gas fumes sneaking into cabin

[possum2082]

my buddy and i took my sunbridge out last fall. we dropped anchor in some cove, had a few beers and went to bed in the cabin. i did not run the blower after we anchored for the night. about 3 in the morning, we were woken up by a gas smell in the cabin and opened all the windows and went back to bed.

my wife and i too her out last week. after anchoring for lunch, i went down to use the head. that same gas smell was in the head making me assume the fumes are getting into the cabin through here (possibly through the area where the wiring harness runs from the engine compartment as the previous owner--douce--mentioned redoing some of the wiring).

what is confusing me is the fact that when the boat is sitting in my driveway, there is never a gas smell in the cabin (or head).

i'm a bit confused as this is my first boat. what do you guys think?

 

[Bondo]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

what do you guys think?

Ayuh,... I think you've got a Problem that needs findin', 'n fixin'...

Could be abit of a Leak at the tank maybe,..??

 

[robert graham]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

Are you talking LP Gas fumes, gasoline exhaust fumes or gasoline fumes?...Like Bond-O said, fix it now, not later! Good Luck!

 

[possum2082]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

Ayuh,... I think you've got a Problem that needs findin', 'n fixin'...

Could be abit of a Leak at the tank maybe,..??

i was thinking the tank at first, too.

but wouldn't a leak at the tank cause my cabin to smell when it is sitting in my driveway?

also, when it has been sitting in my driveway, the engine compartment doesn't smell too bad either.

 

[possum2082]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

Are you talking LP Gas fumes, gasoline exhaust fumes or gasoline fumes?...Like Bond-O said, fix it now, not later! Good Luck!

they were regular ol' gasoline fumes.

 

[robert graham]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

Well, your boat is a bomb. There has to be a leak somewhere in that fuel system, maybe at the pump, fittings,etc...better check it out! I lost a brother in a gasoline fume fire/explosion and it really sucked! Good Luck!

 

[shrew]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

i was thinking the tank at first, too.

but wouldn't a leak at the tank cause my cabin to smell when it is sitting in my driveway?

also, when it has been sitting in my driveway, the engine compartment doesn't smell too bad either.

If there is a leak in the top of the tank or around a fitting, it might not leak unles the fuel is really sloshing around. Do you refuel the boat on the way TO the ramp or on the way BACK? Maybe it only leaks when the tank contains more than a certain amount of fuel?

There's not a lot of pieces to this puzzle. i'd start at the fuel fill and work my way through the system. I certainly wouldn't be running the boat with a fuel leak.

 

[possum2082]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

i think i may have found the problem. i crawled in the engine compartment and found a 4 in. diameter hole that the wires were running through. i got into the head and looked aft on the starboard side and BINGO, i could see into the engine compartment.

now, how do i seal it?

can i use GREAT STUFF foam?

 

[Stachi]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

Would you have fumes at all if you didn't have a leak somewhere?? Even a once in awhile drip from a fuel line or fitting is dangerous.

 

[possum2082]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

thank you everyone for your input, i appreciate your time and ideas.

Would you have fumes at all if you didn't have a leak somewhere?? Even a once in awhile drip from a fuel line or fitting is dangerous.

that's a good point, man. which led me to the following:

i ran my boat a bit in the driveway on muffs, killed her, let her sit a bit, and opened the hatch. a faint gas smell hit me so i stuck my head way down in the bilge area. i ran my hands all over the gas tank, lines, pump, etc.. nothing. then i saw the carb had some gasoline residue on it. i was sniffing the whole compartment. it was a sight, let me tell you. definitely coming from the carb, though.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: gas fumes sneaking into cabin

What you need to do is a fuel system pressure test. It will tell you in a heartbeat where the leak is, and you do have a leak!. Do not run your boat. As was said it is a floating bomb just waiting for the spark to set it off. Any good marine repair or dealer should have the device to do the pressure test, but you need to do it now before you become a statistic.