Fuel senders

[prowlersfish]

Just up graded my fuel senders to a wema unit . Finely will have fuel gauges that will be correct .Only had 1 working gauge before and it was way off when it worked . ( I always keep track of fuel used )

The new Wema is to the left .

Lots of fun to replace on a F36

[larryeddington]

okay help this dolt out, what do WEMA mean?

[rickalan35]

WEMA is just the name of the company, Larry. They're in Florida. As if maybe WEndy and MAry got together and started a company (although that's prob not what happened.)

One of the things that I want to do right away this spring is get in there and see if my fuel level sensors are actually wired up. I had the tanks replaced 5 years ago and since that time the gauges have not worked. I assumed they weren't repositioned properly. Some of the guys on the forum mentioned that perhaps the wiring had simply not been reconnected. If that's not the problem, perhaps I'll be buying some new ones too.

[rickalan35]

Prowlerfish - the new unit seems quite a bit longer than the unit it is replacing

[ready123]

Prowlerfish - the new unit seems quite a bit longer than the unit it is replacing

Different style, not visible off screen on old one is the float you can imagine it ends up about inline with the black thing on the new one.

[Dreamweaver]

That would be scary not knowing how much fuel is left,but I knew someone that used the stick in the tank and said,yup,we have enough to go twenty miles and back.

[Bubbabuda]

Prowlerfish, I am sure you will like those senders. I purchased 5 senders and 7 gauges from them. Fuel, fresh water, gray and black water. They all work great.

[prowlersfish]

Prowlerfish - the new unit seems quite a bit longer than the unit it is replacing

Different style, not visible off screen on old one is the float you can imagine it ends up about inline with the black thing on the new one.

Correct

That would be scary not knowing how much fuel is left,but I knew someone that used the stick in the tank and said,yup,we have enough to go twenty miles and back.

A stick is the best gauge you can get , I never trusted the old gauge reading I keep track what fuel I burn and still will .

[LandVF36]

Jealous of the new gauges. We had a Chris Craft Catalina before the Trojan with a teak stick gas gauge. You know, it was very accurate. Thankfully the gauges on our F36 work as you could not get a stick around the two bends in the fuel inlet line.

Paul, on our F36, you have to take out the side cabinets and then the floor to replace the senders. Same setup on yours? If so, thats got to be about 8hr a side!

[prowlersfish]

Same set up as yours I believe .

But it took a lot less the 8 hours . How ? I cheated . To get to the senders remove the floor panel outside of the side cabinets . This will enable you to get at the wires and screws for the senders and you can remove the old ones with some bending . But to get the new ones in bending is not a option . To get the new ones in ,I took a 3" hole saw and made a 3" hole above the sender inside the side cabinet ( slightly off due to restrictions ) and dropped the new one in .

The hardest part ? lining up the 5 holes .

On a gas boat I suggest the hole be drill before removing the sender screws

I will add some photos later (as long as I remember to take them )

[rickalan35]

Yep, the bends in the Fuel Inlet Pipes to both of my tanks have precluded the opportunity to use a measuring stick. So, I have been stuck making sure I add enough fuel for the day's cruising plan. No doubt I have carried more fuel than required most of the time.

On my boat (a Tri), I can access the fuel level sensor for the starboard tank by lifting up the hinged second step to the aft cabin. I probably can't replace it from this angle though, but will indeed be able to check on whether the wiring is correct.

For the port side tank, there is a round metal floor panel under the galley sink that exposes the fuel level sender connections. Luckily, I can also use this opening to replace the port sender if necessary.

My issue was that I never really knew what those connections were for, until I learned it on this forum.

It would be great if the ground wires were simply not hooked up, but I won't be surprised to see Mr. Murphy become a part of all of this.

[Commissionpoint]

Nice upgrade Paul. I have used those before, they work very well.

Not ready to do mine yet. I still get extremely accurate readings on my fuel gauges. I'm not really sure why considering their age though, but I'm not complaining.

[larryeddington]

I have two new tanks to install in my f28 and they have those type sending units. At least they look like them. Not sure of the brand. I am concerned now as I did not have a cleanout plate installed in the tanks. As they have not had any fuel in them am considering having clean out plate installed before I use them.

[boatsnbars]

Prowlerfish, I did mine last year with the same senders. My F-36 has a plywood panel directly over the fuel tanks on either side of the salon. I just removed the screws and pried it up. My interior must be different then yours.

[prowlersfish]

Or the sender is more inboard on the tank . Will post the picks in a few