Where do you store your fuel dip stick

[scherzoja]

I've noticed that some of y'all refer to dipping your fuel tanks instead of reading or having a fuel gauge.

Where do y'all store that fuel dip stick and does it stink up the cabin? Does anyone leave it in the tank and just lift it out when you remove the fill cap to check fuel level (assuming fill hose is straight shot into the tank)?

Do you clean the stick with paint thinner or other solvent or just the diesel off?

Any material not recommended to use for this?

Thanks

[Wotname]

I used a bit of 1/2" by 1/2" by 18" pine stick. Sits vertically in a bit of plastic conduit in the cockpit near the tank fill cap. Saw marked in 5 litre intervals. Give it a bit of a wipe before and after use.

After a bit of use, the diesel seems to seal the wood...
Not fancy but works well.

[El Pinguino]

Similar to mine... broomstick marked every 50 litres..... stowed in the 'garden shed' when not in use...

[Sojourner]

On Amel Supermaramus like mine, the dipstick is a yardstick looking thing that just sits in the tank, holes drilled in it to see the levels. Ie it lives in the tank but is removable for filling...

[Jim Cate]

Being very performance oriented, our dipsticks are made of carbon fiber with Titanum insets every 20 liters. They are stored in sleeves made of a high tech foam that absorbs any diesel left after use, and leaves the surface dry and ready for re-use.

The above is (of course) fantasy. The reality is a bit of 10 mm dowel from the nearby hardware store, with the markings (that are really every 20 liters) in indelible marker. Lives in the lazarette after being wiped with a paper towel after use. No issues with odor.

That one is for the saddle tanks. The one for the keel tank is more complicated, being that it is 11 feet long! This necessitated a joint in the middle,like a pool cue, so the upper half is 18 mm dowel and the lower half some more 10 mm, simply socketed into a hole in the larger part, and held in place with a split pin. Because of its length even after being divided in two, reality requires that it be stored in an aft cabin along with a floor broom, standing vertically in a corner. Don't use it often, so careful wiping and airing before storing takes care of potential odor.

It's all pretty simple... don't over think this project!

Jim

[Nicholson58]

Wood stick with notches at five gallon intervals. It hangs on o hook in the chase behind the NAV station. Wipe it with a rag after use.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

On Amel Supermaramus like mine, the dipstick is a yardstick looking thing that just sits in the tank, holes drilled in it to see the levels. Ie it lives in the tank but is removable for filling...

I like this approach!

Is it a problem when filling the tank to find somewhere to put it?

[jmschmidt]

My friend had site gauges installed in the new tanks he had built. Nice but another potential leak I suppose.

[SV Sailfish]

I just pick the skinniest crew member, hold them up by their feet and dip.

Seems to keep boat morale in line.

[FabioC]

Am I the only one who has an elbow on the pipe to the tank, so the dip stick does not work? life could be so simple, but it is not...

[James S]

I have elbows.. I use Heart tank tender

[Dave22q]

Started with 1/2" round wood dowel. After sat on, replacd with 1/2 square scrap teak. Indelible red/black markers do not run. I never wipe, just shake and stow on shelf above aft berth.

[Tayana42]

Both of my tanks have dipsticks welded onto the underside of the caps. They are me same metal as the tanks and it is very hard to see the fuel level on them. I use, instead, wood dowels. Very easy to see level of fuel on them. I wipe them with a scrap of oil absorbing pad. No oder problems. I store it on a shelf in my Nav area.

[FabioC]

Originally Posted by James S

I have elbows.. I use Heart tank tender

Hi James,
Thank you for the pointer! I did not know about it.
I looked it up, expensive but very useful, I have it in my wish list for next season...
Fabio

[Scotty Kiwi]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Being very performance oriented, our dipsticks are made of carbon fiber with Titanum insets every 20 liters. They are stored in sleeves made of a high tech foam that absorbs any diesel left after use, and leaves the surface dry and ready for re-use.

Jim

Knew a super performance oriented bloke that did that too Jim, but it wasn't enough, so he had the diesel made from carbon fibre too!