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Old 02-24-2012, 12:06 PM   #1
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fuel gauge

We have an Albin 36, Fuel gauge is clear line on side of tank but we cant see fuel.* Does anyone have a place to get new clear sight gauge line that will work or Ill take some advice. Thanks, Tom
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Old 02-24-2012, 01:16 PM   #2
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RE: fuel gauge

Tom: At least one guy nearby could reach his top site-tube fitting from inside the tank through an inspection hole, and put one of those tiny sink drain snakes you see at a lot of drug stores in the TV Special's area, attached it to a variable speed drill, and turned slowly while moving the snake in and out of the fitting. It cleaned it up enough to read. If the glass tube is clear as you reported, then check above and below the tube for valves. My Krogen also has the tube, but I have bat-handle 1/4 turn valves above and below. It enables you to take a reading, close the valves, and then after cruising, check the old reading again before opening the valves again for the new reading. If it's a case where the tube is simply too dirty to see anything inside and you'd rather not remove it, try painting the area behind the tube (or the back of the tube itself) with either white or something bright and luminous. If still a no-go, try shining a flashlight through the tube, and if you can see the light through it, place a grounded 12 V LCD strip on a piece of thin wood or other insulator glued to the tank behind it to backlight it. I broke the last couple of tubes I tried to fix, so be careful.
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Old 02-24-2012, 02:14 PM   #3
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fuel gauge

Quote:
marlin wrote:
We have an Albin 36, Fuel gauge is clear line on side of tank but we cant see fuel.* Does anyone have a place to get new clear sight gauge line that will work or Ill take some advice. Thanks, Tom
*just did mine...same size as on my water tanks...something like 1/2" for my boat. Bought a bunch of 1/2 in clear vinyl tube nat local hardware store...bought enough to redo in a year or so if it becomes discolored again.


-- Edited by psneeld on Friday 24th of February 2012 04:15:58 PM
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Old 02-24-2012, 07:55 PM   #4
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RE: fuel gauge

1/4 " clear plastic hose "for diesel" isn't much more expensive than the "not for diesel" stuff. It won't discolour.
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Old 02-24-2012, 07:59 PM   #5
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RE: fuel gauge

Where would one find this special diesel hose?
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Old 02-24-2012, 08:03 PM   #6
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RE: fuel gauge

My marine mechanic got me some. Seems it wasn't unusual.
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Old 02-25-2012, 05:59 PM   #7
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RE: fuel gauge

I had a similar problem on my water tank sight glass (plastic). When I replaced it I dropped in a little bright orange plastic fishing float so I could see the meniscus easily. Not sure if something like that is "diesel-proof," but it sure makes it easier to see.

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Old 02-25-2012, 06:27 PM   #8
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RE: fuel gauge

Just search for Tygon Fuel Tubing or Tygon diesel tubing.
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Old 02-26-2012, 04:31 AM   #9
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RE: fuel gauge

1/4 " clear plastic hose "for diesel" isn't much more expensive than the "not for diesel" stuff. It won't discolour.


Your insurance fellow may want to see the USCG "fuel" hose markings on this stuff.
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Old 02-26-2012, 05:04 PM   #10
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RE: fuel gauge

Put a valve top and bottom and open it only to check fuel level. The stuff with hose markings tends to have poor visibility.
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Old 12-02-2012, 04:33 PM   #11
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The diesel in our area is dyed a really dark red. It doesn't take long before I can't tell the difference between the actual fuel level and the stain on the inside of the old PVC sight-tubes. The new Tygon tubing finally arrived and I fitted it today. The difference is night and day. Why did I wait so long? There are doubtless many sources, but I ordered mine from McMaster Carr.
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Old 12-02-2012, 07:33 PM   #12
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We have had the same clear plastic tube sight gage for 14 years. Must be a for diesel tube. There a valve at the bottom.I can read fine... red fuel helps. I found some "U" channel aluminum that fits nicely around the back side of the full length of the tube. This offers some protection. If I don't close the valve after reading, the tube becomes the weakest link.
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Old 12-02-2012, 07:45 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by psneeld View Post
*just did mine...same size as on my water tanks...something like 1/2" for my boat. Bought a bunch of 1/2 in clear vinyl tube nat local hardware store...bought enough to redo in a year or so if it becomes discolored again.


-- Edited by psneeld on Friday 24th of February 2012 04:15:58 PM
some plastics are not designed to be used with fuel and willl disolve, change color etc. when used with pther materials. No tubing should be used that isnt designed for use with diesel fuel if you have a diesel,or gasoline if gas powered. This is especially important for systems your life may depend upon.
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Old 12-02-2012, 09:09 PM   #14
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some plastics are not designed to be used with fuel and willl disolve, change color etc. when used with pther materials. No tubing should be used that isnt designed for use with diesel fuel if you have a diesel,or gasoline if gas powered. This is especially important for systems your life may depend upon.
Gimme a break...vinyl or PVC doesn't "dissolve" but it does harden with age. Long before any sever issues arise, the tubing will be replaced due to discoloration or I will be replacing my tanks in the next few years.

The real joke is the tubes are secured by shutoff vale. The only time they could leak more than a few ounces of fuel is when checking the fuel quantity and I'm staring at them.

Some of you guys got to get out more into the real world and see what is being used on boats all over the place. Not everyone shops down the street at West marine every weekend...
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:47 PM   #15
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When I first started working in a marine store I remember selling replacement sight glass tubes that really were glass.
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Old 12-03-2012, 12:04 AM   #16
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When I first started working in a marine store I remember selling replacement sight glass tubes that really were glass.
Those same glass sight tubes are still available wherever boiler and pipe fitter supplies are sold. Quite common and surprisingly durable too.
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Old 12-03-2012, 11:33 AM   #17
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Those same glass sight tubes are still available wherever boiler and pipe fitter supplies are sold. Quite common and surprisingly durable too.
If you read the article I posted today on the sinking of the Bounty (A Legendary Ship's Final Hours Battling Sandy - ABC News), it mentions that the engineer left the engine room for about an hour and when he returned the day tank was broken. How does a day tank break? Perhaps it had a glass sight tube?
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Old 12-03-2012, 12:04 PM   #18
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............ Not everyone shops down the street at West marine every weekend...
We need to support West Marine so it will be there when we really need it. I just take the Internet pricing and they match it. Sometimes they give me stuff for free. And if the hardware store stuff is $2.00 and the marine stuff is $2.50, I spring for marine just for the peace of mind.

If it really doesn't matter (like interior screws and wire ties), I'll just use the less expensive hardware store stuff. I had to redo some of my boat's potable water plumbing and the local ACE Hardware store had matching PEX fittings so that's what I used.
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Old 12-03-2012, 12:50 PM   #19
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We need to support West Marine so it will be there when we really need it. I just take the Internet pricing and they match it. Sometimes they give me stuff for free. And if the hardware store stuff is $2.00 and the marine stuff is $2.50, I spring for marine just for the peace of mind.

If it really doesn't matter (like interior screws and wire ties), I'll just use the less expensive hardware store stuff. I had to redo some of my boat's potable water plumbing and the local ACE Hardware store had matching PEX fittings so that's what I used.
You support it...I have ZERO need for it...but that's really not my point anyway...

No matter what gear you buy from wherever...knowing how and why it will or will not work is important. Buying something marine is no guarantee that it's worth a toot and buying something far more inexpensive and adapting it is just as acceptable....as long as you know what you are doing. For those who say it will devalue your boat just haven't been around the block enough.
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Old 12-03-2012, 12:54 PM   #20
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When I take my Internet price to my local West Marine they match the price. I have to pay sales tax but no shipping. And the part is there when I need it, not two weeks away. I can measure it and I can return it if I change my mind.

Since Boaters World closed, WM is the only game in my town.
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