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When do you start worrying about gas?
#11581697
05/04/16 02:23 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 74
goodolick
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 74 |
Perhaps I am paranoid, but, I dont want to be the guy that has to get dragged back to the dock.... I never let my tank even get to half full.
When does everyone else start worrying about gas?
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11581747
05/04/16 02:33 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 231
KC_Fisher
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 231 |
well considering I just ran out of gas for the first time this past weekend in 20 mph wind with almost dead trolling motor batteries, I would say from now on I will be checking my gas tank every time I go out and filling up if I get under 1/2.. unless I'm on a tiny lake!
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11581897
05/04/16 03:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 6,127
fitter2259
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 6,127 |
Gas gauges on boats are known for being horrendously inaccurate. On my current boat I took 5 gallons of gas with me on my 2nd trip out to get a gauge on how accurate mine was on a known distance of 15 miles. I knew that the 5 gallons would get me back so I wasn't worried how much tooling around I did in the area I was fishing at. I left the house with 1/8 of a tank, made the run including approx. another 1 hour of idling, and then made the run back and never ran out. I have made that same run with what showed full on the gauge and got back home with just under 3/4 tank.......Go figure.
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11581964
05/04/16 04:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4,724
Flippin-Out
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4,724 |
fitter, I agree that the tank sender units put in boat fuel tanks are notoriously crude and inaccurate. The gauge itself is actually quite accurate (It's just a special purpose voltmeter with a different scale on the face that measures the voltage provided by the tank sender unit). Tank senders have a float arm that wipes a contact over a resistive plate with the resulting voltage varied by the contact's position on the plate. That resistive plate can be a bit inconsistent, and it may not be calibrated with the float's position.
When a reading is far from linear, (like burning 1/4 tank at the top vs. less than 1/8 tank at the bottom for the same fuel consumption), the reason is often the size/shape of the tank. Many tanks are L shaped where a narrow tank section sits under the deck behind the seats, and then a wide section that sits under the seats. One inch of fuel burned off the top of a full tank may not be much because of the smaller area of that part of the tank. At the bottom, the tank could have 3x the surface area of the top part of the tank. One inch off the top translates into 1/3 inch of fuel depth burned at the bottom. The level in the lower portion of the tank drops very slowly compared to the top portion because of the difference in tank footprint so the float moves more in one case than the other.
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11582223
05/04/16 12:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,253
sandjohnny
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,253 |
Below half fill up. Johnny
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11582604
05/04/16 03:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
Bob Landry
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957 |
My Seaark has a 30 gallon tank. I fill up at 1/4 on the gauge just because I have let it get lower than that and I know I'm still good at that point
2015 Seaark 1872 MV CC Etec-90 Two Helix 12 CHIRP SI's, , MinnKota Riptide ST80/i-pilot Link, Bob's Hydraulic 2020 Robalo R200 CC, Yamaha 150
Bitter Gun Owner Bitter Clinger Armed Infidel
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11582649
05/04/16 04:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,414
lenahorse
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,414 |
I have fished from my boat almost 5 years and know it well when I 1st got it I kept if full all the time, and refilled it each trip, I learned how many gallons usually per the trip it took, now I can estimate it very close and do still keep it almost full same as my truck. I have always kept tanks full if possible.
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11582864
05/04/16 06:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,681
Capt Craig
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,681 |
Never let it get to a 1/4 tank before refilling.
Capt. Craig Copeland Licensed by the US Coast Guard
2019 Nautic Star 215 XTS Shallow Bay Boat Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N Nautic Star Boats Pro Staff (nauticstarboats.com) Redneck Fish'n Jigs Pro Staff (redneckfishn.com)
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11583620
05/05/16 12:19 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,992
Stump jumper
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,992 |
I have 2 tanks so I can run one down to about 1/4 and use as a reserve.
2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax 2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11584714
05/05/16 02:41 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,324
forkduc
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,324 |
1/2 full on both tanks and fill up and add Stabil. I switch back and forth to even weight placement.
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11585362
05/05/16 07:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,077
Flipside Outdoors
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,077 |
From what I understand the ethanol in the gas now causes water to accumulate in the gas when it mixes with air so I try to keep my tank pretty full after having massive issues with water in my gas 2 years ago.
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11585906
05/06/16 12:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
Bob Landry
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957 |
The argument for keeping full tank is that during the day, the air in the tanks empty space expands and pushes out. In the evening when the tank cools down, the air space contracts and draws humidity/moisture into the tank. This is why you seldom see a small sailboat diesel without a water separator filter. With the introduction of ethanol, it also became a problem with gas motors. Adding a small water separator, like a Racor, to your fuel system is one of the best things you can do for your motor. A lot of guys like to depend on additives to keep the water down, but my preference is a filter. JMHO
2015 Seaark 1872 MV CC Etec-90 Two Helix 12 CHIRP SI's, , MinnKota Riptide ST80/i-pilot Link, Bob's Hydraulic 2020 Robalo R200 CC, Yamaha 150
Bitter Gun Owner Bitter Clinger Armed Infidel
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: Bob Landry]
#11585945
05/06/16 12:43 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,201
kennerdude
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,201 |
Bob which part# etc... do you recommend from racor?
NIL CARBORUNDUM
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11591294
05/09/16 02:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,621
psycho0819
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,621 |
I fill my tank when it gets to 1/4, but don't start worrying until it hits "E". I have a 16gallon tank, and when mine hits "E" it takes about 10 gallons to fill it back to full. So when it hits "E" I know I have a 6 gallon reserve. Yeah, the sending unit is not very accurate, but the way in which it is inaccurate is OK with me. Better than running out showing 1/4 tank.
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas?
[Re: goodolick]
#11591850
05/09/16 06:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,900
Bissett
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,900 |
My gas gauges don't even work on my boat. I always just fill up after every trip that way I have a good idea of how much gas I burned that day based on the amount I ran. I have a decent idea now but I would like to get those gauges working lol
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