put bigger racors on the 430HP Cummins I m repowering my boat with

The best setup for a boat that cruise more extensively is to use a dual racor setup so you can swap on the fly and replace the element when convenient. But on a new boat, with new tanks that does mostly week end trips it s probably an overkill

Actually that box doesn't look like an explosion proof box it looks like plastic and the fittings are definitely not explosion proof.
Just sayin.

I think the better term for that box is ignition proof. No such thing but ignition resistant would be a better wording.
If the bowl will accept a WIF (water in fuel) sensor, At least go there.

We have always preached a surveyor on yacht purchases, even new deliverys.

We luv clear bowls. When the environment can accept them safely.

CYA

,Ralph