How often do you check your fuel level?

[Bay Sailor]

I have gotten into the habit of recording the fuel level in both tanks everytime I return. My boat has a dipstick and I think it is accurate to within 1/4 gallon. If I'm away on a 2 day cruise I might use 2 gallons of diesel; for a short day sail maybe 1/2 gallon. Yesterday I added 5 gallons to both tanks, measured the levels and noted a discrepancy of 2.5 gallons on the starboard tank and 1.5 gallons on the port tank. I don't think anyone is taking my boat out on joyrides when I'm not there because the port side tank's valve has been shut off since July 23. It measured 9.0 gallons each time I dipped it thereafter. After adding 5 gallons to the port side tank, it measured 12.5 gallons. No fuel in the bilge and the tanks have rectangular sides. I wouldn't want to run out of fuel while underway so I think I will start dipping my tanks before I leave the dock.

 

[Warren Milberg]

While my H28.5 has small (11.5 gal) diesel tank, and a mechanical fuel guage, I do not trust the accuracy of the guage. As such, I keep track of my fuel with a log and #2 pencil. I pretty much know how much my Yanmar 2GM20F burns per hour and I simply fill up the tank at the beginning of the seaon and keep track of the hours whenever I use the engine. I add fuel in 2-gal increments when I think I need it. This system has never let me down and also has the benefit of keeping better track of engine hours than would an hour meter.

 

[higgs]

With a 35 gallon tank, if I am daysailing it will easily last all season. It only takes me about 5 minutes to get out to the lake from my slip, so I don't use much. When I cruise, I try to fill it at the last port before making for home. I then will check it every couple of weeks just to be sure. I don't have a gauge and use a dip stick.

 

[Benny]

Hour Meter

I check the hour meter everytime I go out. If your boat does not have an hour meter I would suggest you install one. It can help you keep maintenance schedules but I mostly use it to keep tabs on fuel. Whenever I fill up the tank I log the number of hours when it was done. Then its just a mater of looking at the hour meter and determining how many hours the engine has ran since fill up and by knowing the average hourly burn rate of the engine I approximate very closely how many gallons have been used and how many are left.

 

[ITMaster]

Frequently

As I do all my fluid levels. It is a habit developed during my days as an aviator that I found to be quite important, and as a sailor, I find fuel level and capacity a major necessity.

Rule of thumb taught in the safe boating classes is a third out, a third back and a third for reserve, so I am always checking it and am aware of it. I suspect I pay as much attention to that as I do the wind and weather conditions. Without fuel and wind, I lack ability to control my vessel, which is quite irresponsibile toward the safety of others on the water.

I hear constantly on the VHF proof of lots of boaters out there on the water that don't, however and just hope that I can stay very very far away from them.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Fuel tank

I long ago took the center door off the aft cabin of our Huntner 320 to visually check the levels of the fuel and waste tanks. Since they're plastic, a flashlight will reveal the true levels. Fortunately the fuel guage is accurate, but the water guage is not. Hunter makes access to the water tank inordinately difficult, so I swag it.