Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

[Gary H NC]

No problems last year with gas smell. The lines from the tank to the motor are new...I opened the access hatch where the fuel gauge sender is and really smell fumes.
No gas in the bilge though.

Ohhhh...to think i may need to pull that big dang tank!
I can take the large panel out of the deck and see the whole tank but its set in place with that peanut butter hard as a rock stuff.

Trying to decide to go fishing in the morning and run all the gas out..

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Bummer, for sure....what about the vent tube? Any way some gas could have leaked down a bit from there? Doesn't take much to smell up a bunch...Good luck.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Thanks Rick,
Yea, i filled her and brought it home today.My driveway is on a good downhill angle so that puts the fuel away from the vent line and fill hose(bow up)
I just got a feeling the 28 year old tank is seeping...
I'm hoping its the fill hose but kinda doubt it. I did not fill it until fuel came out the vent.

I hate to think how much a new tank will cost if i can find the same size to fit..

 

[gss036]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

I also posted this on post that you replied to, just in case you don't go back there, this was a reply I received on the Sea Craft board.

RDS in fla built the original tanks in 1989,and they still have the diagrams for it. i replaced the 135 gal tank in my 89 23cc 3 years ago for 565 and shipping from Fla to eastern NC was 125. Les

 

[Mark42]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Thanks Rick,
....

I hate to think how much a new tank will cost if i can find the same size to fit..

Check out oceanlinkinc.com. They seem to have all the moeller tank diagrams. I got mine from them. Just had to wait about 4 weeks for a batch of 1 tank to be made just for yours truly by Moeller and drop shipped to me.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

85 gallons, 135 gallons.. You guys have some BIG *ss gas tanks in those boats of yours! And here I thought my 30 gallons was huge.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

I don't burn 85 gallons all year

 

[capt sam]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Obviously check all your fittings, I would pull the hatch cover and let it air out and check it again after a few hours, could be a lot of things. If it does have a crack it could be in the upper part of the tank and it will leak down past it, not really a solution but it may make in hull repair viable.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Thanks for the info guys,

Heading out to the lake in a few for the shakedown run and some fishing.
Checked a few minutes ago and the bilge is still dry.
Hoping its a cracked fill or vent hose. That would be WAY better than getting that tank out.
An hour drive to the lake so i will leave the 2 inspection hatches open to air out.

75 today! Time to get hitched up and go!

I wonder if i can run 85 gallons out in one day...that V-6 loves gas!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Good luck, Gary. Try and enjoy the day in your "new" boat. You sure have put a lot of work into her to get her looking so good!!

And to think,,,you were actually talking about selling her last Fall.....

 

[dingbat]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

How old are your fuel and vent lines? They only have a 7-10 year life expectancy.

I had a simlar problem on my last boat that had a 22 yro tank. Went to pull the tank and noticed rust on the underside of the fill hose at the bend from the fill port. Replaced the fill and vent hoses and have had no issues since.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

85 gallons, 135 gallons.. You guys have some BIG *ss gas tanks in those boats of yours! And here I thought my 30 gallons was huge.

I have a 92 gallon main with a 47 gallon aux. tank. When your getting 2.3 miles to the gallon you need all the fuel you can get.

 

[gss036]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

I hear you there, when I had my 200 hp Mercury, I would get 2 mpg and burn 10-12 gallons per hour. I cannot believe how fuel efficient the new 225 Honda is. I put a North Star fuel flow gauge on it in January and started out with 75 gallons and I drained the tank yesterday, the Northstar gauge said it should have 26.6 gallons left and I pulled out 26 gallons. I run the Honda at 36-3700@ 26 MPH and burn 5 GPH, so that is why I really don't need a huge tank anymore. I am still trying to figure out what I want to do.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Thanks for the info guys,

Heading out to the lake in a few for the shakedown run and some fishing.
Checked a few minutes ago and the bilge is still dry.
Hoping its a cracked fill or vent hose. That would be WAY better than getting that tank out.
An hour drive to the lake so i will leave the 2 inspection hatches open to air out.

75 today! Time to get hitched up and go!

I wonder if i can run 85 gallons out in one day...that V-6 loves gas!

Betcha have a great time finding out!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

I hear you there, when I had my 200 hp Mercury, I would get 2 mpg and burn 10-12 gallons per hour. I cannot believe how fuel efficient the new 225 Honda is. I put a North Star fuel flow gauge on it in January and started out with 75 gallons and I drained the tank yesterday, the Northstar gauge said it should have 26.6 gallons left and I pulled out 26 gallons. I run the Honda at 36-3700@ 26 MPH and burn 5 GPH, so that is why I really don't need a huge tank anymore. I am still trying to figure out what I want to do.

A friend bought a new Judge 27 with a 225 Honda on the back last fall. He cruises about 4200 @ 28 mph and get 4.3 mpg. Pretty good for a boat that size.

Guess it depends on where you boat but personally I'd keep the big tank. Even at 5 mpg I could easily burn up 50 gallons on a good day. And if you adhere to the 1/3 out, 1/3 back and 1/3 reserve policy you would need a 75 gallon tank..... minimum.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

that sucks, have not heard from him, hope he did not blow up. anyone check the Charlotte news?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

I'm here!!! NO BOOM!!

The boat ran flawless! The lake was too busy to fish much but a nice 80* day!
First i have run it since i had the lower off,power head off and replaced a ton of gaskets.....fresh paint.
A touch on the cold natured side but after it runs a minute it starts with a bump of the key...
It seemed after i burnt off the first 1/8th of the tank the fuel smell pretty much went away.
So i'm thinking fuel fill or vent hose..I hope! Or if it leaking its only when full.

The floor will come up later this week and the hoses replaced.
The fill and vent are original hoses....
Not sure what all will need taken apart to reach the clamp on the vent hose..
Someone with LONG skinny arms...

Took on about 5 gallons of water in the bilge too???

With the the Seacast transom it must be a engine bracket bolt or the garboard drain not sealing well..The 5200 should solve that.

Got sun burned...out all day then came home and went to a cook out and bonfire.
Rode the motorcycle to that....
Froze to death coming home at 1 am on the interstate....while cussing myself for not taking the car...

 

[Nandy]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Sound to me like a great day, freezing at all... Have a good one....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

Sound to me like a great day, freezing at all... Have a good one....

LOL!!! Yea,It was Nandy! Except for the late night ride home on the bike at 65 mph...
I know one thing,I fell to sleep really fast last night..ready for an afternoon nap now..

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Filled up the 86 gallon tank, now smell gas...

hey gary how are ya man sorry your haveing fuel tank probs
you know i run a 175 on my boat i run 25 gallon aluminum above deck
if i have to run further i put a couple plasttic 6s in it
if ya can get your tank out you ought to be able to gary less fuel say 35 40 gals max how far are ya traveling man lol i have a 35 alum out of a boat i ahd bought with fill tube and antisyphon it about 10 inchs tall by around 48 wide
by 32 deep i can get some exzact measurement and maybe a pic if ya want to drop in size ya can have it pm me if it will help ya it 3/16 welded alum /mint bout 35 or 38 gals