I share our 1975 Catalina 30 with three others and we just rebuilt the Atomic 4 gas engine but there is no fuel Guage. I want to add one because with 4 people sharing one boat there is always a question regarding how much gas there is left. One guy already ran out of fuel once. Any suggestions?
Adding a fuel Gauge
- Thread starter Mayerdav
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Save $$ - don't install one!
They end up wearing out, and you get to do it all over again.
Just keep track of the next few fillups in gallons and carefully with enigne hours. Fill up a half a tank or a quarter of a tank more often to get a quicker average gallons per hour.
Then if you have a 20 gallon tank and you use 1 gallon an hour average, do the math...
I've had a broken fuel gauge, really the sender in the tank, nigh on 13 years now...
Other option is get an external tank monitoring system.
Your boat, your choice.
They end up wearing out, and you get to do it all over again.
Just keep track of the next few fillups in gallons and carefully with enigne hours. Fill up a half a tank or a quarter of a tank more often to get a quicker average gallons per hour.
Then if you have a 20 gallon tank and you use 1 gallon an hour average, do the math...
I've had a broken fuel gauge, really the sender in the tank, nigh on 13 years now...
Other option is get an external tank monitoring system.
Your boat, your choice.
...with a different view.
The first summer I owed my 1977 Catalina 30, there was no fuel gauge. I kept track by engine running time, figuring 1 gallon per hour and it was 20 minutes from my dock to the lake entrance. So easily 40 minutes minimum each run plus any extra time if I decided to motor.
I then installed a sender unit in the tank along with the gauge. I think I didn't calibrate the sending unit very well because it doesn't read accurately. It's a one size fits all and you have to move the float up and down the arm. I guess I will mess with it this spring, but I'm thinking about replacing the tank.
Your problem comes with 3 or 4 groups using the boat. If everyone doesn't keep the same records, someone is going to get screwed. Even if you have to replace the sending unit every couple of years (fairly cheap) and even if (like mine) it's not 100% accurate, at least when YOU take the boat out, you'll have a good idea where you stand fuel wise.
You don't even have to run the fuel gauge out into the cockpit. You could run cut a 2" hole just below the pilot berth near the stairs and put it there...
Good luck
Chris
The first summer I owed my 1977 Catalina 30, there was no fuel gauge. I kept track by engine running time, figuring 1 gallon per hour and it was 20 minutes from my dock to the lake entrance. So easily 40 minutes minimum each run plus any extra time if I decided to motor.
I then installed a sender unit in the tank along with the gauge. I think I didn't calibrate the sending unit very well because it doesn't read accurately. It's a one size fits all and you have to move the float up and down the arm. I guess I will mess with it this spring, but I'm thinking about replacing the tank.
Your problem comes with 3 or 4 groups using the boat. If everyone doesn't keep the same records, someone is going to get screwed. Even if you have to replace the sending unit every couple of years (fairly cheap) and even if (like mine) it's not 100% accurate, at least when YOU take the boat out, you'll have a good idea where you stand fuel wise.
You don't even have to run the fuel gauge out into the cockpit. You could run cut a 2" hole just below the pilot berth near the stairs and put it there...
Good luck
Chris
options: Carry 1 gall spare fuel...replace gauge and sending unit its easy...or use portable fuel tank with quick disconnect...can always see the fuel level...
Chris, the original tank on my '77 had a fuel gauge smack in the middle. It never worked properly though either. Due to a leak (I suspect from water in the ethanol fuel!) I had to replace the tank the first spring after I got the boat. I went with a polyethylene tank from Moeller that almost matches the original tank dimensions..The tank is translucent, so in the bright daylight you can see the fuel in the tank no problem..in poor daylight a good flash light takes care of the issue.. I just have to yank one of the galley drawers, or if I have the quarter berth clean (never!) I can easily access the tank thru the large access tank. Until recently, I used to close the fuel petcock at the tank every time anyway, so yanking a drawer is really no problem. I've since added another fuel shutoff at the Racor filter in the engine compartment, so I can reach it thru one of the engine doors.
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