No fuel: Incredible as it may sound, a boat's fuel tank can be as dry as a bone—even when the gauge claims there's plenty in reserve. This makes sense when you realize that at different speeds and loads a hull operates at different angles so there is no true level for the sending unit to reference. You can avoid ranning out of fuel by installing one of the new fuel-management systems offered by marine-engine manufacturers—systems like Mer-cury's SmartCraft, Yamaha's Command Link and others—that communicate with the engine, monitoring fuel flow at the point of consumption. Besides displaying gallons available until empty, engine-management systems reveal optimal cruising rpm for best mileage. They also signal possible trouble if fuel consumption suddenly soars. Another option is an aftermarket flow meter available from FloScan (www.floscan.com).
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