Stupid questions?

[setterguy]

Ok so I have a 2005 Alumacraft tournament sport 175. It says that the fuel capacity (with reserve) is 34 gallons. I have never been able to get more than 18-19 gallons of gas in this boat even when the fuel gauge says E or almost E. So really two questions.

1.) How big are most reserve tanks? I'd never thought of it before but you don't have to switch the fuel switch to reserve to fill the reserve tank do you? I always assumed it filled along with the regular tank.

2.) Could I have some sort of malfunction going on with my tank that would only allow so much gas in? Some kind of air lock or something?

[Hoey]

Could a stupid answer be the gauge is not correct?

You should be able to get to the tank where the sending unit is mounted, usually under a cover with a number of bolts holding it in place. You should be able to measure how much fuel is in there and inspect the sending unit. I found out the hard way that I had an 18" gauge in a 12" tank....

[delcecchi]

my guess it is the gauge. Get a spare 6 gallon tank with the right fitting, and run the main tank until it runs out of gas. Bet it goes a long time on E. (mine goes a long time on F. Needle comes off F at about 60% full.