Well I need help chasing a rabbit. Found significant signs of fuel in bilge of my 96 Outrage 198. Maybe 1/4 cup floating on residual bilge water Checked flanges at vent and fill hoses also at fitting for hose to engine. Felt most of delivery hose for leak and filter housing for tightness. No fuel “wetness”. Left acess cover off to allow evaporation.
Suspect damaged tank. will see if leak continues. Is there something else to check. how big an issue to pressure test tank for integrity?
With a boat 20 years old I look more into dry cracked fuel lines. Also check your fill tube, did you just fill up? As for a damaged fuel tank … maybe, but I’d look at sending unit gasket first.
Good job on leaving access cover off. Gas vapors are worse than liquid fuel. After it has set a bit get a good flashlight and shake the heck out of your boat and then look all over for wet spots.
“Why Bruce?”
Don’t start the boat due to spark danger. Get the boat to a professional. Fuel leaks are not to be trifled with, especially when they are gasoline leaks. Given the age of your boat I would say your problem is your fuel tank.
“Temptation may lean on the doorbell… opportunity may only knock once”
use a very good sealed flashlight with tight seals . the sparks in the on off switch could be bad.
Stick your nose in the hole an give it a sniff! If it smells like gas, let it air out some more! If you use a light, turn it on before you stick it into the hole, not after!
Good bet is the fill tube is rotten! Might be time to change all the hoses. 20 years on ethonal gas is a killer on old plastic and rubber. Sure ate up the fiberglass tank on my big boat! The new hoses are subpose to work with eth gas. They say its only 10% but I would bet it is much more! I read last week that the stations up north have already started pumping 15 % its only a matter of time here if not allready!
My Key West had the same problem with fuel in the bilge, it turned out to be the fuel sending unit gasket and it was not very easy to get too. I ended up installing a new access panel over the top of it just so that I could get to the screws to tighten them up. Problem is now solved.
2020 CC Key West
Mako 243 W/Twin Suzuki DF 175’s
Next Chapter. No leakage from hoses, gaskets. Tank is 1/4 full. Boat has not moved in 5 days. Seepage continues. There must be a hole. T Top, console, leaning post must come off to get to floor panel that is screwed down. I do not have access to lift equipment to remove. Friends are too old! Videos show this to be simple but time consuming project (except for re rigging controls). Need a suggestion for a shop that has time for this. Indications are that OEM will make replacement tank. Lookout bank account!
What springtide wrote!
Too risky a task for old (or young) folks.
I have some large 3rd degree burns I got years ago from messing with gas-stuff is not to be trifled with.
Chris V, Seel,s etc.
16’ Alumacraft Mod V Hull Jon Boat
25hp Yammy 4 stroke
we pull and replace tanks several times a year.
minimum of 8-10 hours labor, seen it take double that.
sometimes we can just lift everything up and hold it there while we pull the tank.
other times, everything has to be completely removed.
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.bombislandboats.com
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
Thanks everyone. Chris you have kept this boat going for years. If I bring you this I may have to list you as a dependent on my tax return.
I had fuel in my bilge this year, turned out to be a bad seal on the fuel water separator. Replaced and was good as new. It wouldn’t leak just sitting there, only when the boat was moving or trailing, so it was tough to pinpoint.
I added several gallons of fresh water to mine and then pumped out to a separate container…then I put that in peapod’s car as to not waste the gas…we’re all conservationists after all.
I should be so lucky. I can actually see the seepage coming from under the tank area. I placed an absorbent mat under the housing … Dry.