Cool things I saw at the boat show

[starcrafttom]

Hi, So I went back to the show on Monday to spend a little time taking a long look at neat new stuff, if i could find any. Well I found lots of new little things and even picked up some gossip of future releases. So I thought I would share some of them each day. and I hope that some of you will share what you saw. So here is the first one

http://www.interactio.co/optio-fuel

So I ran into the owner inventor of this neat little project. its a simple wireless fuel flow monitor that requires no wires and is more accurate then the flow scan ( which I have on my boat now) it also has a lot more information available to the user. You can monitor it from you wireless device of your choice. It calculates fuel used, fuel remaining, MPH vs GHP to give you your best efficiency and even continuously calculates the highest speed you can run for the least amount of fuel and displays it on the map as your EcoRange optimized cruise. It does all this and a little more, follow the link, for 299.00 dollars. The flow scan is http://www.floscan.com/html/blue/modelselection.php 510 to 900 depending on which model you need. That's per motor. If you are looking at twin diesel you will need two per motor. Thats 299 x 4 or 645 x 4. $1200 or $2550. Thats a big savings. I am considering replacing the flow scan if anyone wants one. make a offer.

ON edit. they have a twin diesel show special for $959.00

[hardee]

Tom, That Optio Fuel is cool. I called to confirm the lowest flow measurement that works and it's 1 gallon per hour. Think it would work on my 40 Yami twins except at idle. Nice. And it works on Android as will as Eye stuff.

Harvey
SleepyC

[chromer]

Cool idea.

[BTDT]

More good stuff please............ and thank you!

[Marco Flamingo]

I have a Faria flow meter on my CD 16 Yamaha 40, which is overkill if using it to gauge optimum cruising efficiency. Optimizing my fuel usage from 8.1 to 8.2 miles per gallon doesn't justify spending $200.

When it works, it reads down to .2 gph. But when cruising along at just above idle, it doesn't show anything because fuel usage is too low, although it (reportedly) still keeps track of total usage. Total usage is it's major benefit for me. The first couple of times I used it, it kept track of total usage down to 1/10 of a gallon on my 23 gallon tank. That's a lot better than my flopping needle gauge. With the analog needle gauge, I can usually guess within about 4 gallons of empty depending on sea conditions. So, when the fuel flow meter works it is great, especially when filling the tank and knowing the amount needed within a 10th of a gallon.

The problem has been that after several hours of cruising at fast idle, which is "zero gallons per hour," the sensor unit doesn't work properly when I throttle up. My understanding is that it is a little paddle wheel and a light. I've tapped it a few times to get it going, but forgetting to do that a few times for 15 minutes throws everything off. Working intermittently isn't good enough. It could be that a mere 3 gallons per hour (about my max) isn't enough hydraulic force to get things spinning again.

I haven't bothered to mess with it yet, but I did find a replacement fuel measuring unit with the same sensitivity for about $40. It's called a DigiFlow and there's a picture of it in my photos of my gas tank install. The "micro" model is reportedly sensitive enough for smaller outboards. The sending unit looks almost identical to the Faria.

One reason for not installing the DigiFlow is that it doesn't have a standard 2" gauge that fits on my dash (which now has a hole for the Faria gauge). Not a big deal, but I also don't see a dash mount gauge for Optio Fuel. That would be my preference. I don't need more clutter in the ditty box next to the helm.

The $200 price difference between the DigiFlow and the Optio Fuel is probably because one is for a boat.

Mark

[thataway]

These turbine type of fuel flow meters often require a filter inline before the meter. Good find--and interesting app. Cost is going to be fairly close to what a Garmin sensor, plus the NMEA 2000 setup will be.

Be interesting to see how they hold up--You could have this on the I pad--along with the navigation and tide apps etc.

[Foggy]

I don't get it.

Why monitor instant readout mpg, gph? Time proven fuel management is the
"Rules of Thirds". One third of your fuel supply to get to your destination, one
third to get home and one third for emergency use. Plus, if the fuel gauge falls
below 1/4, refuel now. It's worked for me for over 1/4 century.

Moreover, boaters who spend tens of thousands of dollars on their chosen craft,
more on the trailer, even more on the tow vehicle are wanting data, instantaneous
data, on fuel use which amounts to only several dollars per hour. Then, spending
hundreds more for gadgets to see fuel 'flow' on your smart phone (hundreds more
every month) is a mystery to me. Trying to "save fuel" with all these expenses to
do so - why not put the many hundreds spent on unnecessaries into just more
fuel?

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "If it's not broken, don't mess with it."

[thataway]

[starcrafttom]

Thank you Bob for answering that question. I try to deal with positive question. How does it work, what it will do, what benefits it has. No " why bother" . If you have to ask that then its not for you and I don't know why you would bother committing.

[hardee]

There is no gauge with the Opti Fuel, so no hole in the dash. It works through an app on either an I-Pad or I-Phone or an Android device and connects via Blue Tooth.

As to Why. I agree with the rule of thirds, but as Bob mentions, there are frequently times when there is no "out and back" and optimizing the fuel burn for the greatest efficiency is a way of being sure I can make it to the next fuel stop. With the Opti Fuel, it actually displays a map and using GPS function for speed and position, puts you in the middle of a circle. There are actually two circles. One shows your max range at current settings and a second, green circle that shows what your max range would be if you optimize settings, (trim, and throttle) for maximum performance.

For twin OB's it will take two units. Not sure how that works with one blue tooth device.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Foggy]

Some wordy catharsis about not always "out and back" requiring
optional fuel data from gadgets:

How did we (safely) get anywhere on the water before these fancy
unnecessary somewhat complicated new fangled expensive gauges
were available? Invent sailbotes?

Oh, do you realize gasoline currently is relatively cheap?

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Sailbotes sailed before motorboats."
Grandpa used to say, "There's a difference between wanting and needing."

[BTDT]

I like "new fangled gadgets" ....but then again I also loved GPS when it first came out, while many of my friends preferred a chart and compass. I also have radar even though I hate fog and have no plans to enter it, but you never-never know.

I also purchased a fancy new gadget called a fishfinder/GPSchartplotter when they first came out. Some of my 'older' fishing friends insisted it was a waste of money. Interestingly all of them now use fishfinder/chartplotters.

I even have one of those new 'epirb' thingy's albeit I have never seen it actually work. I'm also shopping for an AIS system

[Sea Wolf]

[Foggy]

[potter water]

I love that new gadget and if my boat consumed more than .3 gallons per hour at hull speed which is as fast as I can go, I'd buy one because I'm a nerd. And being a nerd makes any new gadget a worth while investment.