Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?)
 

Guys - thinking about my 20' Seafari, results from last year, and my intentions to get semi-serious about chasing Charlie this coming year, I'm thinking I need to add fuel management to my boat -

early in the season, I tried to drain off my tank by running, (getting ready for the switch to E-10) got to an apparent 1/4 tank -Below- "E" and was still running - so I know, that I don't know, what my fuel guage is telling me -

So - Navman, Lowrance ??? simple is better - but I want a fuel flow guage system - 1 tank/1 motor - something where I tell it what the fuel tank size is, it reads gal/hr, and tells me fuel burned / fuel remaining - don't need anymore - just where I'm running at, gal/hr, for fuel efficiency, and what I've got left -

Thoughts / advice - suggestions ?? Reliability and accuracy are primary concerns.

thanks

Bill

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

Bill,
I've got a navman 3100, mainly because the specs said it could be mounted 4" away from the compass, while the 2100 needed at least 12". THe 2100 is cheaper and uses the same transducer. My transducer failed within a month. Navman sent a replacement and that's been fine ever since. It's been very handy.

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?)
 

Bill and Forum,
What,s the verdict on the Floscan Models vs the
other fuel management systems. I think a fuel management system installation would be a nice winter project to my
78'-23'SF. Any thought's?

Thanks,
Rob

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?)
 

Interesting point about closeness to - interference with the compass - hadn't picked that up elsewhere in the surfing I've done on this

don't need to create a problem

I guess there's alot of options, depending on how fancy, how much $$ you want to spend - I don't want to get into the whole networking thing - that's too much like work !!

from what I've read elsewhere, seems both Navman and Lowrance had some issues, accuracy, reliability, software glitches, updates - maybe that's all behind them now

who's using what, and what do you think / like / dislike ??

thanks

Bill

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?)
 

I'm using the Navman 3100. Like others the sender went bad after 11 months. The factory replaced it under warranty. Since then no problems. I find it very handy backup to the fuel tank gage which like all fuel tank gages I've seen, are subject to poor accuracy. It also gives proof positive about mpg dropoff above 4000 rpm. It was real easy to tie into the GPS for mpg display.

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?)
 

I have had a Navman 2100 for some time now. I have mine close to the compass and do not recall any info about that? It is a great simple unit for a good price. Not too funny that most have issues with the fuel transducer out of the box :(. Here is the old post below.

If you want to feed in GPS speed for MPG, the 3100 is the way to go and bigger display. I may upgrade next season ..

old post

Here is a compare thread also;

web page

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

It's on page 7 of the manual. From your experience it probably does not really matter.

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

I'm very happy with the Floscan setup on my 20'. I never even look at my fuel gauge (none of those things are accurate anyway).

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

So which one to get the 2100 or 3100?

I have a 1999 yamha 225 OX66 EFI

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

a foloow up on prior post

In reading I see that you can connect it to your GBS

Will this connect to a Garmen 185 GPS/Map?

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

I have the 3100 set up with twins on my other boat and have yet to have both transducers working at the same time. Navman has been nice to deal with replacing the transducers but it would be nicer it the thing worked correctly.

I have yet to hear of an issue with the FloScans and wich I went that route. I recommended the 3100 to my friend down the street and sure enough his transducer is shot as well and needs to be replaced acording to Navman.

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

How can you tell if the tranducer is shot? I have the small Navman and it seems to be locked up, I thought it was the head unit. What are the symptoms of a "shot" transducer?

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

Mine told me I was getting 456 mpg at 3000 rpms. :o
Seriously, if it's not registering activity but is on and can be adjusted, etc., it's likely the transducer. The folks at Navman were easy to work with.

Re: Fuel Management ??? (Jim- BOE - you around ?
 

People either love or hate the Navman units. I had the F2100 and hated it. Note - they are now called the Northstar F210 or F310. Last year i switched to the Lowrance LMF400 and love it. It has a 4" gauge same as most outboard gauges. It also comes as an LMF200 with a 2" gauge, but thehse have had software issues. If you can fit the LMF 400 I think you will be happy. Floscan systems are also very nice but very limited in their functionality. They are certainly bulletproof though, and expensive. The Lowrance gauges are about $150.