Diesel tank questions

[sailorbaz]

My boat is currently in the yard for various jobs. I am planning to remove the fuel tank to clean it out - hasn't been cleaned for about 5 years! The tank is shaped as in the diagram and is at the forward end of the deep cockpit locker. It holds about 40 litres. I have to contort myself to get inside the locker to remove it which might be alright for a young bloke but difficult for an old bloke like me.
I also have to empty out the diesel - I don't know how much is in there but think it's fairly full as I add a litre for every hour run with the Yanmar 1GM10. I have a 12v pump to empty the oil from the sump - would it be safe to use it to empty the tank?
At the same time I would like to fit a fuel gauge - someone suggested a sight tube but that would entail getting in the locker to look at it. I can't dip it from the filler as the pipe is not straight. I've looked at various float type senders but I think any of them would not have a full range of movement because of the tank shape.
Has anyone fitted a gauge to an awkward shaped tank?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Sailorbaz

 

[JumbleDuck]

At the same time I would like to fit a fuel gauge - someone suggested a sight tube but that would entail getting in the locker to look at it.

The sight tube doesn't have to be in the locker, or even near the tank.

 

[michael_w]

No worries pumping out with an electric pump. For the gauge how about getting a capped upstand welded on the the top of the tank. When you want to know the level. unscrew the cap and dip away. Suggest getting a drain off and an inspection cover fitted to save future bad language.

 

[Trundlebug]

Your 12v pump used for pumping oil will be fine for pumping diesel.

If you want a fuel gauge with no float or moving parts, and there is sufficient room above the tank for the head unit (about 60mm?) you could try

http://mcsboatproducts.co.uk/portfolio/diesel-fuel-gauges/

It works on the pressure of the liquid above it and is calibrated to the depth of your tank. Install above the deep side obviously.

 

[sailorbaz]

Your 12v pump used for pumping oil will be fine for pumping diesel.

If you want a fuel gauge with no float or moving parts, and there is sufficient room above the tank for the head unit (about 60mm?) you could try

http://mcsboatproducts.co.uk/portfolio/diesel-fuel-gauges/

It works on the pressure of the liquid above it and is calibrated to the depth of your tank. Install above the deep side obviously.

Thanks- just what I was looking for. I had tried googling but it didn't bring that up.
Sailorbaz

 

[boaterbaz]

I have removed the pipe from the deck filling line & fitted a car type fuel cap directly onto the tank (fitted in locker similar to yours) spigot with a short stub of pipe & jubilee clips. I now lift the locker lid to access tank and can eyeball fuel level in tank. Also means I have eliminated any chance of water leaking into fuel and cannot spill diesel on deck. The engine is a 1GM10 so it only sips fuel, topped up once or twice per season.

As far as I can see there are no downsides to this arrangement.

 

[prv]

Bear in mind that any off-the-shelf gauge will not read evenly with your triangular tank. When it says halfway, you'll actually have something like a quarter of the fuel left, and the remaining half of the gauge will disappear increasingly quickly.

We had a new tank made for Kindred Spirit with an even more irregular shape, but the makers (Tek Tanks) were able to calculate the offsets and send them to Wema to have a special sender made, which would read linearly in our tank. This only cost about a tenner more than an off-the-shelf sender.

Pete