Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)
On my F33 I also had this simple solution for a tank gauge. I did
put a valve on top, because when you fill your tanks up to the leven
of the deck filler, the water may snort out of the top of the gauge
tube. Also remember that the tanks usually is not rectangular, and
half a see through hose of water does not necessarily mean that the
tank is half filled.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Skip Turpin”
<skipperf33@…> wrote:
It is true that there are commercial gauges out there and would
not
put them down. However, in keeping with the “kiss” principle IE,
no
electronics, no moving parts, no monitoring, no adjusting, no
calibrating, failsafe! Here is what I have done in the past.
If you attach a clear plastic hose into the fresh water system
anywhere below the level of the tank (bilge) and lead that line up
to
any where convenient. It will, due the laws of physics, fill to
the
level of the water in your tank. So mount the hose someplace
where it
will be at the level of the tank and voila you have your “kiss
gauge”!
Two things to keep in mind:
-
Make sure that the open end of the hose terminates well
above
the top of the tank. Otherwise you could lose drinking water when
heavily heeled or in a rough seaway. You could install a valve
at
the top, but then you will have strayed from “kiss”! (you would
have
to open this valve to read your tank levels and then close it when
done. I personally have never forgot to open or close any valve
on my
boat. RIGHT!!!
-
Because this line is open to your drinking water you would
want to almost completely seal it. A pin hole opening would be
sufficient to allow the air in the line to equalize pressure so
that
the water would be able to seek its own level. Mounting a small
filter at the top would also do the trick.
Obviously the only part of this system that would have to be “see
through” would be the part level the tank. The size of the
tubbing
does not mater, but all of it leading up to your viewing point
must be
BELOW the level of the bottom of the tank!
My personal preference would be to install a ball valve at the
point
that you attach this line to the water system (just in case!)
Also I
would not be tempted to try to install this line actually into the
tank it self. That stuff can be hell to seal!
Skip
F33 CK # 65
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “seychellois_lib”
<seychellois_lib@> wrote:
My H2O tank goes dry at the worst times. Anyone have a tachnique
or
a
technical solution for an F30. Eyeballing it would be the best
but
as
F30 owners know, the tank is buried below a screwed down panel
under
the stbd. setee and not easy to get at. I’ve often considered
installing a small door in the facia of the settee base so I
could
peek in at the poly tank and view the water level. This seems
like a
pretty crude approach. Any ideas out there?
Tks
Mike
F30 #3
Posted by seychellois_lib (seychellois_lib@…>)
I try to avoid filling my tank up to the level of the deck fill
because this overflows the tank and puts several gallons of water in
the bilge. Admittedly no big deal but I gotta get down there and dry
it up eventually. I would prefer to top the tank off effectively
without having to overflow it.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@…> wrote:
On my F33 I also had this simple solution for a tank gauge. I did
put a valve on top, because when you fill your tanks up to the leven
of the deck filler, the water may snort out of the top of the gauge
tube. Also remember that the tanks usually is not rectangular, and
half a see through hose of water does not necessarily mean that the
tank is half filled.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Skip Turpin”
<skipperf33@> wrote:
It is true that there are commercial gauges out there and would
not
put them down. However, in keeping with the “kiss” principle IE,
no
electronics, no moving parts, no monitoring, no adjusting, no
calibrating, failsafe! Here is what I have done in the past.
If you attach a clear plastic hose into the fresh water system
anywhere below the level of the tank (bilge) and lead that line up
to
any where convenient. It will, due the laws of physics, fill to
the
level of the water in your tank. So mount the hose someplace
where it
will be at the level of the tank and voila you have your “kiss
gauge”!
Two things to keep in mind:
-
Make sure that the open end of the hose terminates well
above
the top of the tank. Otherwise you could lose drinking water when
heavily heeled or in a rough seaway. You could install a valve
at
the top, but then you will have strayed from “kiss”! (you would
have
to open this valve to read your tank levels and then close it when
done. I personally have never forgot to open or close any valve
on my
boat. RIGHT!!!
-
Because this line is open to your drinking water you would
want to almost completely seal it. A pin hole opening would be
sufficient to allow the air in the line to equalize pressure so
that
the water would be able to seek its own level. Mounting a small
filter at the top would also do the trick.
Obviously the only part of this system that would have to be “see
through” would be the part level the tank. The size of the
tubbing
does not mater, but all of it leading up to your viewing point
must be
BELOW the level of the bottom of the tank!
My personal preference would be to install a ball valve at the
point
that you attach this line to the water system (just in case!)
Also I
would not be tempted to try to install this line actually into the
tank it self. That stuff can be hell to seal!
Skip
F33 CK # 65
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “seychellois_lib”
<seychellois_lib@> wrote:
My H2O tank goes dry at the worst times. Anyone have a tachnique
or
a
technical solution for an F30. Eyeballing it would be the best
but
as
F30 owners know, the tank is buried below a screwed down panel
under
the stbd. setee and not easy to get at. I’ve often considered
installing a small door in the facia of the settee base so I
could
peek in at the poly tank and view the water level. This seems
like a
pretty crude approach. Any ideas out there?
Tks
Mike
F30 #3