Broken fuel gauge and can't use a dip stick. What now?

[Stu Jackson]

You could try a search on "+fuel+consumption" and read for weeks. Good luck.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Get another mechanic. That job can certainly be done in the water.

Or just DIY, fuel gauges are simple and onlu require basic tools.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by goodiefun

Thanks for the suggestions. The boat has been at a yard where they were supposed to make a bunch of repairs over the Spring (including replacing the fuel gauge). Long story short, the mechanic told me a few days ago that he hasn’t gotten to my boat, and that he doesn’t know when he will get to my boat, and that I should come back in the fall since my repairs aren’t critical. My launch is scheduled for tomorrow and I am trying to gauge how much fuel is in the tank before I leave the yard. Guess it won’t be possible to know before I head out. Thanks again!

As suggested, the most expediente route is to determine total tank volume and GPH burn at normal cruising RPM, then track engine hours. Simple & effective.

When it comes time to replace the fuel gauge switch to something reliable, like a Tank Tender system.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by stormalong

That may be true. My knowledge of ABYC rules is from what people have said over the years. I would not want a pool of diesel in my bilge any more than gasoline. I have owned three boats with inboards. One gas and two diesel. In my limited experience I have never seen an inboard fuel tank with fittings anywhere but the top.

A gasoline leak is WAY more dangerous than a diesel leak. A diesel leak is just a mess to clean up, not a bomb waiting to go off.

[Pegu Club]

As a 29.9 owner, there is good access to your tank and you might just want to have it either replaced with a tank that has the fuel fill lined up correctly under the fill cap so that the hose run is vertical, or have the current tank modified, which would be less expensive than a new tank, we use a dip stick with 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full marks on said dip stick, we did this because the electric fuel gauge crapped out, and even when it was “working” it was off by as much as half a tank full, by the way the dip stick is very accurate.

Fair winds,

[stormalong]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

A gasoline leak is WAY more dangerous than a diesel leak. A diesel leak is just a mess to clean up, not a bomb waiting to go off.

While I agree that gasoline is far more dangerous the smell of diesel is hard to get out of a boat. Comfort is important to me and a pervasive diesel odor would be sickening to me and the people I have aboard with me.

[Carl-T705]

Originally Posted by goodiefun

Thanks for the suggestions. The boat has been at a yard where they were supposed to make a bunch of repairs over the Spring (including replacing the fuel gauge). Long story short, the mechanic told me a few days ago that he hasn’t gotten to my boat, and that he doesn’t know when he will get to my boat, and that I should come back in the fall since my repairs aren’t critical. My launch is scheduled for tomorrow and I am trying to gauge how much fuel is in the tank before I leave the yard. Guess it won’t be possible to know before I head out. Thanks again!

. The simple way would be to fill the tank, then you would know how much fuel is in the tank Oh and find a shop that's wants your business