Water tank level

[Landlocked]

The fresh water tank on my 11 meter sedan has two probes that stick down into it as sensors for a water level meter mounted in the galley. That system hasn't worked for years. Anyone know of a good replacement for it?

I suppose the ideal solution would be to replace the probes and find that the meter still works properly. Somehow I doubt that is possible.

[captainmaniac]

Gauge and sending unit need to be 'matched' in terms of being calibrated for the same resistance ranges. Don't know about the Internationals, but I had the same issue with the older system on my F32. Disconnecting wires and shorting vs open circuit for the sensor side of things will tell you if it is the gauge or sender. If the gauge reads empty or full depending on open vs short circuit on the sender side, you know the sender is the issue. If the gauge doesn't move, it's the gauge (and possibly sender too). If you narrow it down to the sender only, you can research the specs on your gauge to figure out what range the sender needs to operate in to make sure you get one that will match up.

I got a replacement sender from WEMA http://www.wemausa.com/that worked properly with my gauge. I found WEMA to be top notch. Actually .. here's a good story in support of that...

I contacted a local marine store and tried to order the WEMA sender. After 6 months of them telling me "not in yet", "not in yet", "not in yet", I was getting kind of PO'd. The store kept claiming that it wasn't their fault, and that the local distributor for WEMA products just wasn't coming through for them.

So I finally got pissed enough to call WEMA directly, and ask for the owner of the company. They transferred my call his cell number, so we had a discussion while was on a golf course somewhere. I explained that I had spent the last 6 months trying to buy his product without success, and didn't know if it was the retailer or distributor who were really the problem - and didn't really care who it was ..... - could he help? He asked what I was looking for, and 3 days later it showed up at my door via courier.

AND IT SOLVED MY PROBLEM!!! Everything still works great, and that sender was installed over the winter of 2004/2005.

[Landlocked]

Thank you very much. I'll check WEMA out.

[P-Dogg]

I just bought a water tank sender and meter from WEMA. I can say that they appear to be of high quality. I bought the S5U and the UDWR-BB-240-33 LED gauge. If your tank is aluminum, you can buy half-nipples from mcmaster.com, weld them to a plate, and bolt the plate to the top of your tank. That is, if your tank is sound. Cut the access panel for the new gauge and look in the tank before you get too involved. How do I know, you ask?

If you happen to need an 18" S5U, I can make you a deal. When I went to install it, I discovered that my tank was crap and bought a new tank, which naturally, required a different sized sender. The only bad thing I can say about WEMA is that they wouldn't exchange or take back a brand-new never-used sender for another one after a couple of months, which is how long it to to finally determine my old tank was junk, even though I was buying almost the same thing again. I am spoiled by Lowes, where a year later you can take something back without a receipt and get store credit. Or so I've been told.

[Landlocked]

My tank is fiberglass. Last spring I installed a 3" access port in the top of it so I could look inside (and clean it). It's in good shape. 18" might be about right. I'll check it out this coming weekend.