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My last boat had a guage. It worked for the first year and a half, then it stopped. I didn't bother to replace it. I use so little diesel that it wasn't worth it. I filled the boat at the end of the year, and then again in the middle of the year.
My current boat has a gauge. It was full when I bought it. I added diesel in May, I will add some more in August, then fill it before haul out in November. I sail a lot, but don't motor that much. The gauge is sort of useless in that I don't need it.
What about averaging how much fuel you burn per hour? After several fill ups I have determined that the boat burns on average, at 2200 rpms, 1.7 gallons an hour. Does anyone else use this method, as my fuel gage is pretty inaccurate?
Cam, why specifically do you like Tank Tenders? I have two 50 gallon keel tanks, a SS holding tank I'm going to convert to a "polished" day tank (no jokes please, the thing's 40 gallons immediately beneath the engine...I'd be foolish not to use it), a plastic 40 gallon holding tank and two 100 gallon water tanks.
How would one meter measure the contents of all those tanks? (The poop tank I will only use in harbours, naturally...)
I like tank tenders on boats with multiple tanks, since you only have to have one panel to monitor the status of all the tanks.
The "sender" unit on them is not electrical, so is quite a bit more reliable than a regular sender unit would be IMHO.
Also, the hole required for their sending unit is very small, which generally means more choices in where to install it and that it is generally easier to seal.
The one caveat is that the tubes can't be bent too sharply or they'll kink and not work properly.
Val...the Tender comes equipped with the ability to monitor the levels in up to 4 tanks and 4 thin plastic tubes and fittings are supplied. You pump some air into the tube for the tank you wish to monitor and up pops the inches of fuel/water etc. in that particular tank. The reason I like it is that there is NO working mechanical part on or in the tank to get fouled or go bad or give a false reading. No electricity is involved at all.
Cam,
Thanks, the Tank Tender sounds like a good piece of equipment. Will it work if you need to bend it a bit around baffles? I'm going to check my tanks but I think they are baffled.
Tom
Are you talking about baffles inside the tank?? That shouldn't be a problem as long as you install the "sender" tube into a clear portion of the tank. The baffles inside most tanks are vertical, not horizontal, so really shouldn't affect the tube.
Sailingdog,
Yes I'm talking about the baffles inside the tank. For some reason I had in my head there was a horizontal baffle. If they're vertical then no problem. I'm going to have a look inside shortly just to see what I have. Thanks.
Tom
Cam,
Thanks. I'm going to do it as soon as I have a look inside. I need to do that anyway.
Tom
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