I recently bought a 1980 ranger and took it out last weekend.  I only put about six gallons of gas in the tank and the gas guage said I had a 1/4 tank.  I was out on the water and it seemed like I ran out of gas but the gauge said I still had just under a 1/4 tank.  I tried to prime the motor but it wouldn't suck up the gas.  After I got towed back to the launch I filled up the tank and tried to prime it and it worked.  Do you think that the guage is broken or maybe the line was just above the fuel so it was unable to be primed.  I am going to take it out today and test it again.  But I am worried that maybe I should use a portable tank.  Any info would be great.

Thanks,

Jenga

Gauge broke  

Never ever trust a gas guage on a boat.

May I suggest replacing the guage and while you are having that done for either you, a friend or the dealer check the wiring.

There may be some corrosion or a wire may be damaged to your guages.

Isn't it interesting that one small guage on a very nice boat can really mess up your day?

Might I ask what size motor that was you only put six gallons of gas in the boat for? My guage would never come off empty with just six gallons (48 gallon tank) and my motor would run about 20 minutes on six gallons. Most V-6 outboards can burn 18 - 20 gallons per hour.

I usually put in 30 gallons for a two day fishing trip and fill it up if I know I'm going to be doing a lot of running. Sometimes we will go 30 miles before we wet a hook.

I just realized, at todays gas prices, it cost a over dollar a minute just to drive the boat.

Never ever trust a gas guage on a boat.

I agree never trust a gas gauge, I've seen this mistake happen several times (even to myself)

Just fill up and learn your hours between tanks, this way you won't have to be towed again because your out of gas, nothings worse then asking for a tow due to running out of gas.

I suspect the float in the tank.  It's probably gunked up from years of use.  Suggest replacing it, then using an additive (seafoam or Ring Free) religiously in your tank moving forward.

I'll second Glenn on this. I've got a '78 Ranger and I know the float is stuck. It will give me a rough estimate that there is fuel in the tank, but I sure wouldn't rely on it, especially if I had to make a long run.

You could replace the float assembly, but it is easier on the wallet to just fill it up and run it to determine your consumption.

I am mostly on small reservoirs so I can always get back on the electric.

does it have 2 tanks?

a lot of older ranger I have seen has two tanks. maybe it need to be switched to the other tank