Fuel reading on the Linc system 2012 SANTE 210

[agouge888]

Ok...just got the new 2012, but am having trouble actually figuring out the true reading on my fuel % on the Linc systems readout. I am never real sure how low to let it go. Went through a lot of fuel this weekend.... When standing still, it is at "0" , at idle 12 to 15% and when im running it 23mph it will say 40% or so. I know its gonna vary depending on the angle of the boat, but its just not like the old fuel gauges where it drops a little, but not 40 or 50% Have you guys had any luck figuring out when your in the red zone? When your actually oin no mans land? Let me know. Thanks,

agouge888

[lucky7t]

I haven't had that issue. Mine doesn't seem to vary that drastic. Might call your dealer

[djmekinac]

Mine is around the same, especially when surfing. I had the same issue (or similar) with the analog gauge in our 220.

I would say that the reading is at its best when not moving and stable. When you get a 15% reading, I would suggest filling her up, she won't be empty but you won't paddle or get towed!

On our first tank, I hit 0% and I was a few miles(5-6) from my cottage, made it back, put around 80L (all I had left) and I figure I had 3/4 tank full. So there was still around 20-30L left.

I know it is far from accurate, it is just an indicator of when to start thinking about filling her up!

[ES]

I agree with the previous comments...keep on the safe side.
Last week-end I had several people on the boat and most sat at the back to chat - my fuel gauge was showing 100%, even if in reality I only had around 40%. Most accurate reading is at idle and with weight evenly distributed across the boat (especially lengthwise). I am surprised that in this technological age we don't have a more accurate way of measuring this :-)

[DaveP]

Mine does the exact same thing. I had the dealer look into it when I dropped it off for storage in the fall. It still does it. My son was pulling up to the lift this weekend when it ran out of gas. There is no way it should be able to go from 0% to 30%. It would seem that the accurate reading is when the boat is standing still although if you have ballast loaded, that will probably mess that reading up as well. It's very frustrating. I generally try to never let it drop below 20% because I just don't trust the gauge.

[ClemsonDave]

Very few boats have accurate fuel gauges.

My suggestion - Let it go to a certain percentage when the boat is stopped (say 25%). Then fill it up. Calculate where that 25% actually is based on how much you put in vs. how much the tank holds.

[Paublo]

The nature of how the gas in the tank moves as the boat position changes will always give a changing reading. I make a mental note of the gage reading before I pull out after each trip and then fill up on the way home. I have learned over time by how much I put in, how my fuel gage reads for my boat at rest. This gives me a pretty good idea of how I'm really doing.

On a previous boat, I found a great deal on a fuel flow meter ($130 for the meter and gage). It was easy to install and with some calibration after a few uses, it was very accurate- to within .5 gal over 25 gal used. You put in tank capacity and it would tell you fuel used, remaining, and rate of use. On a long trip (like 40 miles up L. Powell) it was helpful to see the rate so that I could slow down a little and save a lot of gas. It was very handy to have and I've wondered why manufacturer's don't include it since they could do it so cheap and easy. Actually my '09 210 will tell me how long I have until empty, but I assume that is a calculataion off of tank gage level. That is just not the same.

[msbowhunter]

My 2011 210 will hold 25 gallons when it reads 30% and will be filled to the rim. Capacity is 40 gallons.

[wakerider107]

i have a 2012 230, 30% basically means fill it up. i ran dry shortly after. ive also had my gauge stick at 12%.
dealer called customers regarding this issue. hopefully they have a fix soon!

[Andy Mohler]

Hi, I have a 210 SANTE Coastal, 2010- I'm the second owner. I've put 250 hours on her (first guy only 30) and have never had a fuel indicator issue on this boat...until yesterday. Of course, any issues I have I go to this site first and see who else has it and what they did. It was interesting to read the threads that fuel indicator issues are common with Linc and people learn to live with them. I had a Supra Saltare for more than 25 years and never had a fuel gauge issue- are we regressing in our technology? Anyway, yesterday I got wildly inaccurate readings with about 50% real fuel load, from 100%,to empty, and all point in between. Today, I removed the floorboards (5 screws) with the intent of examining easy stuff first- I am ALWAYS suspicious of electrical connectors in both boats and airplanes ( I was a Naval Aviator for 30 years, Chief Engineer, and a Test Pilot). My experience is that you can have a multi-million dollar system rendered inoperative by a $1 connector,especially when subjected to vibration, and the harsh environment in a bilge (yes, aircraft have bilges too). Close examination revealed a suspicious wire in the 2-wire connector- it was not chaffed but seemed to have backed out of the plastic lock connector a bit. These are pretty high quality connectors and have good accordion environment seals, but no connectors are perfect. I separated the connector and noted one pin was back about 1/32" from its mate; this is not much but that's all it takes sometimes. Very simple to pull forward, or push forward and reset using a needle-nose. When I work on electrical connections I always assume I will find corrosion and take appropriate supplies with me (ie a simple brass wire brush, some anti-corrosive such as CRC, Nonalox, dielectric spray, a rag, etc) . The fittings this time were not corroded but I still dress them- its never a question if a Marine electrical fitting will corrode, only when. Then I reconnected the pair.
I felt sure I had addressed the problem but wanted to be sure. I removed the fuel sensing unit float (5 screws- unit pulls straight out) and moved it up/down the slide. The Linc registered the correct setting within 3-5 seconds of positioning the float. While there, I checked the gasket on the tank float (good) and the very small gaskets/washers on the 5 screws holding in the float (bad). Quick trip to Home Depot and replaced those to finish the job.

Hope this is helpful to our community,
Safe Boating and Happy Independence Day

[Andy Mohler]

update- several trips later after my electrical fix- readings have been very accurate.

[ronskal]

The way to build an accurate fuel quantity system for a boat which pitches, rolls and yaws is the same way they do it for aircraft which would be costly. Install multiple probes and use a compensator to provide an averaging of the quantity.
I do not need that on my boat, too much to go wrong.