Dipstick's deliver trip/TGFS.

Robin

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OK so we fuelled up our new to us TS37 in Dartmouth and forgot the previous owners comments re it being a slow filler, thus assumed a ful port tank when it blew back. PO suggested opening equaliser valves andremoving filler caps to both tanks, but we decided to keep the two isolated, one engine dedicated tank. Fuel gauges read 3/4 on stbd, and 1/2 on port. Anyhow we had a great run from Dartmouth across Lyme Bay at around 15-18kts in flat calm admiring our old hunting grounds once more from offshore until as we approached the Needles, port engine dies. OUT OF FUEL!! guage reads 1/2 still. I Must be psychic as we joined Seastart just 2 days earlier, so a phone call had them out with some cans in double quick time , meanwhile we motored on at tickover plus a tad on starboard engine/tank in case that too was at risk boat surprisingly good on one motor and only using 2litres/hour according to Floscans. So into Lymington on one engine and a proper fill up at Berthon's barge (easiest to get to) so mucho beer tokens later and we realise thetanks were never full at Dartmouth, girt great air bubbles saw to that as this fill took 8 times as much and both gauges now read absolutely full. Also discovered the Yanmar 260's are easy to bleed.:o:o:o

Ah well, new start, new learning curve!

Our sincere thanks to SEASTART, for a prompt and efficient service that probably paid for our membership fee first time used, just 2 days after joining. I hope never to need them again, but nice to know they are there if we pull another numpty!!
 
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Would it be worth investigating the air vents to the tanks to see if they have collapsed and are impeding escape of air as you fill ?
 
Or if possible fitting sight glasses .
Well actually transparent pipes up the sides connected at the foot of the tank with a cock and push valve to fill ,to sight .
That way your guage(s) on the dash remain just that a guage not gospel.
 
air vents are seemingly tiny judging by the hull side outlets , like half inch bore maximum maybe. Sight gauges are excellent but not easy to fit but an engineering outfit might have some ideas when we get near a good one. We filled at places that fill trawlers so have fast pumps.
 
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