Results, Wherefore Art Thou
Gentlemen,
I moved your question(s) to a more appropriate forum and titled it.
The basic "search" dialog box for this application seems unable (to me anyway) to be able to cope with phrases. It just looks for individual words. So, if you want to search on "fuel tank" you will get every(!) thread that uses either word.
Not helpful.
I have taken to using the Advanced Search box. Then I use the Search by Tag box.
Here's where some of the blame goes back to the thread originators...
IF.... your thread does not have really helpful and descriptive words in the Tag section at the bottom, and note that tags can be short phrases, then it still will be buried in a blizzard of results.
What can you do? Ah yes.... Thought you'd never ask!
Get used to using that little Tag Edit function to remove useless tags and insert useful ones on all of your threads. Go ahead and add tags to other threads, too. A lot of existing threads have poor tagging due to generalized titles like Problem or Help Me...
Plan B: Often you know that you or one of the regulars here had replied to a certain thread. And, often you know just which forum to look in. If you are sure that in addition to a certain word one of the replies was from electrican Tom or woodworker Martin, now put that name into the User Name box. This will narrow your search a lot.
For instance, if you are rebuilding the head and holding tank on an 80's boat you will want to put Sean into that name box because you recall that he has put in great comments about that project when variations of it have come up here.
And so on....
And yup, I use the Google option sometimes too.
Hope this .02 worth is on some help. Ask more questions if this is unclear.
Regards,
Loren