🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for small passenger vessels fuel systems • Purpose of sounding pipes and fill lines on gasoline tanks • How close a pipe should be to the tank bottom to allow sounding without blocking or restricting flow

💭 Think About

• Think about why a sounding pipe needs to reach near the bottom of the tank in the first place. What operation is it used for? • If the pipe sits directly on the bottom, what potential problems could that cause? If it sits too high above the bottom, what problem does that create for accurate measurement? • Which choice reflects a small, controlled clearance that allows liquid in, but keeps the pipe end from being blocked by the tank bottom?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which choice mentions a clearance measured relative to the pipe’s own diameter rather than a fixed distance like half a foot. • Check which option would best allow you to get an accurate sound of the fuel level all the way to the bottom. • Confirm that the selected option avoids both bottom blockage and excessive gap from the tank bottom.