My boat has never had a fuel gauge so I have always relied on a dip stick. I would like to install either a mechanical unit with the gauge on top (I can see the front of the tank under the consol) or a normal one with a gauge on the consol.
My problem is that since it never had a unit a hole has to be drilled in the tank. How is the best way to go about this. Should we drain the tank and purge with inert gas or should we drain and fill with water? I don't really like the idea of drill somthing that was full of fuel.
If the tank is aluminum, use a brand new hole saw and lubricate constantly with wd 40 as you drill , should go right through without creating any heat. If the tank is empty shoot a co2 extinguisher in there and you'll be good to go
well...
if there's no sender in the tank,and the tank has never been drilled from the start,i would not install a sender...most small boat tanks are less than 3/16" thick,the area where the sender is put,usually,this area is doubled up in material,this assures the screws for the sender have enough material to bite into...i reccomend you leave well enough alone...
drilling holes in a tank...first,never and i mean ever use electrical tools,that includes cordless battery powered tools,all of these will emit a spark,sparks and vapors do not play well together...use pnuematic tools only...use a little common sense here...
The tank in fibreglass. I was thinking of using a manual hand drill, I would not dream of using a power tool anywhere near it.
Jimmy, I pretty sure the tank is thicker than 3/16" but the drilling still has me very nervous (even with a hand drill). Also your not the first person who has said don't touch it.
I think it's a dipstick for now and maybe I'll get a floscan and work backwards instead.
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