Fuel Management System

[pilot2550]

I'm considering investing in a fuel management system and looking for advise from forum members.  My motor is a Yamaha 225 4 stroke.  I have Raymarine electronics. Here's the starter questions.  Does anyone have any input on Yamaha fuel management systems ie cost, installation, reliability, etc.?  The stock fuel gauge on a new boat is pathetic.  Does Raymarine have a similar fuel management product?  Any experience?

Thanks in advance.

Pilot

[catfish hunter]

most boat guages are crap , I want to put one on my boat next year also

[pilot2550]

Catfish,

I've got to believe that a good system will pay for itself over time.  I'm fairly certain I'm not burning at peak efficiency and I'm playing a guessing game on fuel consumption.

[mboy]

After another pair of speakers in my boat, a fuel flo meter is next on my list.

[catfish hunter]

my boat is still new and I run most of the time almost open and can say I love the fuel economy but I want to know everything about it and learn how to save some oil and fuel ,I figured out that opti oil is over 50 cents a gallon and need to save some so my trips dont cost so much

[IrishAyes]

I had the Yamaha Fuel Management system put on my boat when I purchased the boat new in 1994.  Cost-$500.00.  My opinion-I would not do without it.  I can hook it up to my GPS (haven't done so yet) and get Miles per Gallon.  From what I understand at this point, the fuel burn rate is not accurate because of the way the fuel pumps work (Yamaha F225) but the fuel used is accurate.  If it says I used 80 gallons it is accurate to a gallon either side of 80.

[pilot2550]

Irish,

So... you can get accurate fuel consumption which is big in my book.  How about efficiency ratings at RPM and other info?

Pilot

[mboy]

You cn also get an add on like a Lowrance lmf -400 with ep60 or a navman 2100/3100 or something to that effect.

[IrishAyes]

Pilot, when I had the 2-stroke on it gave an steady reading.  Now, with the 4-stroke, it varies, usually only at low RPMs.  At idle it at times will read 0 and then jump up to maybe 2 GPH.  I am told that it is because of the way the fuel system is designed, not pumping fuel of the time, thus, the variable readings.  It seems to give a steady reading at higher RMPs.  I don't know if the explaination makes sense or not.

As I said before, the total consumption is pretty much right on.  If it says I burned X amount of fuel.  When I fill up, it will take that amount give or take a gallon.

[pilot2550]

Thanks for the clarification.  I'm assuming there is one separate gauge similar to the ones for speed and Rpm.  The console area is a little tight.

[pilot2550]

Would you consider installing yourself if you had not had the dealer install it?

[IrishAyes]

Doesn't appear to be hard to install if you are even a little handy.  You do need to drill a fairly large hole in the dash for the gauge itself.  The sending unit it installed between the fuel line, just a matter of cutting the line and installing the line on either end of the unit.  Then run the wiring, which would be the biggest task. 

I would have installed it myself but the dealer agreed to install it for free to complete the sale.

[pilot2550]

thanks again for the info.

[Hunter 2]

Anyone do more research on fuel management systems? I am thinking about getting one too. I would like to find that sweet spot [rpms]of fuel consumption.   I have an inboard 350 Crusader. Around 270HP

[mboy]

$170 gets you this:

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Digital-Gauges/LMF-400/
 Make sure it has the ep/60 fuel flo sensor.

It does a lot of stuff, but I am going to be using it is as a fuel gauge. Was delivered yesterday actually. Replacing my speedo with this since it fits in the same hole in dash.

THIS is the way to go. Install should be fairly painless.

If you have a newer digital engine, it will display just about everything of of there.
Mine isn't, so I will just be using it as a fuel flo and gas gauge. Display can be customized in a few different ways.
Mine will show GPH, total Fuel burned and a digital bar showing fuel remaining.

If anyone is interested in who has best price, lmk. Their are a couple of places who have good deals on it.

[Sam3]

My boat has one too. I have to figure out how it works though. The one I don't like it that it deosn't give you a fuel gauge reading. You have to do the math to see how much you burn at certain rpm's. I'm pretty sure it's a yamaha system.

[mboy]

The lowrance does as long as you set it up properly and adjust as you add fuel.

My tank holds 81 gallons. When I fill up 1st time and no it is full, I will set it to 81. Next time i get gas and say add 15 gallons ($100 probably-doh), I will tell the unit I added 15 gallons.  This is how the gauge (and most gauges) work with fuel tank reading. They also make  a sender which I MAY consider going with as well, so I can remove my analog fuel gauge and replace with an engine trim gauge.

[Hunter 2]

The Lowrance unit is a couple hundred bucks cheaper than the Floscan units.

[mboy]

Floscan is VERY expensive. Even the cheap navman, northstar f210 units around 100-125 and they are just a little single readout.

The lowrance unit is capable of reading any NMEA 2000 device. Trim tab position, engine trim, gps, speed, temp (oil, engine water, surface temp), fuel flo, fuel level, rpm etc.
.
They also have a cheaper, smaller unit the lmf-200. For the extra $30, the larger unit was worth it to me, especially since I can basically (hopefully) just drop it into where my speedo currently resides).

Got mine ready to go, just waiting to unwrap boat so I can install along with all the other crap I have to do this season to get her ready