Smell Gas in Cuddy

[DemersChrisG]

When I walk down in my cabin the aft room smells really bad of Gas. I opened up a floor panel and found there to be about 2 gallons of gas floating around. Plus, its leaking down under the engine and when I pull the plug after taking it out of the water there is a brown fluid that comes out. Do gas tanks rot out much? Any other ideas. I will be checking the lines today.

 

[cuzner]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Yes fuel tanks..even alluminum will corrode over time. This is a very serious issue!!!! your basicly floating around in a bomb.I think its time to haul your boat out, and remove your tank + replace it. Depending on your boat you may be able remove without to much hassle, on some aft cabin boats it accesable under your bunk.<br /><br /> Jim

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

2 gallons of gas just floating around??? Yikes!!!! If you aren't a pro, or aren't sure what to do, get that boat to a certified marine mechanic, pronto! Before you blow up or blow up the boat & the others around it.

 

[JB]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Yea, I find it funny that I spent all this weekend out in the pacific, and hitting up the BBQ on the boat while in the back of my mind I kept wondering why I smell gas. My little "bomb" is proving to be a little money pit.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Oh yea, I want to replace my single 120 gallon tank (assuming) its defective with 2, 50 gallon plastic tanks. I would think plastic will hold up/last longer in the salt water over any metal/alluminum tank. Am I correct in saying so?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Before I'd address the type of gas tank material I would find out why the one you have is leaking. If it is because your boat has a water leak problem you may have more problems than just a leaking gas tank.<br /><br />But what ever you do, do not expose that boat to sparks or flame.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Honestly, I just think its hose or something. But I am a negative person so I always think worst case. The hull is in great shape. No holes dings or dents. If this tank is defective anyway I would guess its because of age (1979), and salt slowly got to it over time. But, I know I'm not taking in any water.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Yea, I find it funny that I spent all this weekend out in the pacific, and hitting up the BBQ on the boat while in the back of my mind I kept wondering why I smell gas

Buddy you have a strange sense of humor and a death wish. I can't imagine anyone operating a boat that smelled of gas let alone operating a BBQ on-board. Glad you and whoever was with you lived to talk about it.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

gas tank leak is serious, but start small first. i'd haul the boat and get it on blocks. remove sources of flame and turn off the batteries. drain bilge. then start checking your engine and hoses. hopefully it's just a hose. whatever repair is necessary, flush the bilge when you are done. good luck, i hope it's something small.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

"God looks out for drunks & fools". Also morons, as witnessed by this thread.

 

[cuzner]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Try and be nice boys.... the man is smart enough to ask when he does'nt know. I didn't know that gas fumes where an issue, till someone taught this moron (ME) that fuel vapors are heavier than air and will collect in the bilge <br /><br /> Jim

 

[rwidman]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Originally posted by mattttt25:<br /> gas tank leak is serious, but start small first. i'd haul the boat and get it on blocks. remove sources of flame and turn off the batteries. drain bilge. then start checking your engine and hoses. hopefully it's just a hose. whatever repair is necessary, flush the bilge when you are done. good luck, i hope it's something small.

Any gas leak on a boat is serious. The source of the leak can possibly be traced by observation, looking for wet spots, hoses, etc. A pro can do a pressure test. I would not only turn off the batteries, I would disconnect and remove them after turning off all loads so there is no chance of sparks.<br /><br />As for draining and flushing the bilge, it shouldn' be dumped on land or in the water, it should be captured into a container and disposed of properly. A detergent solution and rags or brushes will be necessary for final cleaning.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Originally posted by DemersChrisG:<br /> Yea, I find it funny that I spent all this weekend out in the pacific, and hitting up the BBQ on the boat while in the back of my mind I kept wondering why I smell gas. My little "bomb" is proving to be a little money pit.

Please don't use the boat again until you get this fixed. Even without the Barbecue. It's very dangerous to have a gas leak on a boat with an engine.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Dont worry gents. Thanks for your deep concerns. Take comfort in knowing that the boat is currently trailered, and I begin tearing it apart this afternoon. I gotta get ol' girl up and running for memorial day BBQ.

 

[ED21]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Glad to hear it.<br />At least you won't be part of the fireworks.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

I opened up the floor boards and saw traces of dried up gas all over the top of the tank. Yep, its leaking somewhere. It will be too much of a hassle to take the 120 gallon tank out so I am going to just drain it, flush it, and mount 2, 50 gallon plastic tanks with T connectors instead. I really wish I could take it out the old one, but that invloves pretty much tearing apart the entire inside of the boat. I know once I get that thing apart, I will be too lazy to put it all back together.

 

[swist]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Aluminum tanks can be a problem if not properly mounted - in a lot of small boats they get foamed in with no circulation and keep water in contact with the tank. And salt water is really bad news as it eats aluminum.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

Originally posted by DemersChrisG:<br /> I opened up the floor boards and saw traces of dried up gas all over the top of the tank. Yep, its leaking somewhere. It will be too much of a hassle to take the 120 gallon tank out so I am going to just drain it, flush it, and mount 2, 50 gallon plastic tanks with T connectors instead. I really wish I could take it out the old one, but that invloves pretty much tearing apart the entire inside of the boat. I know once I get that thing apart, I will be too lazy to put it all back together.

If the gas is on the top, it may be a fitting that's leaking. As I posted above, you can have the tank pressure tested to find the leak. You may not need to replace it.<br /><br />Where are you going to put the additional tanks? Space is pretty tight on a boat.

 

[DemersChrisG]

Re: Smell Gas in Cuddy

I got a 27foot 2750 victoria, I will but the plastic tanks in the engine compartment. Its pretty spacy and with lots of distance from the engine. (chevy 350) Like I said a few paragraphs up, repairing that tank will be too much of a hassle right now. Especially with summer starting up. I will just wait until its layed up at the end of the summer to deal with it.