www.iFourWinns.com

Hi,
no, I did not involve the dealer anymore on this matter, sometimes the gauge works, sometimes it says the tank to be full but after a visual inspection it's cleraly empty.
I decided that I can always spend few minutes in checking the tank level before leaving the marina.

Anyway I would say that FW has troubles in toilet installations: after the gauge troubles, the manual pump of jabsco toilet was sucking air and the water circuit got empty in few minutes, the double rubber-valve was damaged and I had to buy from the dealer a repair kit....94,4 euros + 20% VAT + 25 euros for transport.....

I love FW, I love FW, I love FW......

ciao
Oscar

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2006-288 Vista
"Drogue One" - a starboard story -
2 x Volvo Penta D3 - 160 HP

previous boats:
2001 -FW 268 Vista
1998 FW 258 Vista
2003 Saver 690 Cabin Sport

Well, it looks like I jinxed myself on this one! My holding tank guage is definitely not working correctly! After this weekend it showed 3/4 full! I was surprised that it filled up so fast, but we had a lot of guests lately so I figured it could be. This morning I went across the river to Tarrytown Marina to pump out the head, and it pumped out pretty quickly. I refilled the holding tank with fresh water until it flushed out the thru hull vent, and then pumped it out again. When it was done pumping, I checked the guage again, and it registered 1/2 full. I knew for sure then that the guage was screwed up, and went back across the river to my dock. After I got the boat tied up at the dock, I checked the guage again and it now registered 3/4 full again.

What was it that John said..."They suck and are not reliable"

It looks like I will be replacing these with that Acu-gage after all!

In the meantime, I will have to visually inspect the tank before leaving the dock, like Oscar does! Sure would not want the tank to be full at the most inappropriate time with guests on board!!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

Here are a couple of pics of the installation on the 248 many moons ago.





Easy install if it wasn't for having to run the wires

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Jvalich
http://www.badcock.com

'04 FW 288 Vista "Mental Floss"

Looks Good. Thanks for the pics!

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'04 FW 268Vista "Andiamo"

I am not saying anything about the tank indicators on my 278. Or did I just do that?

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SOLD! 2006 30th Anniversary Vista 278
"Conch'd Out!"

http://vista278.com

Thanks for the pics. My fresh20 seems accurate but my blackh20 is reading 3/4 when empty. Maybe I'll do this mod too.

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

My H20 and Blackwater both worked when I brought the boat home from the dealership. Already my Blackwater is on the fritz and is showing full even though it's not.. The fresh water for the time being, seems to be working, but lord knows how long that will last!

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Brett DiMichele

My black water nerver did work correctly. I use the flash light method. Chedk the tank with a flash light down through the top.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

Where are the tanks? On my 278 I think they're under the mid-cabin. That means unscrewing the covers. You do that, or they're easier to see on yours?

_________________
SOLD! 2006 30th Anniversary Vista 278
"Conch'd Out!"

http://vista278.com

Under the aft cabin mattress in a long narrow compartment.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

ok, the blackwater tank can be checked with the depth manual lamp (the one for overnight navigation), it's easy to be reached under the bed, but the fresh water tank is covered by a pice of wood under the front mirror and it is closed with some thousand screws

Ciao, Oscar

_________________
2006-288 Vista
"Drogue One" - a starboard story -
2 x Volvo Penta D3 - 160 HP

previous boats:
2001 -FW 268 Vista
1998 FW 258 Vista
2003 Saver 690 Cabin Sport

One the 348/358 they're right down the center of the keel. If you open the hatch to the shower sump you can just barely see it looking forward. Well enough to tell if it's entirely full or not.

The fresh water tank is underneath the forward berth. You cannot see it unless you remove the drawer. Once you pull the drawer (it comes out much like any other kitchen cabinet drawer) you can see the fresh water tank. You have to be a bit of contortionist to reach the shut-off valve though.

I'm wondering what signals the existing (xantrex/fireboy) sender uses. But more importantly, would those external senders work with the existing x/f gauge? The x/f sender/gauge uses two wires from the senders. It'd be great if I could just keep the existing gauge and wires but use new sensors. Any idea if they'd work (or not)?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

on this I have my own idea but English is not my mother language thus for me it's hard to eplain, I will try: I think that gauges are ok, the device inside water not the same, probably it's simply a multilevel electrical signal, i mean a kind of breaker that makes gauge lights turn on (or off) when water level is rising, probably water simply closes the circuit. If this is true any other kind of sender that fit exactly the available space in the tank could be suitable.

I don't know if I've been enough understandable. But not I am in summer vacation at seaside and my mind is far away from anything complicated....

ciao
Oscar

_________________
2006-288 Vista
"Drogue One" - a starboard story -
2 x Volvo Penta D3 - 160 HP

previous boats:
2001 -FW 268 Vista
1998 FW 258 Vista
2003 Saver 690 Cabin Sport