2002 Chaparral 200SSE Fuel Capacity?

[GMK35]

Surprisingly, this simple bit of info does not exist in the owner manual or anywhere via Google that I can find. The sticker on the tank itself is not very legible/I don‘t see capacity as one of the fields. Anyone know what the tank size is on my boat?

 

[ESGWheel]

Assuming it’s a plastic tank with molded in numbers (vs an actual sticker) you can try doing a ‘rubbing’. Take a piece of paper and place the paper on top of the molded numbers and using a soft pencil run on top of the paper to transfer the image into it. Even if you only get the model number you can use that to look up the capacity. Here is a picture of the concept.

 

[GMK35]

It’s a sticker unfortunately (but old/faded, so mostly illegible).

 

[mr 88]

Take a 5 gallon tank with you when you're low on gas . Fill it with the 5 after you run out , then off to the gas station,do the math . Or if you can get all 3 measurements on the tank you can use the formula to come out with there stated number of gallons.

 

[GMK35]

Well that’s one way. But, trying to find out without having to purposely run out of gas on the water.

 

[mr 88]

Well if you think the gas gauge is correct ,yes when it's bouncing between 1/4 and empty run it out . No doubt there is a Charappal Owners Club on Facebook,might get a answer there , the rule of thumb is 10% is unusable, as in it can't be picked up by the fuel pick up system.

 

[drewm3i]

Surprisingly, this simple bit of info does not exist in the owner manual or anywhere via Google that I can find. The sticker on the tank itself is not very legible/I don‘t see capacity as one of the fields. Anyone know what the tank size is on my boat?

34 gallons per the brochure:

https://www.chaparralboats.com/publications/uploaded_files/532/ss-sportboats-opt.pdf

 

[GMK35]

You’re the man, thank you! My failure was only looking at the manual and not finding the brochure.

Think I’ll just deal with the inaccurate gauge and go by hours. Just need to do some data gathering to figure out average fuel burn.

 

[drewm3i]

You’re the man, thank you! My failure was only looking at the manual and not finding the brochure.

Think I’ll just deal with the inaccurate gauge and go by hours. Just need to do some data gathering to figure out average fuel burn.

Get the newer styler, plunger type sender that is a float on a vertical shaft. They're way more accurate.

 

[GMK35]

Something like this?

Boat Fuel Sending Units, Marine Fuel Sending

Great Lakes Skipper carries a large selection of fuel sending units for your boats. We also have parts in stick for your boats engines and fuel systems.

www.greatlakesskipper.com

 

[ESGWheel]

GMK35,
A few things to be aware of if you change out the sender:

• You will have to know the depth of the tank to get the correct length of sender > they should be about 1” shy of the tank depth so if its 8” deep get a 7” sender.
• Since only way to do this without the model no. of the tank and contacting the mfg is to remove the current sender you may find it already is a reed style. If so, you can check its operation with a multimeter.
• The Moeller senders normally come with multiple sets of screws to accommodate the different threads the tank OEMs use. Be sure to look carefully with what came out prior to using the new ones.
• A pressure drop test should be done post the replacement, an easy task but need to be set up for it.

You may be aware of all the above already so apologies if so, but fuel tanks can be an exciting item to work on and I’d rather be on the cautious side than the other

 

[GMK35]

Great info, thank you! Sounds like a good winter project.