Gas Smell

FourWinnsLC

FourWinnsLC

Seaman
Joined
May 28, 2012
Messages
59
Im not sure if this is the best place for this Question.
Moderator Feel Free to place this thread to another Forum.


1996 Fourwinns 225 Sundowner 5.8 EFI Volvo Penta

I have noticed a gas smell in the cuddy, and when were sitting on the deck (more so in the port side front seat)

Is this part of owning a boat and is just the way it is?
Or Is there a Vent hole/tube that needs some attention?

I assume it has something to do with the fuel tank expanding from the heat.

Do I have an issue?
 
L

laserbrn

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
268
Re: Gas Smell

Something isn't right. The cuddy shouldn't smell like gas. Time to find the source of the problem. Could be a leaky tank or like you said a vent tube that needs attention. Regardless, something needs attention.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,150
Re: Gas Smell

Yes, I would not use the boat until the problem is identified and corrected. It could be the tank leaking, and if so, there is probably a fair amount of fuel that may be just sitting in the fuel tank bay.

Boats should not smell of fuel, and if the smell is present in the cuddy, it is a pretty good indication of a significant problem
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,780
Re: Gas Smell

Yes fuel vapors are heavier than air and settle in the lowest places. USCG I'm sure, requires overboard venting just as they require bilges to be forced convection ventilated due to the fire hazard, especially gasoline.

If you do smell gas in the cuddy, I'd look for the source. If, due to the wind direction, the tank vent fumes get into the cuddy then about the only thing to do there is to reposition the boat so that the vent is down wind. If the fumes are there and not from the vent then surely an investigation is in order, including the engine compartment and all other bilge spaces. Just because you smell a faint auroma of gas or oil is no biggie in itself as minute amounts of the products will escape, like fuel in the carb can vent through the carb intake and emit a slight aroma. Course, a leaking fuel line could do that too, especially at an interface coupling so it all bears checking out.

HTH,
Mark
 
oldjeep

oldjeep

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
6,455
Re: Gas Smell

If you're smelling it in the cuddy, I'd pull the ski locker door (assuming you have one) and see what it smells like in there. Might have a fuel leak that is putting some gas in the bilge/bottom.
 
FourWinnsLC

FourWinnsLC

Seaman
Joined
May 28, 2012
Messages
59
Re: Gas Smell

oldjeep said:
If you're smelling it in the cuddy, I'd pull the ski locker door (assuming you have one) and see what it smells like in there. Might have a fuel leak that is putting some gas in the bilge/bottom.
Click to expand...

No Ski door but basically the same thing several screws and a rectangle of the floor comes up, directly under is the fuel tank. Going to start there.
 
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