Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-22-2018, 06:20 AM   #1
Guru
 
Seevee's Avatar
 
City: st pete
Vessel Model: 430 Mainship
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,498
Digital fuel flow

Looking at getting digital fuel flow for the boat. Single engine Yanmar, 2005 vintage.

When I ordered my Simrad plotters, my sales person said to not get Simrads fuel flow/engine management option as it was a POS. So, looking for other alternatives.

Thoughts?
__________________
Seevee
Seevee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2018, 06:29 AM   #2
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
Maretron seems to get pretty good reviews for their engine monitoring gauges.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2018, 06:58 AM   #3
Guru
 
ranger58sb's Avatar
 
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,087
CruzPro offers a digital fuel gauge that theoretically could get you close. There are a few significant drawbacks. First is the calibration issue. They recommend starting with a completely empty tank, fill it 1/16th at a time and make a calibration entry... No way I could do that. Mathematical calibration (instead) is proving to be only semi-useful

Second is that even though it will do calculations on the fly... fuel will "slosh" toward the back of the tanks (at least in our case) while underway... which means the data presented is incorrect because the tanks sensor float is higher (in our case). OTOH, resting data seems to be more stable so calculations noted after a trip (or leg) under known conditions could be useful.

Third is that the gauges are at the mercy of the sensor float. I'm still working that issue with one of ours, even having put a new sensor into that tank. I haven't been able to tell if it's a guage flaw (doubt it), a sensor flaw (?), or maybe a connection issue (leaning toward that, but haven't checked every end yet). This one could be a minor detail in a decent system.

The advantage is that the gauges are semi-inexpensive, compared to a full-up fuel flow measuring system. I've read that mostly once you know you'r fuel burn at given conditions, a full-up system becomes less important...

-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
ranger58sb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2018, 07:09 AM   #4
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,784
If you have an electronic engine, which I doubt if it is a 2005, then you may be able to tie into the engine's ECU and sensors and do it all electronically.

Otherwise:

Flowscan has announced that they are going out of business so maybe you can pick up a deal on their flow management systems.

Otherwise Maretron sounds good. No calibration required. That may be what did Flowscan in.

David
DavidM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2018, 11:01 AM   #5
Guru
 
Xsbank's Avatar
 
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
Why do you want to waste money on this device? Just monitor your fuel. You are already monitoring your engine hours - that and a sight tube or a dipstick will tell you all you need to know without the headache and nonsense of a flow meter. Once you have watched the flow meter a couple of times it will not add anything to your experience. If you could make mixture adjustments or mess with tuning it might have some use but otherwise it is just expensive complication. Perhaps that explains Flowscan’s failure?

Fill the tank. Run the engine for a couple of hours. Fill the tank. Fuel slip will tell you what you used.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
Xsbank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2018, 06:30 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
nwboater's Avatar
 
City: Gig Harbor WA
Vessel Name: Salty
Vessel Model: American Tug 34
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 381
I just installed a Maretron fuel pressure monitor/sensor in my boat. It required adding a NEMA 2000 backbone, to which the pressure monitor connects. I may also add a fuel flow monitor...helpful in finding the "sweet spot" for fuel consumption and when running beyond hull speed. I have also added their ultrasonic windspeed/weather station. Everything is displayed on a single 4.5" display. The NEMA 2000 backbone was super easy to install and only cost a few hundred dollars. The beauty of this system is that all the monitors, sensors and even the display itself, get their power from the backbone. Truly plug and play!
__________________
Richard Soto, Whidbey Island WA
American Tug 34
Selene 47
Willard 40
nwboater is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012