Fuel "Gauge" Dip Stick

[Jerry B]

To Vic, of Newport/Naples and others (like myself) who sometimes wonder how much fuel they have.......Apparently, putting a simple fuel gauge on the instrument panel would have made things too easy for us sailors. (Maybe this only applies to Universal diesel panels). There isn't one on the Custom panel either. Instead, O'day "developed" this really fabulous low-tech devise called a dip stick.Let me transcribe......O'day suggests: a 1/4" or 3/8" Brass Rod  or Hardwood DowelCut it to an overall length of 36"Lay it down and FROM THE LEFT END - (Empty), Make the following measurements - put a mark at 4-3/4" ... This is the 1/4 Tank Mark next mark at 9-3/4" ... " " " 1/2 " " then mark at 15-1/2" ... " " " 3/4 " " next mark at 22" This is FULL at top of tankSo there it is! A genuine O'Day fuel gauge!I've used a coat hanger just to get a visual idea.However, it's sometimes hard to see almost clearfuel on a shiney rod. But, I guess this is all we're gonna get fellows.Jerry B.O'Day 272LE - "Panacea"burpolin@grolen.com

 

[Vic]

I tried that ... but

maybe the dowel I used was too big or I didn't get the angle right ... I couldn't get it down into the tank when I tried a couple of months ago ... will try again this weekend ... I had to take the Universal start panel out today because the starter switch was intermittant and saw the tank sitting there right behind the panel ... looked empty to me ... in a pinch i can always take the start panel off to see the tank!!! Thanks for the marks. Do you have a idea of how much fuel the engine uses an hour? Can we get 12 hours out of a tank full at crusing speed?

 

[Bob]

Westerbeke fuel consumption...

...is .30 gph @ 2000 PRM. I don't know what the fig is for the Universal. This gives us approximately 27 hours of run time. I just keep track of my hours. I have checked this several times (once while having to motorsail for over four hours) and found it to be accurate.Hope this helps.Cheers,Bob TodLazybones IIWarwick, RI

 

[Vic]

Half gallon an hour ...

should be safe for us Universal 272LEs ... i would think ... the universal engine panel didn't have a tach on it so it is generally full forward with a slight crack back ... I still don't know why the motor panel is located behind your feet instead of in that clear window over the engine. I'm thinking of moving it since the Universal plastic case is shot and breaking up.