FloScan Closure

**Larry M** · 02-01-2018, 02:00 PM

I just received this from FloScan. It’s a tough market out there.

It is with regret that I must inform you that FloScan will be closing its doors at the end of February. We have had a great 40-year run but the past few years have been difficult to maintain operations and profitability. We are currently taking final orders up until the end of this month. However, the FloScan model type and quantity that we can build and ship will be subject to availability. Lastly, we are in negotiations with a buyer to take over supplying spare parts and will advise once this matter is finalized.

We sincerely appreciate your business over the past 4 decades and wish you well.

Regards,
Joe Dydasco
Sales Manager

k9medic · 02-01-2018, 03:08 PM

I hate to see this happen to any business but they have basically priced themselves out of business especially when compared to Garmin interfaces

**Larry M** · 02-01-2018, 03:34 PM

We replaced our old FloScan last year. Complete was $803. They did give us boat show pricing since we were replacing a 25 year old system.

Is Garmin’s system a stand alone or does it have to interface with theirs?

RT Firefly · 02-01-2018, 03:41 PM

Greetings,
Last I checked, Garmin was only making flow sensors which interfaced with their GPS/sounders for gasoline engines. Is there a diesel option now? Bad news about Flo Scan....

johnrupp · 02-01-2018, 03:56 PM

Maretron makes NMEA 2000 compatible diesel fuel flow sensors. Bring your wallet.

Comodave · 02-01-2018, 03:56 PM

Most of the new engines have that built in so their sales are probably dropping because of that.

CaptTom · 02-01-2018, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9medic

I hate to see this happen to any business but they have basically priced themselves out of business...

+1. The prices for these things are at least an order of magnitude greater than any possible combination of the components can justify.

Flow meters are pretty common in process control. You can buy a Raspberry Pi computer for a few bucks that could read and manipulate the input from a meter.

Maybe it's time for an open source development project?

ssobol · 02-01-2018, 08:37 PM

Lowrance makes a fuel flow sensor that can be networked via NMEA 2000 and/or use one of their display units (LMF-200, LMF-400).

However, I have found that once you use the flow meter a few times and find out what the flow is, the fuel flow meter rapidly becomes redundant.

HopCar · 02-01-2018, 10:32 PM

I’m sorry to hear that. I loved the Flo Scan I put on Possum. The one time I had a problem, they were extremely helpful. Nice people to deal with.

yarradeen · 02-01-2018, 10:41 PM

I have a spare metric flowscan unit and sensors. I removed due to engine upgrade that provides fuel management via its internal electronics.

Not worth shipping international but if any AU TF'ers are running flow scan and want like a spare.

Single engine diesel unit.

Y

caltexflanc · 02-02-2018, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comodave

Most of the new engines have that built in so their sales are probably dropping because of that.

Exactly. Shame about FloScan though, they were nice people.

The key issue with metering diesels is allowing for the fuel returned to the tank, which all do to varying degrees; some, like the old Detroits, a whole lot. Simply metering the flow from the tank doesn't get it.

sbu22 · 02-02-2018, 09:12 AM

It is a shame. Good eqpt and excellent support. First encountered FloScan in aircraft many moons ago. I was well aware of the cost of FS when I installed on my boat. Thought it was worth the premium.

CaptTom · 02-02-2018, 11:02 AM

I agree FloScans are good gear. And it would be great to have that information handy at the helm.

But at $400 and up for each of four sensors, I'm starting at a minimum of $1,200. Add the cost of the computer to calculate the flow, and I just can't justify it. My $15 steel electrician's fish tape works fine to stick the tanks, and I can do the math from there.

Bringing those sensors (meters) down to something like the cost of a non-marine equivalent would make all the difference.

twistedtree · 02-02-2018, 01:32 PM

I think they stood still while the market moved forward. Pretty much all diesels built since around 2008 have accurate metering built in that can be displayed on pretty much any display, big or small. And Maretron offers a similar system at a similar price, but it is part of a much bigger offering that can do way more where Flo Scan does only one thing.

boathealer · 02-02-2018, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedtree

I think they stood still while the market moved forward. Pretty much all diesels built since around 2008 have accurate metering built in that can be displayed on pretty much any display, big or small. And Maretron offers a similar system at a similar price, but it is part of a much bigger offering that can do way more where Flo Scan does only one thing.

Bingo.

I see A LOT of companies doing this. It could certainly be an eyes-open exit-strategy / business decision, but I think a lot of them are not.

If one is only moderately paying attention, and monitoring the entirety of their own market, this stuff is obvious years ahead of time (easy for me to say sitting here in my armchair). It's like they have their eyes closed the whole time and then complain or ask for subsidies (don't get me started) because they can't stay in business.

alesnloggers · 02-02-2018, 05:39 PM

I had beers with the developer of this system recently. Interactio
No affiliation other than a mutual friend.

Delfin · 02-02-2018, 07:48 PM

Other than looking at it occasionally, FloScan data has marginal value for me. It was very helpful initially figuring out optimal running speeds/endurance, but the data doesn't really change. If my system fails, I am not sure I would replace it. Do others use fuel consumption data for some ongoing purpose?

**Larry M** · 02-03-2018, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delfin

... Do others use fuel consumption data for some ongoing purpose?

Last year after the rebuild, the injector leak off pipe (return) at one of the injectors wasn’t torqued correctly. I would have recognized I had a fuel/oil issue sooner had the old FloScan system been working. I can judge when I need to clean the bottom. I also like having the electronic tach vs the VOA analog gauge.