Flow Scans

will newton · Post by **will newton** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:51 am

I went on a short unplanned trip the other weekend and decided to do the run without adding any fuel. Had a lttle less than half a tank (say about 130 to 140 gals) and my run was only about 1.5-2 hrs. Got back fine but I must admit, when the wind came up in the afternoon (of course on the nose as it always seems to be) and the family was ready to get back I found myself doing some quick glances at the old fuel gage which was starting to bounce around pretty good. A sputtering sound (or lack of sound) would have been in poor form in the eyes of my 7 year old who had a friend onboard. Anybody added Flowscans? I thought about it in the past but could never bring myself to spend the money to see just how much I was burning. Seems like they would be a nice tool. I was looking at the twin scans which are double tacks and GPH meters that fit where our exsisting tacks are now. Is this a waste of money? Just stick to adding 25 or 35 gals per trip like that. Let me know your thoughts/habits. Thanks. Will Newton 1989 FBC Jax FL

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:17 am

Will, Flo-Scans are really a nice thing to have. I have not spent the money, but I have friends that have. They swear by them. I was looking at the 5000 Series with a toggle switch. It will total full consumption, but you have to jump Port or Starboard to see what the GPH is for each engine. That is the cheapest way out. I'm not sure I want to know what the "real" GPH is! Still need to consider your Gen Set in manually. I know mine burns about 1 GPH at full load. So it says in the book anyway. E.W. Dugan

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:30 am

How about the Navman 3100 with the dual engine option. With GPS input, everything is calculated for you, & it's cheaper. Total package is less than $500. Another option would be the Navman chartplotter or fishfinder with the dual option. More money, but then you have a backup for your existing setup. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

will newton · Post by **will newton** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 3:30 am

Yes, I saw the Navman system and wondered if it was as good. I wonder if their fuel metering system and software are "add-on" marketing to make them seem more compititive in a market where they have very little foothold (sport fish chart plotters). If anyone has experience with the Navman, let me know...my 5 year old Garmin chartplotter looks like a cartoon sometimes. E.W.-I too looked at the single meter...not sure where on the bridge I would install. That's why I liked the twin meter gages as they replace the 2 tacks...but you pay close to $1,000 for the look. Thanks for the ideas. Will Newton 1989 FBC Jaacksonville, Fl

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 3:32 pm

Will, I just ordered the flowscans from consumer marine electronics. The total was a little short of $750.00. Like you I was concerned about how they would look,so replacing both tachs with the trin-scan guages seemed the only way to go.One of my tachs was reading way off anyway so it seemed like as good a time as any to do it all. Frank Price `87 33 SF Rowley MA.

will newton · Post by **will newton** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:41 am

Frank, That is the cheapest price I have had for the twin gage set. Let us know how the install goes. I presume your boat is out of the water seeing that you are in Mass? Looks like a fun winter project. Thanks for the info...I too have a slow moving tach...good excuse if you ask me. Best Will Newton 1989 FBC Jacksonville, FL

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:07 pm

quote:Originally posted by will newton Frank, That is the cheapest price I have had for the twin gage set. Let us know how the install goes. I presume your boat is out of the water seeing that you are in Mass? Looks like a fun winter project. Thanks for the info...I too have a slow moving tach...good excuse if you ask me. Best Will Newton 1989 FBC Jacksonville, FL

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:16 pm

oops. To answer your question, yes the boat is out of the water, in my yard under shrink wrap, as a matter of fact. I received my flow scans today. They look easy to install and it says that they ARE easy to install but the instructions are a few pages long. I`ll let everyone know how the install goes, maybe as soon as this weekend. Turns out the price with shipping was around $770.00 My work list on the boat gets bigger, not smaller ,as the winter starts..... Frank quote:Originally posted by franklyprice quote:Originally posted by will newton Frank, That is the cheapest price I have had for the twin gage set. Let us know how the install goes. I presume your boat is out of the water seeing that you are in Mass? Looks like a fun winter project. Thanks for the info...I too have a slow moving tach...good excuse if you ask me. Best Will Newton 1989 FBC Jacksonville, FL

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:14 am

I had just noticed this post and ordered the same setup for my B35. I'm going to be gas for a while (unless I hit mega millions) and figured they would pay for them selves by helping me run more efficently. I too went for the twinscan Tach & fuel. I liked the fact that the tach has a synchronizor. I'll be replacing the Atena digital tachs which have been acting up and a second "synchro tach" so it should clean up my helm a good bit. I won't be installing until april, after I'm back in the water. I want to make sure I get back to my own pier and make sure the engines are running ok before I go messing with the fuel supply. -John

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:01 am

Will, On my other boat, the Lady Lyn, I have the Navman Chartplotter with fuel flow and they are great , (I have a Navman radio also, and like it too). I ran the tank down, filled it, entered the gallons, and repeated each time I fueled and they are with a gallon or so. On the Alexandra, I plan to install the twin scans as I like the look and set up. You can download both the install and operation; manuals from Flowscan site. Ed 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Jose Jaen · Post by **Jose Jaen** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:41 pm

Hi guys; just completed installation of Flowscans 4 days ago and the system has delivered as advertised with great precision. Got the series 95 with twin tachs connected to GPS the for miles per gallon feature. Besides the fuel ecomsuption Jose Jaen "Blue Chip" 1993 33FBC Miami FL

Jose Jaen · Post by **Jose Jaen** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:59 pm

Sorry, hit the wrong key. Besides fuel efficiency concerns my main reason to get it was that fuel gauges are not reliable and often I find myself not knowing how much diesel is left. To this date I don't really know the size of the fuel tank. Most people I ask say ALL diesels were fitted with 255 gallons but sometimes I sence my tank is larger than that. With the Flowscan I don't care anymore for the tank gauge reading and simply will asume the tank capacity is 255. Jose Jaen "Blue Chip" 1993 33FBC Miami FL

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:42 am

Jose, What brand did you go with? I'm debating Flow Scans with my new Yanmar 370s installation. If I go for it, I'm debating whether to just install one and then double the number or make the plunge $ for two. Did you say you installed tachs with these? Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

Jose Jaen · Post by **Jose Jaen** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:03 pm

Brian; I purchased from www.floscan.com (206)524-6625 the series 9500 multifunction twin system with GPS interface (for MPG), tachometer, engine hour meter, flow meter and fuel totalizer in LCD display that fit the spaces of the old dial in the panel. The model for my CATS is the same for Yanmars 6LY-UTE and 6LYA-STP; 970M-231-2K. Miami boat show price was 1,400.00 for the twin system. It took a very experinced individual, recommended by the seller some 11 hours to install. Jose Jose Jaen "Blue Chip" 1993 33FBC Miami FL

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:24 pm

Thanks Jose, they were showing me the 6500/6600 model, but I've also seen one from NavMan, though I've heard there might be an availability problem? Yours must make for a nice set up now. How do you handle the totalizer with two units? Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)