Fuel Gauge
The original fuel gauges on these boats are junk They may or may not work. The float can fill and sink. If the boat is moving at all they can pitch between full and empty. On the E-34 the gauge is on the tank under the double berth which makes it extremely convenient, especially when under weigh, The E-34's tank is exceptionally shapely being shaped to the aft bottom of a shapely hull and pressing tightly against the underside of the berth. A 3"X6"X6" drop is inset in the front for the fuel fill, sending unit fuel pickup, and return line. This means that the fuel level needs to drop 3" before the gauge begins to realize that the tank is not full. Nearly half the tank is used at that point. Then the rest runs down quickly due to the double V shape. This makes the gauge almost a full-empty indicator with the reading of not quite full meaning head for the fuel dock. I have been working with Wema to come up with a sender with at least a mollicum of accuracy. They say it can be done and they have all of the drawings for the tank. Unfortunately, I have been dealing for six months with them and every time I inquire, I get we'll get back to you with the status. On my last query, I mentioned that the sailing season is here and I have a hole in my nav station panel for a gauge and several loose wires strung from the tank to the nav panel and that I really want to deal with Wema but the time is arriving that I need to talk to Moeller. We'll see if I get anything.
My really accurate way of dealing with the fuel level is I write down the engine hours at fill up and put the amount of the fill up. Then put the hours that the tank will be empty based on prior fuel use. On my boat, I have been getting about .49 gal/hr so rounded off to .5 that is 60 hrs till bone dry. I use a 10 hr reserve time (5 gal) and the tank better be filled by then. I put the piece of paper with the hours at fill up and the hours to be filled by at the top of the breaker panel near the hour meter making it impossible to miss it. It's also right next to the cabin light breaker doubling the chances of looking at it. Haven't run out of fuel since starting this system. I also recalculate the useage per hour each time to see if there are any changes. Any changes could indicate engine proble0ms.
I will let everyone know if I have success with Wema. This design would work with all the 34-2's and 35-3's.