Dipstick every time for me too! I have a very nice fuel gauge integrated with my electronics and I never look at it. Tank gets dipped before and after every trip. Distance travelled will generally allow me to accurately guess what the dipstick then confirms. You soon learn your fuel burn unless you spend all day honing around!
In answer to your question...Yes, I had to cut into the tank to fit sender. Very simple job to do really. However, I wish I had tested the sender previous to the deck being fixed as now I suspect a dodgy sender unit as it’s showing full all the time. Don’t worry though.....I still have my dipstick!
Many thanks for the quick advice! Fully agree about the reliability of electronic senders. In this case, however, the boat is being converted to unmanned operation hence it needs to be fully instrumented.
There is a forward inspection hatch, but it's inconveniently located over a corrugated surface of the tank!
I think because you have a Mk2, your tank will be polypropylene and sits below the console.
There is apparently a cover plate that gives access to the tank.
There may be an inspection hatch in the top of the tank. The Tek Tank standard is a 200mm diameter hatch secured by M8 bolts. You may be able to fit a sender to this hatch.
There's a lot of ifs and mays above because I have a Mk1 which has a stainless tank although I've replaced it with a 150 litre plastic tank from Tek Tanks and, in a most unseamanlike way, I had a fuel sender fitted when I had the tank made.
I tend to know how much fuel I use e.g. 1 litre per mile and I gauge fuel usage based on distance covered or distance to cover.
Thanks Guy.
You're correct, according to the original MOD manifest, the PAC 22 MK II has a 33 gal polypropylene Tek-Tank.
There is one inspection hatch under the centre console and just possibly another further forward, however it's sealed down.
I'll see if I can get you some photos when I get a chance.
I am also rebuilding a pac 22. had the tank out and would not even consider changing from the wooden dipstick. There was a reason for not fitting one and its called practising good seamanship and knowing your fuel situation and limitations and nor relying on a gauge .that out of the way a sender could be fitted through the inspection hatch assuming you have one.
Plus on a ship it would be dipped regardless.
Ive was winched down in a pac 22 a couple of times. Quite scary!
Tickler
