Baffling a fuel level sender..

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wipe_out

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My boat has a fairly long, wide and flat fuel tank under the aft cabin floor.. The tank has no baffles so even small movements case the needle to move.. When cruising it's impossible to have any idea how much fuel is in the tank.. Well until it's empty.. :)

So as a winter project I am thinking of creating a tubular baffle around the sender (probe type) with a small hole (~3-4mm) at the top and bottom that will average out the waves of fuel and hopefully give me a more readable level..

Initial thought was to get hold of a short length of stainless steel exhaust pipe and have a plate welded over one end.. Then cut it to the length needed to sit on the bottom of the tank to just under the fuel level sender flange.. That's assuming I can find the right diameter stainless tubing that will fit snugly through the hole in the tank but still allow the float to move freely..

Is stainless the best choice for this?
Is there a readily available plastic tube that can be permanently submerged in petrol?

Thanks for any thoughts..
 
The sender in Kindred Spirit's old tank was like this - as a stock design rather than modified. It had a thin-walled aluminium tube around the float, with several holes cut in it. Afraid I don't know what make it was, but the gauge was Wema. Anyway, it suggests that your idea is sound. Aluminium tube will be easier to work and probably cheaper, and it's not like you need any significant strength in this application, so that seems like the way to go.

Pete
 
prv said:
The sender in Kindred Spirit's old tank was like this - as a stock design rather than modified. It had a thin-walled aluminium tube around the float, with several holes cut in it. Afraid I don't know what make it was, but the gauge was Wema. Anyway, it suggests that your idea is sound. Aluminium tube will be easier to work and probably cheaper, and it's not like you need any significant strength in this application, so that seems like the way to go.

Pete
Click to expand...

Thanks.. Hadn't thought of Aluminium as an alternative.. Looks like I have an additional winter project.. :)
 
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