Fuel Tank

cseltzjr · **Joined:** 16 May 2009 08:06 **Posts:** 254

Does anyone have the depth of the fuel tank (forward inboard corner) handy? I want to replace my fuel gauge sending unit and thought I’d go with a straight piece instead of the swing arm.

Lunacy198 · **Joined:** 11 Apr 2022 10:25 **Posts:** 21

It's about 19" to 20" since the bottom of the tank is on an angle. I put a square on top of the tank and center hit bottom at 19 3/4". By the way, if using a single rod, make sure it isn't too close to the inside wall of the tank since the pickup tube runs there in a sweep bending to the low point of the tank which is forward of the hole for level sending unit. The pick-up opening is about 2" from the bottom at the low point. On my tank it is closer to 1" since the corner was cut off to fix a leak.

cseltzjr · **Joined:** 16 May 2009 08:06 **Posts:** 254

This is a great help. Thanks

cseltzjr · **Joined:** 16 May 2009 08:06 **Posts:** 254

Standard sizes come in 14” or 19” (for the vendor I landed on). I am inclined to go with 14” and just assume that I am out of fuel before I really am! I doubt the bottom 5” actually amounts to a lot of capacity given the shape of the tank. The sender I am looking at has a float diameter of 1.4” (35mm). Of course I didn’t measure the size of the hole in the tank but I am guessing it is around 1.5”. Thanks again for the feedback.

Maineiac · **Posted:** 24 Aug 2022 14:57

I was going to put in a new sending unit, stainless float tube. I'll measure down from the existing port. I just put two of those straight float units in my lobster boat. The tanks are 19" deep and it seemed as though the units extend down 18". I could be wrong.

I just got the tank back. It wasn't even 24 hours, corner cut off, welded and pressure tested. I was happy with $150.00. (I just don't understand how he replicated my centerboard pivot hinge assembly for $200.00. I expected maybe twice that.) He was aware the pickup was in there and said the "fix" cleared everything and the pickup tube is cut on a bias in any event (as it should be). The tank wasn't leaking. Diesel was just "migrating" through the tiny pinholing in the weld and side of the tank where water sat for extended periods. A tiny bit of diesel varnish was apparent on the outside of the tank in a small smudge. I would urge anyone to replace or "fix" a 44 year old tank like this, but the rest of the tank was fine. Good for another 44 years. Which would fail again when I'm . . . 111 years old. Off to stuff this tank back into that little hell called the quarter berth.

Maineiac · **Posted:** 24 Aug 2022 17:14

The tank is about 20” deep where you install the sending unit considering the angle along the bottom. I think an 18” sender will work.
Corner all welded.

cseltzjr · **Joined:** 16 May 2009 08:06 **Posts:** 254

The one I ended up getting is 16”. I will be fine considering the tank empty with 4” of fuel in the bottom. Again, considering the shape, I am betting that isn’t much fuel.

Maineiac · **Posted:** 25 Aug 2022 06:57

Dry fit the sender and double check it doesn't hang up on the inboard side of the tank or the pickup tube. I'll be doing the same shortly after a run to Hamilton Marine. They always let me return if something doesn't work. These fit perfectly in my Dyer 29 tanks that were 19.5" deep. It's close, but I think the 18.5" might work.

https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/product ... 23087.html

cseltzjr · **Joined:** 16 May 2009 08:06 **Posts:** 254

My tank is in the boat and 3/4 full of fuel. No such thing as dry fit! My only concern is fitting the new sender through the existing cutout. Also, I think my current sender has 6 screw holes and the new one has 5 so I may be drilling. We’ll see the next time I get down there. Right now it’s looking like after Labor Day.

Maineiac · **Posted:** 25 Aug 2022 14:16

You sure this isn't how the "6" comes in? The odd one (or actually "even" one) is a ground that has to go through the gasket. I can't remember what was on my lobster boat sending units, but there both the same Moeller stainless unit.

Zoom away. I'm crossing my fingers I don't have to worry about drill filings in the fuel tank.

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Fuel Tank

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