I have a vacuum gage installed in my fuel line and know (based on filter life) that my fuel is generally clean. However, that doesn't mean I won't develop a problem at a bad time, as I don't know how close my fuel pickup goes to the bottom.

I've never drained the diesel tank completely since I bought the boat, and am considering the idea of sucking out whatever water/junk might be lurking in the bottom, into a 5 gallon jug for evaluation and proper disposal. The tank has no bottom drain fitting so I will need to use a pickup tube and siphon from a top opening.

I have a plan in mind to siphon it, but seeking other ideas just in case someone can enlighten me with tips or tricks: What tools and methods would you suggest for getting up just the bad stuff without completely draining the tank?