- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 7,332
- Location
- Texas
- Vessel Name
- Floatsome & Jetsome
- Vessel Make
- Meridian 411
My boat is relatively new to me. I have not explored the "lower regions" of the fuel gauges. On my Carver, I think they tried to idiot proof the gauges as they still had a significant amount of fuel when buried on "E". I found it that on my new to me Meridian, that is not the case!!! When they are on "E"....the damn thing is EMPTY!!! The boat carries 400 gallons in 2 tanks.
We had a Lake Charles trip. Luckily a week before the hurricane. I left my home port of League City, Tx with fuel spilling out of the vents...figuratively speaking. We made it to Lake Charles with just a needle width below half a tank. Now I am smart enough to know I am not gonna make it back without adding fuel.
On our way back, we were to stop on the Beaumont area to visit Wendy's sister. I had plenty to make that so off we went. We had our visit for a day or two and then went on our way. THere is a fuel stop at the Sabine Pass Port Authority. I stopped to put fuel on. I did not put a lot on as I wanted to run "light" and also the fuel there was a bit pricey. I had a smidge over 3/8 of a tank....which should be a smidge over 150 gallons with 85 nautical miles to go. My boat gets at least .75mpg at 20 knots.
Well off we went and out the jetties into the Gulf we go. It was a beautiful day and calm conditions. My only concern was how rapidly the fuel was disappearing on the gauges. There was no doubt we could make Galveston where fuel was available. No doubt whatsoever. So I would reasses once we enterted the jetties there. We did that and I still had just a smidge below 1/4 of a tank with about 30nm to go. So the next checkpoint was a place called Topwater Grill....which is our favorite restaurant on the water AND they sell fuel. We passed there with just a smidge below 1/8 of a tank with about 15nm to go. So I made the decision to continue. We made it just fine into our home slip.
Fast forward to the next weekend when we have daughter home and a friend of hers. She wants to go for a boat ride. Well I know we need fuel. So we fire up. The left engine started a little "weirdly" but it came up on line. The fuel dock is literally a 50 yards from my slip as the crow flies but I have to go out and around our pier....so let's say 200 yards travel distance. About 50 yards from the fuel dock the left engine quit.....out of fuel!!!!!! Of course I was in denial and feared something bad was wrong....but the minute I opened up the Racor cannister and saw tumbleweeds in there, I had to come to grips with the truth. Filled up. Pumped the lift pump. Engine started....and died. RInse and repeat a few times and engine up and running fine! Have since run the boat and runs just as great as ever. The right tank took 191 gallons(out of 200). I was unable to top off the left tank as a lightning storm moved in while trying. I was awfully curious. But I still managed to get 183 gallons in before they cut me off.
Well I guess I know my gauges a little better now. The gauges indicate more "optimistically" while up and running on plane. The sender must be in the rear of the tank. The first half of the gauge/tank seems to burn slower than that last half. And by golly, when it says "E" it is EMPTY!!! There is actually a double index at "E" on the gauge. I did not go beyond that first index. I figured I was safe by nor penetrating that little gap between the indices...but guess not. Anyway, it could've been worse I guess. And I will no longer run the boat much below 1/4 of a tank from here on out...
We had a Lake Charles trip. Luckily a week before the hurricane. I left my home port of League City, Tx with fuel spilling out of the vents...figuratively speaking. We made it to Lake Charles with just a needle width below half a tank. Now I am smart enough to know I am not gonna make it back without adding fuel.
On our way back, we were to stop on the Beaumont area to visit Wendy's sister. I had plenty to make that so off we went. We had our visit for a day or two and then went on our way. THere is a fuel stop at the Sabine Pass Port Authority. I stopped to put fuel on. I did not put a lot on as I wanted to run "light" and also the fuel there was a bit pricey. I had a smidge over 3/8 of a tank....which should be a smidge over 150 gallons with 85 nautical miles to go. My boat gets at least .75mpg at 20 knots.
Well off we went and out the jetties into the Gulf we go. It was a beautiful day and calm conditions. My only concern was how rapidly the fuel was disappearing on the gauges. There was no doubt we could make Galveston where fuel was available. No doubt whatsoever. So I would reasses once we enterted the jetties there. We did that and I still had just a smidge below 1/4 of a tank with about 30nm to go. So the next checkpoint was a place called Topwater Grill....which is our favorite restaurant on the water AND they sell fuel. We passed there with just a smidge below 1/8 of a tank with about 15nm to go. So I made the decision to continue. We made it just fine into our home slip.
Fast forward to the next weekend when we have daughter home and a friend of hers. She wants to go for a boat ride. Well I know we need fuel. So we fire up. The left engine started a little "weirdly" but it came up on line. The fuel dock is literally a 50 yards from my slip as the crow flies but I have to go out and around our pier....so let's say 200 yards travel distance. About 50 yards from the fuel dock the left engine quit.....out of fuel!!!!!! Of course I was in denial and feared something bad was wrong....but the minute I opened up the Racor cannister and saw tumbleweeds in there, I had to come to grips with the truth. Filled up. Pumped the lift pump. Engine started....and died. RInse and repeat a few times and engine up and running fine! Have since run the boat and runs just as great as ever. The right tank took 191 gallons(out of 200). I was unable to top off the left tank as a lightning storm moved in while trying. I was awfully curious. But I still managed to get 183 gallons in before they cut me off.
Well I guess I know my gauges a little better now. The gauges indicate more "optimistically" while up and running on plane. The sender must be in the rear of the tank. The first half of the gauge/tank seems to burn slower than that last half. And by golly, when it says "E" it is EMPTY!!! There is actually a double index at "E" on the gauge. I did not go beyond that first index. I figured I was safe by nor penetrating that little gap between the indices...but guess not. Anyway, it could've been worse I guess. And I will no longer run the boat much below 1/4 of a tank from here on out...