UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

[autiger25]

This is my luck. I trailer my 18.5' Seaswirl Cuddy cabin to costco to fill it with gas yesterday.<br /><br />Im filling my jeep with gas while the attendant places the pump in the hole for my fishing rod.<br /><br />About 24 hours ago I had 17 gallons of gasoline in the hull of my boat!<br /><br />I have no idea what to do. I pulled the plug and drained all the gas possible out of the boat. I then sprayed water down the same hole that the gasoline went down in an attempt to wash it out.<br /><br />I think I got pretty much all of the gas out but I'm honestly not sure.<br /><br />Does anybody have any advice as to what should be done?? Will the gas hurt the fiberglass hull? <br /><br />I got a mariner 150 outboard engine. I also would hate for the boat to explode when i try to crank it.<br /><br />Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Vantoo]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

First thing I would do is talk to the gas station owner or manager and find out what their insurance company wanted me to do.... Rick

 

[javsam]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

let it vent off outside. for the gas to explode it needs to collect in an enclosed area, so keep everything open. I don't think the gas will hurt the fiberglass hull.<br />javsam

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

How long was the gas in your boat or did you notice immediately and drain off at the station.?????

 

[Solittle]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

I agree with vantoo that you should tell the gas station owner that you intend to make a claim for damages. That puts them on notice even if you do not file a claim.<br /><br />Gas will not hurt the fiberglass hull itself. Many gas tanks are made of fiberglass. However I would assume that the gas got into the bilge. I would contact Seaswirl and ask them if there is anything below the deck that would be damaged by the fuel. I am thinking of flotation foam, stringers etc.<br /><br />I would think that some of the fuel collected in cavities below the deck so a simple flush may not have gotten it all out. I would flush/flood the area several times.

 

[RustyC]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

I would definitely leave all the hatches open and flush out your bilge a few times with a combo of Simple Green and water. Do you have a float on your bilge pump? Did it pump out any gas? If so I would definitely want to run some simple green and water through it as well. Now I don't know how successful you will be making a claim to the Gas station owner. I know many boat owners that have done the same thing let alone a kid at a Costco gas station. This is why I always get up and pump my own gas. This way I have only my self to blame. Let us know how you make out.

 

[John McFarlane]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

Sink the boat.<br /><br />The remainder of the fuel will float to the top.<br /><br />Eventually.<br /><br />Maybe.

 

[PAkev]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

I hope they didn't expect you to pay for the 17 gallons of gas!<br /><br />A friend once had an gas station attendant begin filling his diesel tank up with gas before he noticed and then immediately stopped him. They had to bring his truck to the dealer on a rollback truck and drop the tank. The cost of the towing, dealer servicce, and a car rental was sponged by the gas station.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

Gas station is 100% responsible. Make noise about it. <br /><br />But of course that doesn't help your boat right now so the advice up above is good. <br /><br />Open any and all hatches to the bilge compartment. <br /><br />Water and gas don't mix well so it doesn't do a great job rinsing it out. <br /><br />Get some concentrated degreaser, like a gallon or more, and pour it in the bilge with the plug in. Then dump about 30 gallons of water down the same hole the gas went in. Then take the boat for a ride on the trailer, and look for bumps and curves to slosh that mix around. <br /><br />Finally drain it out, preferably in some responsible fashion since there will be degreaser and gasoline in the water that comes out. <br /><br />Should get you pretty clean. <br /><br />Then get a survey or likewise and have the station pay up for it and for any damages the survey finds related to the fueling incident.

 

[autiger25]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

Thanks for the help everybody. I got as much gas as I could out as soon as I noticed what happenned. I thought I had it all out until I got on a steep incline and fuel started pouring out of my bilge.<br /><br />I finally got a couple of blocks and put under my trailer jack to increase the angle in hopes that it would run to the back and out the plug. I hope that it's all out now, but im going to attempt to flush it again this afternoon.<br /><br />I will pick up some kind of degreaser to add to the mix as well.<br /><br />Bye the way, my batteries are stored in a rear compartment where the gas initally came in. However I dont think it got much on them. Would it be harmful if so?<br /><br />Im just a bit fearful of explosions with me in the driver's seat.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

Gas liquid is not dangerous. One can put a match out in the liquid if you can get to it without contacting any vapors. The gas vapors are dangerous. The good news is that gas evaporates quickly with enough air circulation. <br /><br />You will continue to have risk as long as there is any residual gas in the hull. As mentioned above, do not cover the boat and leave all hatches open. I also like the idea of putting the plug back in, pouring a bunch of water with a degreaser into the same entry point used by the fuel. Drive it around on the trailer and let it slosh around. Then drain it. <br /><br />I too would hit the gas station up and make them take care of this. They are responsible.

 

[Bondo]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

Ayuh,........<br /><br />I vote for a Gallon of Pine-Sol,+ 20 Gallons of Water Dumped into the bilge,+ Drive around town,.. <br />Lots of Stop & Go driving,....At Least an Hour,..... More if you can stand it,..........<br />Then Pull the Plug,+ Drain it........<br /><br />She'll Smell Sweet,+ be Safe after that........... <br /><br />And,..... The Fuel Jocky's Employer Should be Paying for Time, Labor,+ Expenses.............

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

Who noticed that the gas wasn't going in the gas tank? Wouldn't you hear something flowing onto the fiberglass? Did you pay for the gas? This story makes me mad. Instead of the attendant asking you where the gas goes in, he puts it anywhere. This is an example of why I don't trust to many people. Thinking isn't prevalent in American society.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

I would follow everyones advice about the simple green or other cleaner and driving around, but I'd add something a little abrasive too. Add some powdered detergent or even better, a whole can of oxyclean to the mix. You may never get all the smell out though.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: UNBELIEVABLE! Gas in boat hull

What state are you in?......If it is not N.J. or Oregon it is your fault!.....Frankly, I think it's your fault anyway.....You should have been on top of that....Most gas station attendants can't afford a 18.5 Seaswirl & therefore could be understandably clueless.....Follow the ideas above & you will be O.K......Bummer! .....JK