I have installed a sight gauge in the aft cabin to view the fuel level. It's basically a vertical slot in the fuel tank access panel. You position a flashlight in the fuel valve access port (in the cockpit locker) and the fuel level is visible from the aft cabin. I am in the process of calibrating it, and it appears that approximately 1 cm if vertical distance = 1 US gallon fuel. More calibration efforts will be undertaken next season.
If I get a breather during the winter i intend to write this up for the C36IA Technical Upgrades archive.
As Steve Frost gently informed me, those boats with aluminum tanks would need a pretty bright light to use this idea.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Good idea It might work on the water tanks for us MK1 boats?
Alex H.
SV Alexanne, 1985 #432 SR
SF Marina Bay YH
Aren't MK I boats using aluminum tanks? My idea only works with plastic translucent tanks, and there must be viewing access from the aft cabin.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Believe all water tanks are plastic for MK1 and the fuel tank aluminum.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Sorry, Alex, I misread your post. Had diesel fuel on the brain. (Thanks, Gary, for the heads up.) It might work and may be worth a try on a translucent tank *before* cutting any holes. There might not be enough visual contrast with water to see the level...not sure. The amber color of diesel makes the level fairly easy to see, but even then it is blurry.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
I will check the contrast. I thought about this possibility before, but you jogged the old brain cells.
Thanks.
Alex H.
SV Alexanne, 1985 #432 SR
SF Marina Bay YH