[180diablo]

Originally Posted by indykoch

On another note, if 6-7 gallons makes your gauge go from 3/8 full to almost full, you may have an issue. I'm fairly certain your boat has more than 16-18 gallon capacity. Especially when you consider the shape of the tank - mine follows the shape of the hull (V shaped on the bottom), which would mean the capacity is less towards the bottom (relative to a perfect rectangle). I don't think the sending unit takes that into account, and my gauge slowly moves from full to 1/4, but after that it drops to empty quite fast.

You're lucky to be able to fuel with "carry on" tanks. My marina doesn't allow it (too much risk spilling fuel into the water), so they make you fill at the marina (yes, owned by the same people) for $3.59 a gallon!!! It sucks, but there's a reason boats are called "holes in the water".

Well I may have to just pop the hatch as MariahMan mentioned and see if I can find a capacity label on the tank. If I can, then I will know for certain what size tank is actually in the boat.

I would agree without looking first, that the tank would be a V-shaped design. My gauge still drops from the full position to 3/4 and lower, so it seems like its working. However, being only 6-7gal / 25L fill up doesn't seem like an awful lot of fuel.. lol.

Hehe, yeah I guess filling up at my uncles dock does have its privileges. The very first time I filled up the boat, yeah I made some boo-boos and spilt, but I had someone fetch some paper towels ASAP and got the fuel cleaned up before it sat too long on my transom and dripped more into the water. I keep towels right beside me when filling up to prevent any spills or drips off the FloN go.

[Z 202]

Great tip, I never new that piece flipped up.

My 1995 202 Shebah has a 40 US gallon tank (151.4 liters)

No self-refueling here either. Prohibited by the municipality (which runs the marina). I don't have a dock at my cottage. Either I pony up 4.46 per US gallon (1.18/liter) at the marina pump, or haul it out, trailer it to the local gas station ~4 miles and fill 'er up for 3.80 a gallon (~1.00/liter). Fortunately my wharfage fee for the season includes unlimited launch ramp use.

My gauge seems to sit forever on Full then slowly drops to 1/2 and then seems to drop fairly quickly to 1/4 and Empty. It's definitely not linear.

[180diablo]

Z202: I see you are in Kitchener, where abouts do you normally run your boat?

I have a Sunoco gas station which is about a 20-30min drive up some backroads from my cottage to Hwy11 (south of Gravenhurst). So thats where I have been buying my fuel for the summer so far. Which has maybe been in the 100L mark.. somewhere.

Its too bad that boat level sensors donn't have a buffer like cars do. Then we probably wouldnt see the needle bounce around like it does now.

btw - Im liking the new gas price's ... .92c/L

[ShabahZ280]

I've heard you can replace the fuel sender with an electronic version that connects to your existing gauge, supposed to eliminate the inaccurate readings, as well as virtually eliminate the needle bounce i'm sure we're all familiar with. I read about it on an offshore racing site, i believe it was about $300 or so to do it. Personally, I never let it get below 1/4 Tank.

At the local fuel docks, they have spray bottles with diluted Simple Green or dish soap to aid in overboard spills. a couple sprays on the water, and it'll break down all the gas. I hate letting some fuel get out, but when I fill the tank completely up, the vent always ends up spraying some. I keep a bottle of detergent soap onboard just for accidents like these. However, at the prices of gas this year, I've only been keeping the boat at about 1/2 to 3/4 tank. Paid $3.64/gallon the other night. ($2.79 on land)

[Z 202]

180diablo: I'm on Geogian bay. Bruce Peninsula. Just north of Wiarton.

100L in total this season? Must be nice to have a fuel sipper. I went through 120L last weekend.

I doubt I'd ever switch the gauge. To me it's a reminder to top off. I usually think about filling up when I get between 1/2 and 1/4.

Like my dad always said: It costs the same to fill the top half as it does the bottom half.

[180diablo]

Originally Posted by Z 202

100L in total this season? Must be nice to have a fuel sipper. I went through 120L last weekend.

Yeah from what I can rememember I have filled up the boat at least 4 times from the 25L. I have a second smaller 10L jerry that I have filled up two or three times, which I still have gas sitting in it from a few weeks ago. I brought that can along with me when I went out to Severn Falls with my aunt and uncle last Sunday. I had a "gauge full" tank but to be on the safe side, I brought the 10L as a spare. Fit nicely under the rear seat. It wasn't usuable, but .. it was hidden.

I can sometimes get about 2 weekends out of filling it up with just that 25L. Normally we only go out for a 2-3 hour drive. If we go up the Trent, then we are only puttin around at 1500rpms. So if we make it into Couchchiching, then we are probably lookin around a 4hour trip.

At least at the locks the boat gets a little rest.

[180diablo]

Fuel capacity of a 1993 18 ft Diablo .... (yes curiousity got to me)... 23 gallons !! (87 L for us canucks).

Kracor fuel tanks was the brand, made in September 1992. It is the first time I have pulled that lid up, but the good news is that it was fairly clean under there (no rot). Lots of wood structure and man is that tank wedged in there!

Still have no idea how 87L could be cramed up in there w/o the bow being lower then the stern. I just go by what the level sensor on the dash says.. lol.