Diesel Fill

[RAD88]

I am interested in moving the diesel fill from the starboard coaming to the cockpit floor. This will enable me to drop a yard stick straight into the tank to check on the fuel level. It will also allow me to eliminate the old 8240 Rochester gauge which is unreliable and difficult to read in the engine compartment. Any thoughts ?

 

[RAD88]

Here is an old pic.

 

[Steve Dion]

Yes! Why don't you purchase a WEMA gauge and sender for under $100. You just need to get power from the key or power panel.

Slick setup and it is cheap. I just installed one. The sender is a direct replacement for your current gauge. Run a couple of wires to the new electric gauge and you are done.

 

[Paul F]

Floor fill

On the 33 the fuel fill is on the cockpit deck floor where water can be flowing. I have always thought the fill would be better up off this low area. However, this is the second boat I have owned that has had the fuel fill on the floor. As far as measuring the remaining fuel, using the hour meter works the best for me. Keep a log of fuel used per hour and figure out how many hours per tank are available. Oh, a 5-6 gallon extra can of diesel on the deck or in the locker is the best insurance for a sailing outing.

 

[cbsailor]

My 81 H27 had the fill high on the coaming. The tank vent was lower than the fill and there was lots of potential for fuel to be forced out the vent. It meant you were pumping or pouring slow and constantly checking and rechecking the hard to see tank mounted gauge.

My father-in-law’s Morgan 33 had the fill in the cockpit floor but the tank vent was much higher than the fill. The dipstick method worked great, but lots of water got into the tank until he realized there was supposed to be an O-ring on the fill cap.

My H33.5 was just like the H27, high fill, low vent, but it had no tank gauge. One of the best improvements I have made to the boat was installing a New Providence tank gauge system. A quick look at the gauge, a quick calculation and I stop fueling when calculated fuel needed is reached. No more constant fear of a spill. The added benefit is I also know the levels of the domestic water and holding tanks.

 

[Benny]

I second Paul's recommendation about using an hour meter to calculate available fuel. In rough seas it will be more accurate than a gauge or yardstick. Installing an hour meter can also provide valuable information for maintaining a maintenace schedule.

 

[Scott F. Murphy]

DO NOT MOVE IT!
I have a '79 Cherubini 33, with the fill in the cockpit floor. During Hurricane Gustav, I was away from the boat. Debris from the hurricane clogged up the cockpit drain and the water rose over 6" above the tank fill. A good marina neighbor noticed the situation and cleared the drain. When I returned to the boat a week after the storm everything looked normal, but the batteries were low so i cranked up the engine to recharge them. Twenty minutes later the engine died. Then the neighbor returned and informed of what had happened. I had to completely flush out the whole system. It was my first intro to the joys of bleeding a diesel. Not to mention the lose of a weekend, 15 gals.of fuel and filters.

I have a dip stick and a fuel gauge, but keeping a log for the past four years, the hrs./gal. has proven to be just as accurate.

 

[RAD88]

Here is an old pic.

Here is a newer pic. Thanks for all the input. - Steve , I am going to get a gauge as you suggested.

 

[smittyssi]

How many gals/hr does a Cherubini 37 burn with a Yanmar 3QM30 diesel?

 

[Johnb]

My 3qm30f uses 0.6 gal/hr or less just cruising, less than 6 knots, and 0.8 if you are pushing it.

John Brecher

 

[capejt]

I too have to agree with Paul. As a 79 H33 owner I too worry about the fill being on the floor. Having the fill up higher makes you the envy of us "bottom fillers". Frankly, I've considered moving mine to the coaming.