willdouglas
Active Member
We have no fuel gauge so I need to make one. Will a stick of bamboo with whipping suffice? Or is there a better, brighter idea out there? Your thoughts will be gratefully appreciated.
What do you use for a fuel dip stick?
- Thread starter willdouglas
- Start date
Eeyore
Well-Known Member
A length of three eigths dowel, with notches cut every 5 gallon mark.....works just fine.
Malcb
Well-Known Member
A dark green garden plant type stick thingy works as the dark green goes darker where the fuel hits.
A smooth shiny bamboo doestn't show as well.
A smooth shiny bamboo doestn't show as well.
aquaplane
Well-Known Member
I had a bit of dowel on my old boat, it worked ok. Whatever comes to hand so long as it works seems the obvious answer, especially if it's cheap/free.
mikemonty
Well-Known Member
I inherited an aluminium bar with markings notched every inch or so along its length.
Doen't soak up diesel to continuously wick into the lazarette or introduce unneccesary moisture into the fuel.
The notches take up a little meniscus of fuel showing the level quite well and the whole thing wipes dry with a bit of kitchen roll that can be put in the take-home rubbish with very little diesel smell.
When I was an apprentice marine engineer I used to chalk the steel tape when dipping the tanks to show the level.
Doen't soak up diesel to continuously wick into the lazarette or introduce unneccesary moisture into the fuel.
The notches take up a little meniscus of fuel showing the level quite well and the whole thing wipes dry with a bit of kitchen roll that can be put in the take-home rubbish with very little diesel smell.
When I was an apprentice marine engineer I used to chalk the steel tape when dipping the tanks to show the level.
Leighb
Well-Known Member
I have inherited a graduated perspex rod with notches about every 4 litres - as far as I can judge.
Shows the fuel level well, wipes clean easily, and tucks nicely in the bilge alongside the tank.
Shows the fuel level well, wipes clean easily, and tucks nicely in the bilge alongside the tank.
Bilgediver
Well-Known Member
A length of three eigths dowel, with notches cut every 5 gallon mark.....works just fine.
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That would be two marks on mine.....1/2 and full /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I added the luxury of a wooden file handle and used 1/2 square dowel as in Hombase with marks every inch which is about gallons in a Centaur.
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That would be two marks on mine.....1/2 and full /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I added the luxury of a wooden file handle and used 1/2 square dowel as in Hombase with marks every inch which is about gallons in a Centaur.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
To avoid being misled by confusing old level marks while measuring two identical tanks, I made up a length of thin plastic pipe, and strapped it to a length of cane.
To read and see the level, you dip the cane into the tank, place thumb over the top end of the pipe, and lift up the cane.
Release thumb to let fuel back into tank.
To read and see the level, you dip the cane into the tank, place thumb over the top end of the pipe, and lift up the cane.
Release thumb to let fuel back into tank.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
A girt big shifter screwdriver I found on the boat when I bought it. Not graduated, but when the tank is full the level comes just to the bottom of the handle, so it easy to estimate what's in there by eye when you look at the 'wet' level on the slightly rusty shaft.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
With the boat came a length of 1/4" dowel with notches showing the contents in gallons.
"One of these days" I am going to make a new one calibrated with 5 litre notches.
"One of these days" I am going to make a new one calibrated with 5 litre notches.
Eeyore
Well-Known Member
LOL!
There are only four notches on mine too!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
There are only four notches on mine too!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
moody1
Well-Known Member
Best is any suitable rod with blackboard paint on, or the green garden plant sticks.
Ours is a square section wood rod with matt varnish and blackboard paint with notches at various levels. The locker top that we lift to get to tank top has a tape stuck under with litre markings against a line. Dip and hold rod against and gives exact volume of fuel in tank.
To obtain correct volumes, hubby used a Pela unit to empty the tank, noting carefully level changes as our tank is not uniform square. Once empty he used a 5 litre plastic can to fill the tank noting again the levels and marking the tape line accordingly. Tape is standard duct tape with permament black marker pen used.
Not only has this given us accurate volumes via the dip-stoick but also rated the auto fuel gauge. (30 pounds from eBay)
Ours is a square section wood rod with matt varnish and blackboard paint with notches at various levels. The locker top that we lift to get to tank top has a tape stuck under with litre markings against a line. Dip and hold rod against and gives exact volume of fuel in tank.
To obtain correct volumes, hubby used a Pela unit to empty the tank, noting carefully level changes as our tank is not uniform square. Once empty he used a 5 litre plastic can to fill the tank noting again the levels and marking the tape line accordingly. Tape is standard duct tape with permament black marker pen used.
Not only has this given us accurate volumes via the dip-stoick but also rated the auto fuel gauge. (30 pounds from eBay)
jerryat
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
A length of three eigths dowel, with notches cut every 5 gallon mark.....works just fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly what we have! Wonderfully low tech but maximum efficiency!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
A length of three eigths dowel, with notches cut every 5 gallon mark.....works just fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly what we have! Wonderfully low tech but maximum efficiency!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
rob2
Well-Known Member
I used to use the ensign staff which had shed all its varnish. Every time I dipped the tank, I dipped the ensign too!
BobnLesley
Well-Known Member
I now realise how fortunate we are in having a plastic tank which is sufficiently translucent to see the fuel level through. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Billjratt
Well-Known Member
I use a length of white plastic pipe (about 12mm I think) as it needs to be flexible to get to the tank in the first place. The markings had to be a bit technical as the tank is tailored to the turn of the bilge.
Lightly sanding the pipe and cutting the marks makes it easier to read.
Next question ~ where do all us dip-stickers hang the thing to drip after reading it?
Lightly sanding the pipe and cutting the marks makes it easier to read.
Next question ~ where do all us dip-stickers hang the thing to drip after reading it?
Drascomber
Well-Known Member
International Paint used to give away paint stirring sticks that had numbered marks about every centimeter. These work fine for me.
A mark every 5 gallons? that would be no good. My tank (good for 12 hours at 5 knots) only holds 2.5 gallons!
A mark every 5 gallons? that would be no good. My tank (good for 12 hours at 5 knots) only holds 2.5 gallons!
moody1
Well-Known Member
Where to hang ? If clean stick without rough parts, as ours. We use kichen roll to wipe stick and lay on top of tank wedged under tubes / pipes.
Billjratt
Well-Known Member
This is the beauty of a stick instead of a tube... I can only wipe the outside! I will obviously have to block the bottom end up with something that will stay in place.
As to the calibration, it may be easier for some to mark it in hours x5 instead of capacity. I had both on my last boat.
As to the calibration, it may be easier for some to mark it in hours x5 instead of capacity. I had both on my last boat.
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
We have a wooden 'tape measure' that folds up in sections. I don't know if they sell them now but ready made markings.