Tank Tender

[Jasper]

Hi All,
My 53 has Tank Tender installed. I have used this system before on my last boat, however, it was calibrated so I knew how to convert inches to diesel.
This time I have no "starting point" to use as a calibration. Unfortunately, the best time to do this was when I had every tank full, before I brought her home on our long trip from NSW to Queensland, but I don't want to bring all the tanks to full now that we are home.
Any sugeestions would be appreciated.
George (Jasper)

 

[Vincentc]

Gauge the tank, add a measured amount of fuel and measure again. Divide the amount of fuel added by the change in inches and you will have inches per gallon.

 

[MikeP]

Do the Hatt FG fuel tanks have straight sides and bottom or do they follow the hull shape? I have always wondered about that, and have ASSUMED that they follow the V of the hull since when filling, it takes more gallons to move the mechanical gauge another increment as the tank fills on our 53MY.

 

[REBrueckner]

"...it takes more gallons to move the mechanical gauge another increment as the tank fills on our 53MY."""


Similar to Mike, I found on my 1972 48 YF that the mechanical fuel gauges in my aft two tanks did not match fuel usage for the bottom half of either tank: I always had more fuel than indicated when at anchor. Gauge readings changed with the boat on plane as the bow lifts.

It's a pain to calibrate remaining fuel with gauges because it's not easy to determine how much fuel remains in an "empty" tank unless you can use something like a (dip) stick....nor just when you'll lose fuel pick up.

When I ran out of fuel in one aft tank, after slowing down from cruise speed, I marked that "empty" location on my fuel gauge(s) with a thin trip of dymo label. On my boat fuel picks were at the aft end of tanks.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

What year is your 53? I have exact calibration of my tanks but mine is a 1985 ED. Yours would probably be quite different. I calibrated mine over a number of years. Every time I filled up, I would do it 20 gallons at a time, taking readings at each level up to full. Eventually I had a complete chart.

And, yes Mike, the tank charts are not linear.

 

[rsmith]

Hi All,
My 53 has Tank Tender installed. I have used this system before on my last boat, however, it was calibrated so I knew how to convert inches to diesel.
This time I have no "starting point" to use as a calibration. Unfortunately, the best time to do this was when I had every tank full, before I brought her home on our long trip from NSW to Queensland, but I don't want to bring all the tanks to full now that we are home.
Any sugeestions would be appreciated.
George (Jasper)

Your tanks should be same as mine 450 fwd 350 mid and 250 aft actual usable is 435/313/225 I use a calibrated dipstick to check the fuel quanties. my charts are in inches. I can pm you the charts next week. I estimate 42 gph in cruise. 9gph trolling.

 

[Jasper]

Your tanks should be same as mine 450 fwd 350 mid and 250 aft actual usable is 435/313/225 I use a calibrated dipstick to check the fuel quanties. my charts are in inches. I can pm you the charts next week. I estimate 42 gph in cruise. 9gph trolling.

Hi rsmith,
I have 5 tanks.
FWD= 450 Gallons, MID= 350, AFT= 400, with auxilary tanks on Port & Stbd each with 100 Gallons.
I have found documents on the boat yesterday giving some idea of the calibration on the Tank Tender, but I would appreciate if you pm me the charts you have.
Many thanks to you & all who have helped.
George

 

[rsmith]

Hi rsmith,
I have 5 tanks.
FWD= 450 Gallons, MID= 350, AFT= 400, with auxilary tanks on Port & Stbd each with 100 Gallons.
I have found documents on the boat yesterday giving some idea of the calibration on the Tank Tender, but I would appreciate if you pm me the charts you have.
Many thanks to you & all who have helped.
George

I'll be back home next week and send them to you. Are you sure about the aft? All the 53's I've been on are same as mine 1050 gal total. Maybe someone replaced it or it was a option. Where did they put the 2 100 gal tanks?

 

[Jasper]

I'll be back home next week and send them to you. Are you sure about the aft? All the 53's I've been on are same as mine 1050 gal total. Maybe someone replaced it or it was a option. Where did they put the 2 100 gal tanks?

I believe the Aft tank was replaced when the previous owner asked Merrit to renovate the entire vessel. The Port/Stb tanks exact position has not been documented, I will find them. This boat was rebuilt for long cruises, it had a watermaker as well which unfortunately was removed before the last owner bought it & sold it to me.
Regards,
G

 

[saltshaker]

I believe the Aft tank was replaced when the previous owner asked Merrit to renovate the entire vessel. The Port/Stb tanks exact position has not been documented, I will find them. This boat was rebuilt for long cruises, it had a watermaker as well which unfortunately was removed before the last owner bought it & sold it to me.
Regards,
G

I know of a 2 year old 1200 GPD water maker that is for sale. Let me know if your interested