How do get access to my fuel tanks in my 310

cory143

My fuel gauge on my starboard tank hasn’t worked since I bought the boat. When you turn the key the gauge will make the slightest movement so I’m guessing it’s the sending unit. I don’t know how to get access to the take to change it out. All diagrams I’ve seen on my boat show my tanks being in the engine compartment right where my fresh water tank and hold tank is. The best I can guess the tank is under the driver seat just not sure how to get to it.  Any help ? 

Handymans342

Remove fridge or ice maker and there is an access plate

cory143

The fridge is next to my shower.unless there is a panel underneath the fridge. If so that would put my fuel tank in the middle of the boat underneath my cabin floor. I didn’t expect it to be there. As far as I know I have 2- 50 gallon fuel tanks one on each side of the boat.  

Handymans342

Cockpit fridge

Handymans342

Your tanks should be more than 50 gallons I would expect

Handymans342

So the specs say you have 142 gallon capacity so 70 each?

Dream_Inn

If I remember correctly, the tanks were 75 gallons each.  As far as access, I am thinking it was behind the cockpit fridge for the stbd one.

Liberty44140

Or if you don’t have a cockpit fridge, behind the storage door under the cockpit sink

cory143

My boat is a 2002. This one don’t have the cockpit fridge. I’ve checked inside this cabinet but nothing 

cory143

Handymans342

You have to remove the cabinet

reneechris14

Pull out the trash can look straight down you will see the port hole(white cap)

cory143

I’ll look again Thursday 

Ian

Interesting as I don't recall seeing that in mine either - same 2003 310, I'll have to look again tonight. I recently changed the port one and while a gen would be nice, I'm glad I don't have it as there'd be no space to fold into to get to it.

@cory143 - if you replace, go the better quality and higher priced vertical type, not the arm/float type. I had issues with mine and these are much better, no chance of getting hung up in the tank and easier to drop in versus maneuvering the arm around.

cory143

I removed the Trashcsn so I could see inside my cockpit cabinet and I still can’t see any access to my fuel tank. Maybe it’s hidden just below the storage compartment under my seat. But hate to move that entire piece if it’s not necessary 

Ian

I must admit I forgot to look but I wonder if it's under the cabinet insert. On the port side pop out the cupholders near the arch, look down and you'll see under one of them the top of the port tank sender. Then look across right and see where it should line up for the starboard, perhaps it will align with where the cupboard is. If so pop that out and see if there is an access under it.

Handymans342

cory143 said:

I removed the Trashcsn so I could see inside my cockpit cabinet and I still can’t see any access to my fuel tank. Maybe it’s hidden just below the storage compartment under my seat. But hate to move that entire piece if it’s not necessary 

Pull out the cabinet

Liberty44140

Likely there is an inspection port in the floor behind that cabinet door that is 8 or 10” round. TAnk should be under there. 

cory143

That’s what I was hoping for but it’s not anywhere that you can see. My storage under the driver seat is part of that cabinet. It comes all the way to the floor. I guess it’s under that but won’t know until I remove it all

Ian

I don't think that goes back far enough to where the sender is, have a read of my post above where I talk about the port side and being able to sight where it would be looking into where the cupholders are. Its more likely to align with the cupboard under the cockpit sink than the storage under the captains seat.

cory143

That’s what I was hoping for but it’s not anywhere that you can see. My storage under the driver seat is part of that cabinet. It comes all the way to the floor. I guess it’s under that but won’t know until I remove it all

Ian

I looked at mine last night, didn’t pull the cabinet but with phone I reached in and took photos of underneath it as there is a gap - and no access hatch there. Looking where the port one is if anything it would be more on the corner. 

Next time I lift the hatch I’ll look more to see the top of the tank and where the sender is. 

cory143

Yes. I looked all around in mine and didn’t see any access hole. I couldn’t quite see under that storage compartment. But if there is one that’s the only place it could be 

cory143

Maybe under the storage 

Ian

I didn't pull mine out but with phone took photos under there and there aint' no access.

cory143

To be honest I’d kinda like to pull the cabinet just to clean all the red dirt that’s built up for years at its previous owners

chris788

I know this is an old thread.  Just bought an 01 310. Did you ever find out how to access the starboard fuel sending unit?  Also, does anyone know the depth of the fuel tank?  I want to get a magnetic type fuel sending unit for the port tank. 

Ian

As far as I can tell on our 2003 310, you can’t without tearing something apart in a major way. The tanks on ours are 28” from all the measurements I have carefully taken and have a new 27” to fit this week to port. (I misread/mistyped  prior measurement as 20” and got one too short). Ordered direct from KUS, nothing over about 24” available on Amazon.