[scook]

I'm getting in a little late, but my '85 fuel guage didn't work either. I popped the cover in the deck and found the connection on the top of the tank was a gob of corrosion. Took it off to clean it up and the wire broke off the connector - it was a gob of corrosion too. I had other wiring problems, so went out and got a marine crimper and some connectors, cleaned it up and put it back together and the needle jumped to life. If somebody hasn't messed around with things, the wires probably all go to the right places and the first thing to check on a boat, especially one that's around salt water, is corrosion at the connections.

On the advice of a friend, I bought some Boeshield T-9 (it's a solventized parafin wax juice in a spray can - West Marine has it, or Google it and you can get it online). It's a little expensive (around $13/can) but it goes a long way and it really works to prevent corrosion. I use it on the milled surfaces of shop tools (table saw, etc.) trailer hitches, hand tools, battery terminals, etc. - it's good stuff.

Good luck with the problem.

Scott