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N2GLOCK

  • Karma: +0/-0
Gas gauge question
« on: October 29, 2010, 12:28:28 PM »
I recently purchased a '78 Rogers Bonneville and it lacks a gas gauge. From what I can tell, it looks like it never had one. I spoke to someone who knows about these boats and he said that some were built w/o gas gauges. Interestingly enough, the left side tank has a sensding unit and I see some wires. It lloks like the tank needs to be removed in order to access the sending unit and there is room on the dash for one more gauge (need to cut a hole) My question is: Is a lack of a gas gauge normal? Is it worth it to go thru the trouble of installing one? Most people that I've spoken to say that their boats have gas gauges but most of the time, they're not really that accurate. Any thoughts?
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BOOST

  • Karma: +25/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2010, 12:51:02 PM »
  The time and effort of cutting the hole for the gauge and running the wires etc,I don't believe is worth the trouble,I always have extra fuel with me so its never a worrier, most of the boats Ive seen have no gas gauge which i would believe normal, but honestly its personal preference of what you run with in your boat.         

ka0tyk

  • Karma: +30/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2010, 01:23:19 PM »
i think a gas gauge is a pretty worthwhile instrument to have.  being stranded in the middle of a lake/river because you didnt know how much gas you had = dumb.  not to mention the feeling you're gonna have when u have to rope someone into towing you. 

i dont think drilling a hole in the dash is too much work, we're talking what... 30 mins max with a drill from home depot?  then mounting and running a few wires around to the sending unit(s). its winter time, put it on the project list.
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BOOST

  • Karma: +25/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2010, 01:43:07 PM »
i think a gas gauge is a pretty worthwhile instrument to have.  being stranded in the middle of a lake/river because you didnt know how much gas you had = dumb.  not to mention the feeling you're gonna have when u have to rope someone into towing you. 

i dont think drilling a hole in the dash is too much work, we're talking what... 30 mins max with a drill from home depot?  then mounting and running a few wires around to the sending unit(s). its winter time, put it on the project list.
Good point, but for the guys running no gauge not checking the fuel level by opening the fill cap before heading out too the middle of the lake/river = dumber :screwy:   

BOOST

  • Karma: +25/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2010, 02:04:03 PM »
   Lets just say you decide pull the trigger and put a gas gauge in, your running two tanks one sending unit :o will work OK but not going to be accurate even if their pulling equal, and if one pulls more then the other and ones of the tanks goes empty now you have air in the tank = stranded back to square one,or you can run a manual shut off valve to keep from pulling air after it goes empty.

ka0tyk

  • Karma: +30/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2010, 03:39:38 PM »
   Lets just say you decide pull the trigger and put a gas gauge in, your running two tanks one sending unit :o will work OK but not going to be accurate even if their pulling equal, and if one pulls more then the other and ones of the tanks goes empty now you have air in the tank = stranded back to square one,or you can run a manual shut off valve to keep from pulling air after it goes empty.

run dual senders, run the senders to a 2 way switch, then from the switch to the gauge.  this way u can switch between tanks.  once one gets low you'll know before u suck air and can turn off that valve.
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Marcsrollin

  • Karma: +33/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2010, 04:19:54 PM »
run dual senders, run the senders to a 2 way switch, then from the switch to the gauge.  this way u can switch between tanks.  once one gets low you'll know before u suck air and can turn off that valve.

BINGO! We have a winner!
  • Boat #1: 1978 TX-19 Youngblood
  • Boat #2: 1994 24 foot Sundancer Pontoon
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Taco'd "a person or people that show up with one lake lice and a family of 50 and cram 3 people at a time on it with no disregard to boating rules or ethics. Usualy crap in toilets and throw shit paper in trash cans. Hang out at the boat ramp like its a swimming hole. Have zero insurance on anything they own and dont give two shits less about your property."

BOOST

  • Karma: +25/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2010, 04:33:03 PM »
 OK he should have it all figured out by the time were done with this thread,maybe not a 30 min max job just turn into a project  :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: now he's has too take both tanks out and cut a hole in the right side tank for the sender ;)   

Just Electric

  • Karma: +28/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2010, 05:29:27 PM »
what happened to the old ski flag dipstick technique. you can even use a marker to say 1/4 1/2 frull ;D
thats what i do or just periodically open the cap and take  a looksie ;D
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IRRebel

  • Karma: +16/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2010, 05:48:32 PM »
I run both. Pickle has no senders, guages, nor provisions for adding one. I just carry a few of the long, disposable, and free, paintsticks from Home Depot. Moo has a guage, two senders (only 1 hooked up, another one of those little things to fix this time around) and a tank selector valve to a switch on the dash. Supposed to read each tank individually when you switch tanks.

I don't see an advantage either way, really. Although it was kinda fun to watch Moo's guage go from full to near empty on a 10 mile upriver blast once! That boats never been given a chance in the mileage department....  >:D  Personally, I wouldn't go cutting up a boat to add one.

Ray
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting 'Holy Shit what a ride!"---Crewcheif22 AKA Keith

GT Jets

  • Karma: +192/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2010, 05:55:55 PM »
The flip dick that put my little jet together put in two senders and two gauges... :screwy:

Funny, but it's still that way. ;D

GT
  • Boat #1: 1992 Carrera 20.5 Elite (I/O bitches)
  • Boat #2: 19' Bubble deck Jet BBC Berkeley
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If i get some free time tonight at work, ill play with it and post it for everyone to see.

Time to man up and yank it John!  :banghead:
Ray

76NORDIC

  • Karma: +23/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2010, 06:52:09 PM »
Ya for me both my tanks run down evenly.  I have a wooden dowel for my gas guage ;D I bought a matching guage, bezel and sending unit about 3 years ago, and have yet to put it all in :screwy:  One of these days.....
  • Boat #1: 76 Nordic BBF 460 Jet
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The definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.....Einstein

I refuse to call people an ass anymore. It insults hard working donkeys worldwide!

N2GLOCK

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2010, 09:46:55 AM »
From reading all the replies so far, it sounds like the general consensus is that having a gauge is a matter of personal preference. Cutting a hole and wiring up a gauge is a pretty simple task. However, as I stated before, only the left tank has a sening unit and by the looks of it cannot be seviced unless the tank is removed. I think it would be pretty pointless to go thru the trouble of getting that sending unit to work and not be able to read the level in both tanks. The way I see it, I have 2 options: A) Remove both tanks and run wiring for two senders then install a 2 way switch. Or B) Carry a stick in my boat and manually check the fuel level. I don't know what's involved in removing and reinstalling both fuel tanks, but it doesn't look easy. This is something that I'm going to have to think about for a while. Thanks for the replies.
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GT Jets

  • Karma: +192/-0
Re: Gas gauge question
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2010, 12:17:39 PM »
From reading all the replies so far, it sounds like the general consensus is that having a gauge is a matter of personal preference. Cutting a hole and wiring up a gauge is a pretty simple task. However, as I stated before, only the left tank has a sening unit and by the looks of it cannot be seviced unless the tank is removed. I think it would be pretty pointless to go thru the trouble of getting that sending unit to work and not be able to read the level in both tanks. The way I see it, I have 2 options: A) Remove both tanks and run wiring for two senders then install a 2 way switch. Or B) Carry a stick in my boat and manually check the fuel level. I don't know what's involved in removing and reinstalling both fuel tanks, but it doesn't look easy. This is something that I'm going to have to think about for a while. Thanks for the replies.

 :thumbup:

If the wallet is light, the tanks are full, if the wallet is full, bring a paddle.  ;D
  • Boat #1: 1992 Carrera 20.5 Elite (I/O bitches)
  • Boat #2: 19' Bubble deck Jet BBC Berkeley
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If i get some free time tonight at work, ill play with it and post it for everyone to see.

Time to man up and yank it John!  :banghead:
Ray

 


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