Empathy List Archives

R

rquarles@coastalnet.com

Sun, Jun 25, 2000 1:43 PM

Have you considered a dipstick? I don't know anything about your tank geometry,
but they work very well and can't leak. Our 32' Nordic Tug has a tank which is
a rectangular solid in shape, so the calibration curve is a straight line with a
value of ca. 10 gal/in.

Rick
Barric II, 32' Nordic Tug

Have you considered a dipstick? I don't know anything about your tank geometry, but they work very well and can't leak. Our 32' Nordic Tug has a tank which is a rectangular solid in shape, so the calibration curve is a straight line with a value of ca. 10 gal/in. Rick Barric II, 32' Nordic Tug

R

Russ@trawlerdogs.com

Sun, Jun 25, 2000 9:45 PM

Rick:
The trouble with dip sticks, and I do have them on my trawler as well as sight
gauges, is that they usually have to come out into the salon, dripping fuel oil.
They are also uncertain in the reading. With old eyes in poor light, you can't
always tell the wet part from the dry part. You also frequently have to move
something or uncover a hatch to get to them. I find the sight gauges a sight better.
(sorry)

The big advantage, as you point out, is there is no access at the bottom of the
tank. But in my case, there was a plug there anyway, so I just added a valve.
Russ

Rick wrote:

Have you considered a dipstick?

|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Russ and Donna Sherwin |
| "Four Seasons" |
| 1981 Marine Trader DC44 |
| Sunnyvale, Ca 94087 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Rick: The trouble with dip sticks, and I do have them on my trawler as well as sight gauges, is that they usually have to come out into the salon, dripping fuel oil. They are also uncertain in the reading. With old eyes in poor light, you can't always tell the wet part from the dry part. You also frequently have to move something or uncover a hatch to get to them. I find the sight gauges a sight better. (sorry) The big advantage, as you point out, is there is no access at the bottom of the tank. But in my case, there was a plug there anyway, so I just added a valve. Russ Rick wrote: > Have you considered a dipstick? |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Russ and Donna Sherwin | | "Four Seasons" | | 1981 Marine Trader DC44 | | Sunnyvale, Ca 94087 | |----------------------------------------------------------------------|

M

MTTortuga@iline.com

Sun, Jun 25, 2000 9:59 PM

Rick said:

Have you considered a dipstick?

Don't do it!!!! Been there. Had that.

Tortuga came with dipsticks. It was the only way to check the fuel level.
You had to take apart the saloon seats to get to the floor then open the
hatch in the floor to get to the dipstick. It seems that no matter how hard
you try not to, you will get a drip off the end of the stick that drops on
top of the tank or on the wood floor. It seems that no matter how hard you
work, it still smells like diesel for the next day. When I replaced the
fuel tanks 18 months ago, I had the mfg put a 1/4" fitting at the bottom of
the tank and a 1/4" fitting at the top. After the tanks were in place, I
installed a 90 deg fitting after the shutoff on the bottom and top fitting.
I then put 1/4" clear plastic water line between the two fittings. The nice
thing about the water line is that it stretches alot when it is bumped. I
think that you would pull it off the fittings before it would break. After
awhile, the tubing gets a dark stain to it, but you just close the valves
and remove the top of the tube and blow the fuel back down into the tank and
then close the bottom valve. You can then replace the tubing without
spilling fuel. It costs penneys a foot.

Rick said: > Have you considered a dipstick? Don't do it!!!! Been there. Had that. Tortuga came with dipsticks. It was the only way to check the fuel level. You had to take apart the saloon seats to get to the floor then open the hatch in the floor to get to the dipstick. It seems that no matter how hard you try not to, you will get a drip off the end of the stick that drops on top of the tank or on the wood floor. It seems that no matter how hard you work, it still smells like diesel for the next day. When I replaced the fuel tanks 18 months ago, I had the mfg put a 1/4" fitting at the bottom of the tank and a 1/4" fitting at the top. After the tanks were in place, I installed a 90 deg fitting after the shutoff on the bottom and top fitting. I then put 1/4" clear plastic water line between the two fittings. The nice thing about the water line is that it stretches alot when it is bumped. I think that you would pull it off the fittings before it would break. After awhile, the tubing gets a dark stain to it, but you just close the valves and remove the top of the tube and blow the fuel back down into the tank and then close the bottom valve. You can then replace the tubing without spilling fuel. It costs penneys a foot.

P

pjr@netsense.net

Mon, Jun 26, 2000 8:43 PM

I've got dipsticks and "old eyes" so I sprinkle a little talcum powder on
the stick before dipping it-makes the "fuel line" easier to see...

                      Regards...

Phil Rosch
Dolly Surprise MT44TC
Wakefield, RI, 02879-7513

Rick:
The trouble with dip sticks, and I do have them on my trawler as well as
sight
gauges, is that they usually have to come out into the salon, dripping fuel
oil.
They are also uncertain in the reading. With old eyes in poor light, you
can't
always tell the wet part from the dry part. You also frequently have to move
something or uncover a hatch to get to them. I find the sight gauges a sight
better.
(sorry)

The big advantage, as you point out, is there is no access at the bottom of
the
tank. But in my case, there was a plug there anyway, so I just added a
valve.
Russ

Rick wrote:

Have you considered a dipstick?

|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Russ and Donna Sherwin |
| "Four Seasons" |
| 1981 Marine Trader DC44 |
| Sunnyvale, Ca 94087 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

I've got dipsticks and "old eyes" so I sprinkle a little talcum powder on the stick before dipping it-makes the "fuel line" easier to see... Regards... Phil Rosch Dolly Surprise MT44TC Wakefield, RI, 02879-7513 Rick: The trouble with dip sticks, and I do have them on my trawler as well as sight gauges, is that they usually have to come out into the salon, dripping fuel oil. They are also uncertain in the reading. With old eyes in poor light, you can't always tell the wet part from the dry part. You also frequently have to move something or uncover a hatch to get to them. I find the sight gauges a sight better. (sorry) The big advantage, as you point out, is there is no access at the bottom of the tank. But in my case, there was a plug there anyway, so I just added a valve. Russ Rick wrote: > Have you considered a dipstick? |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Russ and Donna Sherwin | | "Four Seasons" | | 1981 Marine Trader DC44 | | Sunnyvale, Ca 94087 | |----------------------------------------------------------------------|

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

Re: TWL: Fuel tank sight gauges