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ken35216
Joined: 12 Mar 2013 Posts: 569 City/Region: Destin, Florida
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Lady Onyx
Photos: ken35216
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:07 am Post subject: So, which one do you trust your computer or fuel gauge? |
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I'm heading back from Pensacola Beach, FL to Blue Water Bay Marina about 50ish miles and I notice my fuel gauge showing empty. I added enough fuel to make it there and back, I thought. I'm still getting used to the boat.
Fuel gauge shows empty but computer shows 32.9 gallons. The computer has been dead on when filling up so I trusted the computer. I didn't have to call SeaTow so I made the right decision. _________________ 2007 25 Cruiser 150 Suzuki (2013-2016)
2017 25 Cruiser 200 Yamaha (2017-present)
Last edited by ken35216 on Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ken35216
Joined: 12 Mar 2013 Posts: 569 City/Region: Destin, Florida
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Lady Onyx
Photos: ken35216
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:12 am Post subject: |
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Here is the data for the last 260 miles. It shows 89.9 gallons used and that's about 2.89 miles per gallon. Which is about right for the last year. I added 20 gallons before the trip so the remaining fuel should be right BUT the fuel gauge showing empty was still a little disconcerting. |
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BillE
Joined: 09 Jun 2016 Posts: 283 City/Region: Nashville
State or Province: TN
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: TBD
Photos: BillE
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Ken yesterday my Garmin was showing that I was heading East while my compass pointed North, and neither one ever showed NorthEast. I followed the river so it didn't matter but that did bring up some trust issues with my instruments. _________________ Bill & Sherry C-25 sold 2020, next? |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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In my case, (a 05 22 Cruiser) my gas guages are the tanks themselves, poly, and able to see the fuel level inside the tank. In your case, if the computer has been right before, I woul tend to follow that. It could be that the fuel guage sensor and fuel pick-up are in the same place on the tank, and maybe not. Also the attitude, (for and aft or side to side tilt) of the boat could affect the guage reading. As you learn to know the boat you will become more comfortable with what it is telling you, and able to make better decisions as you go.
Harvey
SleepyC _________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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BrentB
Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 4419 City/Region: Greenwood
State or Province: IN
Photos: BrentB
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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I have a Yamaha fuel meter and trust it and a fuel gauge over the fuel tank sender.
y
yI _________________ Brent Barrett |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20813 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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With a newish boat--I would be checking the connections on the sender and gauge units...suspect if showing empty, with the amount of known fuel. (Or unless someone stole the fuel!!!--always a possibility! _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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We had a Navman fuel flow meter on our 25 - it was always within a gallon of what it took at the fuel pump. The fuel gauge... not as accurate. Over the years, I knew what we'd average for fuel burn, so I could hit it reasonably close from the hour meter, as well. |
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gulfcoast john
Joined: 14 Dec 2012 Posts: 989 City/Region: PENSACOLA
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2010
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Cat O' Mine
Photos: CAT O' MINE
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Ken,
disconnect and sand til bright the pink and black wires (and maybe blue) going into your analog fuel gauge and the pink wire on your fuel tank sender. Good call trusting the digital inputs instead.
Next time you're that close to our marina (Sherman Cove aboard NAS Pensacola) give us a holler. However, tonight we're aboard Ft Knox enroute to the Geogian Bay, 30,000 Islands/Trent Severn Waterway Adventure by car.
We asked to see the total bullion gold reserves for ourselves just to make sure it was really here, but They said No.
Maybe a Brat with higher Retired rank will have better luck than us.
Cheers!
John _________________ John and Eileen Highsmith
2010 Tom Cat 255, Cat O' Mine
Yamaha F150, LXF150 |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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The gas gauge on our boat is far from accurate, but it's still something better than guess-timating. _________________ "We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013 |
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colbysmith
Joined: 02 Oct 2011 Posts: 4551 City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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In the airlines, we had to "dipstick" the tanks if any of the fuel gauges were not working. (But all other gauges had to work. Ie, if the fuel gauge for that tank was out of order, then we had to have an operating totalizer gauge and fuel flow gauge. IOW, two of the three had to work, or the plane was grounded). That being said, like Hardee, my boat has a plastic tank so it's a simple matter of turning around and looking backwards to know my fuel level! In your case, I'd still be a bit nervous with one gauge reading empty while another showed fuel.... unless you could "stick" the tank. Colby |
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cmetzenberg
Joined: 04 Jan 2014 Posts: 367 City/Region: Santa Barbara
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Kanaloa
Photos: Kanaloa
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:25 am Post subject: |
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colbysmith wrote: | In the airlines, we had to "dipstick" the tanks if any of the fuel gauges were not working. (But all other gauges had to work. Ie, if the fuel gauge for that tank was out of order, then we had to have an operating totalizer gauge and fuel flow gauge. IOW, two of the three had to work, or the plane was grounded). That being said, like Hardee, my boat has a plastic tank so it's a simple matter of turning around and looking backwards to know my fuel level! In your case, I'd still be a bit nervous with one gauge reading empty while another showed fuel.... unless you could "stick" the tank. Colby |
The maritime industry is also a big fan of simple methods like this. I've been meaning to buy a wood dowel to notch and use for this purpose. My analog gauges work fine, but my honda digital display says full when full and shows empty after about an hour of running on a full tank. _________________ Conrad Metzenberg
07' Tomcat 255 "Kanaloa"
87' Boston Whaler Guardian 17 (BlackFlag, 03-14)
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cmetzenberg
Joined: 04 Jan 2014 Posts: 367 City/Region: Santa Barbara
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Kanaloa
Photos: Kanaloa
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:58 am Post subject: |
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BillE wrote: | Ken yesterday my Garmin was showing that I was heading East while my compass pointed North, and neither one ever showed NorthEast. I followed the river so it didn't matter but that did bring up some trust issues with my instruments. |
how fast were you moving? |
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PaulNBriannaLynn
Joined: 26 Oct 2012 Posts: 757 City/Region: Fort White
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: TBD
Photos: Lorelei
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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I love those clear tanks. Nothing to fail or misinterpret. _________________ 2007 22 cruiser sold 10/2021
2009 Parker 23 sold 10/2017
2003 22 cruiser sold 3/2016 |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:33 am Post subject: |
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PaulNBriannaLynn wrote: | I love those clear tanks. Nothing to fail or misinterpret. |
Amen.
"Sticking" a tank on a C-Dory would, I would think, be difficult due to the filler opening not directly over the tank and the up curve and vent in the line. Maybe the TomCat has better access to the tanks.
John, sounds like retirement is working out well for you. Travel safe.
Harvey
SleepyC |
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ken35216
Joined: 12 Mar 2013 Posts: 569 City/Region: Destin, Florida
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Lady Onyx
Photos: ken35216
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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gulfcoast john wrote: | Ken,
disconnect and sand til bright the pink and black wires (and maybe blue) going into your analog fuel gauge and the pink wire on your fuel tank sender. Good call trusting the digital inputs instead.
Next time you're that close to our marina (Sherman Cove aboard NAS Pensacola) give us a holler. However, tonight we're aboard Ft Knox enroute to the Geogian Bay, 30,000 Islands/Trent Severn Waterway Adventure by car.
We asked to see the total bullion gold reserves for ourselves just to make sure it was really here, but They said No.
Maybe a Brat with higher Retired rank will have better luck than us.
Cheers!
John |
It was a working trip for me or I would have contacted you and Dr Bob. I was working a convention at the Hilton and rather then get a room I took my boat and stayed at Peg Legs/La Fitte Cove Marina. Cool place!! |
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