Fuel oil sensor install 83 H34

datasailor2

datasailor2

.
May 17, 2010
25
Hunter 1983 - 34' Port of Everett
My H34 does not have a fuel gauge/sensor and I am a little tired of listening for the change in sound pitch as air escaping the filler inlet increases and tank fills. On some occasions (noisy fuel dock) there has been some minor spillage out of the over flow outlet as I overfill it. There does not appear to be any pre-molded mounting to provide a secure install of standard Sensor flange and I am not to comfortable cutting hole into the tank and how to secure a sensor without the potential for leakage around the flange. The tank is Poly not metal. Anyone out there have any experience with installing fuel oil sensor to their H34 or ?
 
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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,178
CC 30 South Florida
What if I told you that there is a proven method to calculate available fuel in the tank with greater precision nd more uses than a fuel gauge. All it requires is the installation of an Hour Meter and keeping a log of engine hours readings at every fuel fill. Fuel consumption in boats is measured in Gallons per Hour (GPH). The fuel pump at the dock will tell you hoe many gallons you took in and the hour meter will tell you the time it took to burn that fuel. That is known as the Burn Rate. We all know the Burn Rate can go up and down with RPM changes but we do not bother with those as we use the Average Burn Rate provided by the raw calculations of total gallons used per hour irrespective of how the boat was used. The reason we use the Average is because it is simple and it yields adequate results. You will be surprised how repetitively similar we use our boats in every outing. Every time you top off the tank you calculate the average burn rate and after a few fillings you will start noticing how the Average Burn figures narrow down to a very reliable figure. Now for the second part you need to know the size in gallons of you fuel tank. Not all of the fuel is available as the engine will start sucking air way before the tank is empty. What we do is calculate a 20% reduction to allow for usable fuel and to maintain a reserve for emergencies. So that 30 gallon tank becomes a 24 gallon tank. With practice you will look at the log, look at the hour meter and know how many hours since last fill and applying the formula
BR=Gallons/hour you know how many gallons you have used and how many you have left in the tank. We consistently predict how many gallons of fuel we can take in to an accuracy of 1/4 of a gallon. Knowing the burn rate allows you to calculate range in the water according to conditions. you will know if you can reach your destination with the fuel available or would need to divert and refuel. The Hour Meter will also serve to develop and keep a maintenance schedule. Been using the system for decades and have never inadvertely ran out of fuel. By using round numbers like 1/2 hours and full hours and 1/2 gallons and full gallons I can calculate in my head the amount of fuel left in the tank. Pretty much as easy as looking at a fuel gauge. Even if you install a fuel gauge go ahead and learn and use the system as it will be very useful.
 
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Likes: Ken13559
B

Benny17441

.
May 24, 2004
7,178
CC 30 South Florida
What if I told you that there is a proven method to calculate available fuel in the tank with greater precision nd more uses than a fuel gauge. All it requires is the installation of an Hour Meter and keeping a log of engine hours readings at every fuel fill. Fuel consumption in boats is measured in Gallons per Hour (GPH). The fuel pump at the dock will tell you hoe many gallons you took in and the hour meter will tell you the time it took to burn that fuel. That is known as the Burn Rate. We all know the Burn Rate can go up and down with RPM changes but we do not bother with those as we use the Average Burn Rate provided by the raw calculations of total gallons used per hour irrespective of how the boat was used. The reason we use the Average is because it is simple and it yields adequate results. You will be surprised how repetitively similar we use our boats in every outing. Every time you top off the tank you calculate the average burn rate and after a few fillings you will start noticing how the Average Burn figures narrow down to a very reliable figure. Now for the second part you need to know the size in gallons of you fuel tank. Not all of the fuel is available as the engine will start sucking air way before the tank is empty. What we do is calculate a 20% reduction to allow for usable fuel and to maintain a reserve for emergencies. So that 30 gallon tank becomes a 24 gallon tank. With practice you will look at the log, look at the hour meter and know how many hours since last fill and applying the formula
BR=Gallons/hour you know how many gallons you have used and how many you have left in the tank. We consistently predict how many gallons of fuel we can take in to an accuracy of 1/4 of a gallon. Knowing the burn rate allows you to calculate range in the water according to conditions. you will know if you can reach your destination with the fuel available or would need to divert and refuel. The Hour Meter will also serve to develop and keep a maintenance schedule. Been using the system for decades and have never inadvertely ran out of fuel. By using round numbers like 1/2 hours and full hours and 1/2 gallons and full gallons I can calculate in my head the amount of fuel left in the tank. Pretty much as easy as looking at a fuel gauge. Even if you install a fuel gauge go ahead and learn and use the system as it will be very useful.
 
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Likes: Ken13559
Claude L.-Auger

Claude L.-Auger

.
Dec 14, 2003
1,434
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
Ditto what Benny said, That is also what I do to calculate burn rate and I generally tell to the fuel pump operator how many liters (or gallons if in the USA) it will take. For ease of a visual quick check when running I nonetheless installed a WEMA gauge when I installed the fuel tank access (http://www.seabuilt.com/) for when I wanted to be able to clean the tank easily and without spills. The gauge itself and the hour meter are installed next to the electrical panel and the sending unit was installed in the middle of the access plate. I feel I have the best of both world !
 

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datasailor2

datasailor2

.
May 17, 2010
25
Hunter 1983 - 34' Port of Everett
Thanks Benney, I already use the method of fuel usage you describe. I can already pretty accurately estimate amount of fuel burned, and the estimate of is needed to fill up, but, even with that there have been times at filling when the tank takes less/more than expected which can cause overfill. I sure there are other methods/systems to prevent overfill that others have employed, so I hope to hear various ideas.
 
datasailor2

datasailor2

.
May 17, 2010
25
Hunter 1983 - 34' Port of Everett
Thanks Claude for your reply. Looks like a clean installation. I will check this out
 
Claude L.-Auger

Claude L.-Auger

.
Dec 14, 2003
1,434
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
I forgot to add that WM has these 2 items which you can use. (
). I have the no-spill bottle but hardly ever use it.
 
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Pizzazz

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Sep 11, 2015
147
Hunter 31 Marina del Rey
I installed an analog gauge. You need a right angle adapter for your drill as the space is tight. If you are careful, 95% of the debris will come out with the drill. The rest will float in the tank forever. No big deal. It is useful to have the gauge but it is inaccurate at sea due to the motion.
 
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