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11-04-2015, 01:09 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Cary, NC
Vessel Name: Skinny Dippin'
Vessel Model: Navigator 4200 Classic
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,841
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Good Dipstck Material
So the new boat has fuel gauges. I don't trust them... or the actual truth is... we haven't had the boat LONG enough to vouch for their accuracy. Soooo... I am double checking using the dipstick method.
I have a small dowel right now (boy if I had a nickel for every time I heard THAT line), but it doesn't do very well. It's hard to see where the wet part stops (another nickel), so I was wondering if there are any good tips for a dipstick like me to make a good dipstick. I don't think that wood really works well. (there's yet another nickel). I was thinking a tube of some kind. Like the way bartenders taste drinks, but a long tube seems messy and may not be easy to store (add ten cents there).
Any ideas?
Thanks.
__________________
2000 Navigator 4200 Classic
(NOT a trawler)
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11-04-2015, 01:33 PM
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#2
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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I use a mahogany stick. It is pretty easy to see the level on it. Have to hold it right in the light to see where the shiny stops.
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11-04-2015, 01:42 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Cary, NC
Vessel Name: Skinny Dippin'
Vessel Model: Navigator 4200 Classic
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,841
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That's the same problem with the pine dowel. I suppose a darker wood might work better, but it sounds like it's almost the same.
__________________
2000 Navigator 4200 Classic
(NOT a trawler)
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11-04-2015, 02:45 PM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
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I use a pine dowel and it works pretty good.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
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11-04-2015, 02:59 PM
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#5
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,681
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We only had dipsticks on our sailboat. A good light helped.
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11-04-2015, 03:05 PM
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#6
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,565
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Greetings,
Mr. T. We used to use a yardstick with a piece of line tied on (stick wasn't quite long enough). Looked for the wet (shiny) dry (dull) interface, using Mr. S's technique, and wiped between dips.
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RTF
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11-04-2015, 03:19 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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11-04-2015, 03:57 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Ft Myers, Florida
Vessel Name: Homegrown
Vessel Model: Roberts TY 43
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 209
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I use a folding carpenters wood ruler. Sand off the shiny white paint on one side and paint it flat black so you can see the fuel. Read level on other side.
Folds up small and quick and fits in tool box.
Conall
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11-04-2015, 06:30 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
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All we use on the commercial boats is rough wood painted flat black.
Cut lines into the lighter colored wood as marks.
The rough wood and flat black paint shows liquids well and the black helps it dry quicker in the sun.
On my assistance boat, I used the last several feet of an old LORAN whip antenna. The fiberglass was rough but not bad with some flat black on it. Etched circles at the 1/4 full marks. Works very well as I whip it to dry it quickly for the next dip.
If none of that suits your fancy, buy a cheap fish tape on a reel and use it. It is pretty similar to an oil dipstick and a small file will make all the marks you want and you can reel it up when done.
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11-04-2015, 06:50 PM
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#10
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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I got lucky when I sent the build drawings out to get my tanks made. Turns out it is 10gal per inch each. I did not plan it, but sure makes it convenient.
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11-04-2015, 07:09 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Cary, NC
Vessel Name: Skinny Dippin'
Vessel Model: Navigator 4200 Classic
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC
I got lucky when I sent the build drawings out to get my tanks made. Turns out it is 10gal per inch each. I did not plan it, but sure makes it convenient.
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HA! Yea... You got lucky. Mine is 7.06 per tank per inch.
Thanks everyone. I will do the flat black thing and see if it improves.
__________________
2000 Navigator 4200 Classic
(NOT a trawler)
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11-05-2015, 03:18 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: DC
Vessel Name: Carolena II
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 32/34
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 635
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We use a wood dowel that I marked with black marker at the 1/4 tank marks (measured the height of the tank to determine the marks). I painted it with clear epoxy so the fuel wouldn't soak into the wood and the marks would not bleed. At first it was hard to read because it was glossy, so I hit it with some medium grit sandpaper. Works great now and easy to wipe off with a paper towel. Before I sanded it, I would sometimes just put a paper towel against it and the red fuel would show well on the towel.
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11-05-2015, 05:31 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
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Seems to me that in commercial operations fuel trucks and gas stations I have usually see a long square stick used, about 3/4 or 1" maybe the flat sides show the fuel mark better? Maybe I'm mistaken.
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11-05-2015, 05:56 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve
Seems to me that in commercial operations fuel trucks and gas stations I have usually see a long square stick used, about 3/4 or 1" maybe the flat sides show the fuel mark better? Maybe I'm mistaken.
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nope pretty common in my experience....diesel does well on any rough surface, gas just needs a difference between its wet look and something...like sanded wood or flat black paint is good.
If absorbent it should show but takes forever to dry enough for a good second reading so one per tank.
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11-05-2015, 07:27 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve
Seems to me that in commercial operations fuel trucks and gas stations I have usually see a long square stick used, about 3/4 or 1" maybe the flat sides show the fuel mark better? Maybe I'm mistaken.
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They check for water in the bottom of the tanks that way. A sticky paste is put on the bottom of the tank, and it will change color to bright red if water is present.
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11-05-2015, 08:51 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Vero Beach, FL.
Vessel Name: FIREFLY
Vessel Model: Pilgrim 40
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 918
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Fine sandpaper glued to the side of a 1 inch yard stick. Sandpaper holds on to the diesel and allows you to see the level easier.
No it wont clog your filters, no it won't drip all over the deck, use epoxy and no the diesel won't break down the glue, no it won't cause cold fusion.
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11-06-2015, 05:16 AM
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#17
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Veteran Member
City: Brooklin
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 30
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Flat black paint makes all the difference. Tanks that are not straight sided certainly complicate the calibration issue, but a little junior high math will get you an answer after a little work.
My new-to-me Defever 41 has no gauges and no way to stick the tanks -- the fill hose path is too convoluted. How a boat could get to be 34 years old and never had a means of gauging the fuel lever is beyond me. I'm scheming some sight gauges that will hopefully do the trick.
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11-06-2015, 05:29 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
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For bends, a weight and string , cable or tape works.
On USCG cutters I have seen them stab tanks with steel tape that had some pretty good bend on the way down.
Of course severe bends like on my tanks wouldn't work from the deck but a small plug hole on the top of the tank would or tee the vent and use the top for tape and side for air.
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11-06-2015, 05:44 AM
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#19
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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Use a wooden yard stick, and drill 1/16 holes in it every 1/4 inch.
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11-06-2015, 09:58 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
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Most of the dipstick material has found its way inside the beltway of Washington, DC.
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