Gass coming out of vent, boat still winterized

[scipper77]

Today was the first really warm day of the year here in NY (80+). As I was doing yard work I could smell gas from the boat. Then i noticed a drip uf what turned out to be gas coming from under the tarp. I pulled the tarp and cover off of the boat and found that gas was coming out of the vent and running down the side of the hull and dripping out at the stern. I had raised the bow up two weeks ago (on a small bucket under trailer jack). Just out of curiosity I lowered the bow and gas came pouting out of the vent.

It's an I/O mercruiser 185 engine in a 17" chris craft open bow standard fiberglass setup boat.

I winterize with a full tank of gas.

Can anyone tell me what is going on???

P.S. I let everything sit uncovered with engine cover off, then installed battery and started blower, put water plugs in the block, hooked up earmuffs and the boat started up with no problems after 6 months or so of sitting.

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: Gass coming out of vent, boat still winterized

Sounds like you filled the tank when it was cold out, and now that its warmed up again, the gas in the tank expanded and looked for the nearest exit which was your vent tube. I wouldn't sweat it, but this year get it close to full, but not all the way to the top. Use some fuel stabilizer and you should be fine.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Gass coming out of vent, boat still winterized

I agree with dodgeramsst2003. Probably just expansion. Boats get hot under a cover.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Gass coming out of vent, boat still winterized

It's basically nothing more than heat expansion. Not anything to ignore by any means but there's little or nothing you can do about it right now short of draining some fuel from the tank.
If that is the only place the fuel is escaping from then it's as mentioned.
You said something about the fuel coming down the side of the boat and dripping off of the stern. Was that just from the vent or did you actually have fuel coming out of the stern plug itself?

 

[scipper77]

Re: Gass coming out of vent, boat still winterized

Fuel was running out of the vent but rather than go straight down it ran down the side of the boat until it reached the end of the line (the stern) and was dripping off of the right rear corner of the boat. I may have answered my own question a little bit better than what I have read. I think that by raising the bow I trapped an air bubble in the gas stank. The air would expand more than the fuel explaining why such a large volume of gas (like 1/2 gallon maybe) was forced out of the vent.

Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions!!