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Comment

Comment by Clyde A. Phillips on June 25, 2014 at 2:51pm

Paul asked a good question: "Why the heck they not put in a fuel gauge?"  Well, sending units in a tank in the mid 20th century was not in the thinking for boats.  Sight tubes gave an accurate reading but you have to be able to see the sight tube; practically impossible on a Newporter.  With Bob I don't like them, there is always the possibility that the tube (usually of glass) would break.  Plastic tubes would likely discolor to the point of making it unreadable.  Dad's oyster boat, the present NJ State Tall Ship, had four petcocks mounted to the side in a column that gave us an idea as to the amount of fuel we had.  We'd take a can below and starting at the top petcock checked for fuel at that level by opening the valve to see it the fuel would run out.  Worked well. 

But on a Newporter that is most inconvenient so a more modern type of fuel tank sounding is needed.  To be honest I would be most satisfied with a dip stick.  Once learned it cannot fail, but it takes a little time and you can't just glance at it and know your fuel level.

Comment by bob mitchell on June 24, 2014 at 8:46pm

   I do have an original diagram of the fuel (or water) dowel giving the measurements for the amount of fuel in the tank. I will dig that up and post it.

Comment by paul ~ sv; pink cloud on June 24, 2014 at 7:10pm

I think it's because we have a galley here covering this whole side of the pilot house, the small access play… As you can see in the photo that's right up to my drawer refrigerator that's all I see of the tank.
I will try removing the rubber hose fitting and see if eighth inch dowel will work for me I just wondered what you might know about it,
Just finished changing my oil and filter… Getting pretty close to ready to go

Comment by bob mitchell on June 24, 2014 at 7:06pm

      I still think it might be somewhere. Of course it might be a difference between a west coast and an east coast boat. BUT, if you do use your vent fitting, maybe you could have a fitting with a "Y" that would allow both functions - the stick straight up, and the vent hanging out the side - maybe a "T". Of course there is the option of a "sight" hose, where a fitting is drilled low in the tank, and a clear hose mounted vertically for viewing - but I definitely question the safety of that.  Since I have so much of my boat in turmoil I may come in from the top of the tank and install a clean out fitting (basically a sewer clean out). If that happens I will install a modern fuel gage.

Comment by paul ~ sv; pink cloud on June 24, 2014 at 6:20pm

Thanks bob,
Nope, just the two.
The hose that could be the vent, it seems i could remove the fitting , dip, then put vent fitting back.
Why the heck they not put in a fuel gauge?

Comment by bob mitchell on June 24, 2014 at 5:02pm

      I am no authority, but the copper line is either the fuel line running over to the fuel injector pump, through the tank switch valve on the fire wall.  OR it  is return fuel  line from the uninjected fuel back to the tank from the enfine (which also has a valve on the firewall, on my boat). The hose line I suspect is the tank vent line, which is very important. On my tank there is actually a top you unscrew and insert a "dip stick" dowel down into the tank to check your fuel. That would be the one you should use, since it was put there for the function you desire - you just have to find it. I will check on my tank and see if I can come up with a pic. I feel like it should be right there.