Gas smell

[Rford09]

I have a 1998 four winns 225 sundowner. I took it to the gas station and filled it up on saturday
Evening, parked it in the driveway and left it. Yesterday i took the cover off, and noticed a gas odor, it seemed stronger in the cuddy cabin, and when i opened the small storage space in the floor of the boat. We let it air out, then went for a short ride. The gas gauge was bouncing beetween full and half. doesthis sound right. This boat is new to me so i am getting used to it. If there is a gas leak is there somewhere that is common that i should check? When you fill up the boat do you see the gas gauge pegged at full for a length of time, or is it supposed to be that erratic.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Rob

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Gas smell

Any gas leak is an extremely dangerous safety concern. I wouldn't use the boat until the problem is corrected. I wouldn't even park it close to any structure that could burn.

If the tank was filled and then shows half full, the fuel may have leaked into the hull where it can be a huge explosion risk. I wouldn't expect to smell any gas in the cuddy cabin.

It is normal for a fuel gauge to bounce a lot with a partially filled tank. Mine will fluctuate at least a 1/4 tank when the boat is bouncing over waves.

Good luck!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Gas smell

If the gas tank was just filled, the gauge should not bounce. That will happen as the level goes down as you use the boat, the gauge will move back n forth a bit.
If you noticed a gas smell right after filling it, then you have to find were it's coming from. Be very careful, boat bilges are closed compartments and explosive gas fumes will drop down to the lowest level. Some likely leak spots are the fill hose, the vent hose, and the gasket around the fuel gauge sending unit. This is in the top of the gas tank, most FWs have a hatch that can be removed and the sending unit has a cover with 5 screws that can be removed, there is a gasket that sometimes leaks....