Disel tank sight pipe

Praxinoscope

Praxinoscope

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Hi folks, I'm after a bit of advice.
The diesel level sight pipe on my diesel tank has gone rather opaque and is about as much use as a chocolate teapot, it looks as if at some time before I got the boat it has been replaced with a bit of garden hose, I'm sure this isn"t the best thing to use, ideally it needs to be reasonably transparent but will need some form of 'armouring' safety purposes.
Does anyone have some suggestions as to the best piping I could use to replace this?
Thanks.
 

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Look on Ebay for central heating oil sight glass. Plastic tubing that is oil resistant with a small green ball that floats on top to assist reading it. You should have a valve at the bottom of the tubing and only open it when reading the level.
 
Clear plastic hose would do; there's no significant pressure involved. Of course, this type of sight gauge is rather frowned upon these days.
 
vyv_cox said:
Look on Ebay for central heating oil sight glass. Plastic tubing that is oil resistant with a small green ball that floats on top to assist reading it. You should have a valve at the bottom of the tubing and only open it when reading the level.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, VC. I, too, have recently replaced the 'chocolate teapot' tube on the side of my fuel tank with clear pvc tubing, which should be good for a further year or two. You have reminded me, however, that both 'protection' of the tube from flying object damage AND a simple plug-on-a-string is warranted. Retrofitting a tap can wait until the next major refurb..... ;)
 
As others have pointed out this type of gauge is frowned upon these days and in fact some marinas would not permit you to enter.

I want to get two of these but the last time I looked they were around $A250 each. On my budget I might have to make do with a dip stick for a while.

572-Tank-Level-Gauge-Indicator.png
Just press the tap at the bottom of the tube and take a reading.
 
Not too worried about exclusion from marinas, boat is moored in a drying harbour and visits to marinas are fairly rare, and I don’t see any marina inspecting visiting boats to such a degree that they would be in a position to see the sight pipe let alone turn a visiting yacht away because of it.
It would seem to be prudent to fit a tap on to the unit.
 
I had a sight tube nice that went a bit opaque. I fancied the idea of inserting a coloured plastic bead to float on the diesel but never got around to it.
 
Praxinoscope said:
Hi folks, I'm after a bit of advice.
The diesel level sight pipe on my diesel tank has gone rather opaque and is about as much use as a chocolate teapot, it looks as if at some time before I got the boat it has been replaced with a bit of garden hose, I'm sure this isn"t the best thing to use, ideally it needs to be reasonably transparent but will need some form of 'armouring' safety purposes.
Does anyone have some suggestions as to the best piping I could use to replace this?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
when you sorce the correct hose i would add a cock at the bottom, any probs with the hose will result in a bilge full of fuel
 
coopec said:
As others have pointed out this type of gauge is frowned upon these days and in fact some marinas would not permit you to enter.

I want to get two of these but the last time I looked they were around $A250 each. On my budget I might have to make do with a dip stick for a while.

View attachment 78565
Just press the tap at the bottom of the tube and take a reading.
Click to expand...
mine is a gas cock
 
johnalison said:
I fancied the idea of inserting a coloured plastic bead to float on the diesel but never got around to it.
Click to expand...

When I got may latest boat I diligently cleaned out the water tank. I found some small bits of grit and debris including, curiously, a brightly coloured little plastic bead. Of course, it was only after I had binned it that I realised the plastic bead had escaped from the sight tube. I continue to use a torch to read the level, until such time as I can find a replacement correct-sized floating plastic bead. :rolleyes:

Fortunately the diesel tank has an electric gauge.
 
zoidberg said:
Thanks for that, VC. I, too, have recently replaced the 'chocolate teapot' tube on the side of my fuel tank with clear pvc tubing, which should be good for a further year or two. You have reminded me, however, that both 'protection' of the tube from flying object damage AND a simple plug-on-a-string is warranted. Retrofitting a tap can wait until the next major refurb..... ;)
Click to expand...

I got clear fuel hose from my local Hyphose. Bought over 2 metres while I was at it so I can replace at will when it discolours. Its very robust, so it doesn't need protection, I've thrown fenders at it for 20 yrs.
I have isolation taps top and bottom, but I leave them open.
 
I don’t understand why some say they are not approved of? The are used in multi million £ yachts including coded yachts. Nordhavn use them.
 
Yngmar said:
If it's in a place with stuff knocking around, put it inside some of this: https://www.hoseshop.net/galvanised-steel-spring-hose-protection
Click to expand...
or put a length of U channel behind the tube
Aluminium-Channel-150x150.jpg
 
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