Fuel Gauges - unreliable?

[brucehawsker]

Been told by Solent that the fuel guage on the Opti is very unreliable becasue of thin profile of tank. In other words, the only way to find out how much fuel you have is to keep track of how much you have put in (from credit card slips in the wallet, I asume ), and subtract the amount you have used (from the Opti guage I assume).

This seems clumsy at best. Anyone got a better idea? How do people handle this problem, or is it specific to Solents?

Anyone know where I can get cheap big jerry cans - preferably plastic. Fancy two 22litre jobbos as a reserve.

Thanks

Bruce

[Alan]

All RIB Fuel guages - the float type - are completely bloody useless IMHO so not just a Solent problem. If you have an Opti and smart gauges and know the tank size then you have much better data on consumption and range to plan too.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

This seems clumsy at best. Anyone got a better idea? How do people handle this problem, or is it specific to Solents?

Yep keep the tank full of fuel, also be aware the opti might be calculating fuel consumption in US Gals per hour which could catch you out. Can't remember what mine is set to, but I always use the full fuel tank method.

Anyone know where I can get cheap big jerry cans - preferably plastic. Fancy two 22litre jobbos as a reserve.Bruce

have a look at http://www.towsure.com/

much cheaper than chandlers.

Pete

[brucehawsker]

thank you. But no fuel jerries at towsure - only water in 22l

[peteb]

Pete, I got two green military style cans (identical to the real ones, but metal seems a bit thinner, still good though) from an ex army surplus store in Poole, it's on the right as you head up the pedestrian zone towards that big shopping centre (opposite end to shopping centre). They were new and cost a tenner or so, they also have old 'real' ones that looked a bit rusty for a quid or so cheaper.

I got my big red plastic fuel one from Carrefore at Cite de Europe in Calais, very cheap and well made.

Cheers,

[Matt]

Send Ageing Youth a PM, he can get some 20l cans for the right price.

[Neal]

If you have no luck with Kevin try http://www.bosunsmate.co.uk/ they had some on special offer last month

[Brian]

Er, care warning.

I once (!) used a metal, ex-mil type jerry can for petrol and found that the fuel eased off the paint from the inside of the can. These flakes were then poured into the fuel tank and..............

[Rogue Wave]

I have a couple of red plastic containers I don't need that I don't need you ca have thm if you want (no charge) . Failing that get some proper outboard 25 litre fuel tanks. Aladins cave, Fairweather in Lymington BHG, Mailspeed or the chandlers by town quay

[peteb]

Brian,

Thanks for the warning I will keep an eye on that, I guess you only get what you pay for. I could see the difference in the cans, military to civvie, but did not need the military bullet proof heavier ones

They are lovely and sparkly, but as you say how long will that last, I will use them for the lawnmower first to test them out after your warning

[Mike B]

I got 4 x 20 ltr mil style Jerry cans including spout and delivery from

http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk for £50

Delivery was very fast and I've had no problems with them.

Nowhere near you I'm afraid but Land and Water at Penarth have 22lt plastic cans. Though something to note is that you could struggle to fill these at some petrol stations due to their regulations that you can only use plastic upto 5 litres.

Cheers

Mike

[Richard B]

Bruce, what fuel capacity have you got?

If you keep the tank topped up (which you really must do otherwise you will suffer form condensation - are they stainless steel?) then on the South Coast there's a huge selection of quayside re-fuelling points (many of them open either long hours, and a couple are 24hrs I think) so you shouldn't ever come close to running out.

I filled up at Lymington Yacht Have a couple of weeks ago and paid 81p per litre for unleaded. I then filled up the car at a petrol station in Winchester and paid 82p per litre.

[jwalker]

If you buy jerry cans only get real mod ones. These are galvanised under the paint. The quality of the galvanising varies with the year, some of the 1950-1960 ones are very good. They are date stamped on the side. Look at the base to see whether the paint and galvanising have worn through.

The non-mod ones will rust almost instantly. The paint on the base will wear through by the time you've filled it with fuel, if it's not already scratched through when you buy them.

Craddock's ones vary, I've had good ones but also rubbish ones. Problem is, unless you go there, you can't see them first.

Is your fuel tank above or below deck?

[Peter J]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

thank you. But no fuel jerries at towsure - only water in 22l

I found them. Put "Jerry" in to the search thingy and then click on the "view items" button. It has funnels too.

I think I might get a couple.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Mike B

I got 4 x 20 ltr mil style Jerry cans including spout and delivery from

http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk for £50

Delivery was very fast and I've had no problems with them.

Nowhere near you I'm afraid but Land and Water at Penarth have 22lt plastic cans. Though something to note is that you could struggle to fill these at some petrol stations due to their regulations that you can only use plastic upto 5 litres.

Cheers

Mike

Believe it or not you are actually not allowed to put more than 10litres at once into any container - so to legally fill a jerry can you have to put in 10litres - go and pay - then put in the other 10 litres - barking or what???:?

[Mike B]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/65-9.htm

Interesting reading ! and I suspect a few of us would be in some sort of breach of these !


All thought the RYA's advice seems to differ in some cases.

http://www.rya.org.uk/clubtcarea/Clu...tentId=2216106

[Richard B]

Only if you're a commercial user... see rule 19: "These regulations are solely concerned with the commercial transport of hazardous substances and do not cover petrol carried on a vehicle for private use."

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Only if you're a commercial user... see rule 19: "These regulations are solely concerned with the commercial transport of hazardous substances and do not cover petrol carried on a vehicle for private use."

I'm more suspect of the "storage" clauses than the "transportation" clauses which I think will apply to all.

ie my boat currently has 2 x 22lts removable plastic tanks which when full I would judge will exceed the storage allowances.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Only if you're a commercial user... see rule 19: "These regulations are solely concerned with the commercial transport of hazardous substances and do not cover petrol carried on a vehicle for private use."

So true - although there are laws governing what petrol may be dispensed INTO there are no laws governing what you can carry it in for private use - you could actually pour the stuff into an open fish tank or bucket in your boot quite legally!!!

Also there are no laws governing petrol storage for domestic use - you could fill the bath if you wish!!!

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Also there are no laws governing petrol storage for domestic use - you could fill the bath if you wish!!!

You could well be right ( I have no background in this area ) but the attached suggests otherwise. http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corpora...01.cei.115.asp

Although I would have thought they would struggle to get a HSE charge to stick for a domestic premise ???