Does anyone know of a technician that can dial-in my existing FloScan system? Even if only to verify that it is currently accurate. This would be from Ft Lauderdale going north as far as Annapolis.
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Thread: Flow Meters
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03-07-2020 11:08 AM #11Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
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- 1,001
Re: Flow Meters
Michael & Beth
Hull Number CV312
63’ Cockpit Motor Yacht
1986 model launched in August 1987
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03-07-2020 12:10 PM #12
Re: Flow Meters
Lauderdale Speedometer and Compass installs FlowScans my guess is they might calibrate. 954-522-4885
Dave & Trina
Benedetto
1989 60MY HATDK310
Sturgeon Bay/Ft. Lauderdale
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03-07-2020 12:13 PM #13
Re: Flow Meters
My guess is I’d recoup the cost in two seasons. Seeing how much I’m burning will keep me from lengthy hi-revs joy rides.
Dave & Trina
Benedetto
1989 60MY HATDK310
Sturgeon Bay/Ft. Lauderdale
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03-08-2020 10:10 PM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
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- 3,530
Re: Flow Meters
We run offshore 3 days at a time. We spend twice as much time trolling as running hard, so the gph varies quite a bit. I always have a pretty good idea of consumption, but it is very reassuring to be able to glance down and confirm the burn. They're also a good indicator of certain problems, like the time I had a fuel line break at the injector and my gph went from 20 to around 70 on that engine as fuel poured into the crankcase.
We also carry a 300 gal bladder, and they come in very handy in determining when I have enough space in my tanks to do the transfer. I feel that they are essential to the way I boat.Last edited by Bob Bradley; 03-08-2020 at 10:13 PM.
Everyone should believe in something - I believe I will go fishing - Henry David Thoreau
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Re: Flow Meters
I think I mentioned that contingency.
Point is, would you pay $5K for them if you didn’t already have them?
No wrong answer, just curious.Randy Register - Kingston, TN
www.yachtrelocation.com
www.Safes4Guns.com
aka Freebird aka Sparky1
1965 41DC #93
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03-08-2020 10:20 PM #16
Re: Flow Meters
That’s the $5000 question.
Dave & Trina
Benedetto
1989 60MY HATDK310
Sturgeon Bay/Ft. Lauderdale
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Re: Flow Meters
Ain’t no gas stations at the canyons and it’s a long way home. When your laying offshore for a few days it’s easy to lose track of fuel usage. I’ve never had operation gauges their worthless anyway. I have ports and I stick the tanks with a graduated rod. Most accurate way to do it.
"DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU READ OR HEAR AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE" - BEN FRANKLIN
Endless Summer
1967 50c 12/71n DDA 525hp
ex Miss Betsy
owners:
Howard P. Miller 1967-1974
Richard F Hull 1974-1976
Robert J. & R.Scott Smith 1976-present
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03-09-2020 08:04 AM #18Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
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- 133
Re: Flow Meters
I understand what Randy is saying but there is so much more to it than that.
Everything from fuel load to water tank load, number of passengers and even minor trim tab adjustments effects your fuel burn.
Especially with Detroits, a 100 to RPM difference sometimes makes a 15 gallon per hour difference.
If Floscans were reasonably priced, say around 1K I think we would all have them. Diesel ain't cheap.
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Re: Flow Meters
I had the same problem on a brand new 46HP apparently the jumper line was bad right from the factory. Filled the engine with fuel until the diluted mixture got sucked into the turbos and caught fire. Fortunately I learned from the one we lost and shut down the running engine and didn’t open the hatches before I pulled the Halon system. I don’t know wether the halon was better than the CO2 on the one that burned but it worked and we didn’t go swimming that day.
"DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU READ OR HEAR AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE" - BEN FRANKLIN
Endless Summer
1967 50c 12/71n DDA 525hp
ex Miss Betsy
owners:
Howard P. Miller 1967-1974
Richard F Hull 1974-1976
Robert J. & R.Scott Smith 1976-present
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Re: Flow Meters
I don’t find load (passengers etc) affect fuel burn much based on running boats with flow meters. Full tanks a little bit not that much either unless the boat is poorly balanced
What does affect fuel burn/speed is depth and sea conditions even very mild. At planning speed there is roughly a 10% difference between running say on Biscayne bay or on the bank in the Bahamas vs running in open water even with just 2 to 3 footers. That’s no No current, same load on board, same wind.
5 GPH is roughly $13 an hour these days so if you even save just that then 350/400 hours will make the $5000 costs.
I agree about calibrating a dip stick, assuming they tanks are easy to reach. That’s fine on our boats with keel tanks but no option on boats where the tanks are say outboard of the engines. Another good tool for high tank are sight gauges.
Next refuel on my boat I m going to calibrate sticks for each tank by bringing them low and calibrating every 25 gallons.
Guessing fuel burn by topping off sound ls good but nowadays spilling a drop is a capital offense. How can you be sure your tank is full? I guess you can rig something to catch spills. Not ideal.Pascal
Miami, FL
1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
2007 Sandbarhopper 13
12' Westphal Cat boat