Got Towed In 1/2 Way, Then A Thought Occured...

Boat ran fine for about 30 minutes. Various speeds, stop and go’s.

Got to an island on Wateree to swim, boat sat for about 1.5 hours, and we decided to leave. I backed it of the island, went maybe 100 yards, and sputter, sputter, sputter.

I tried to crank it back up, but it would run for about 8 seconds, and shut off. I repeated this process for about 8 cranks.

We were on the backside of the island, and we hollered to some friends, they came and got us, and started towing us back home.

Then – it hit me – FUEL FILTER.

It took some crazy effort to get the ■■■■ thing off (after trying to go the wrong way first, duh). When I finally got it off, it was full. I dumped it, and it was clear, and barely even tinted the water like gas does. I cranked up, it cranked fine. Let it run 3 minutes, dumped it again, full. Did this one more time…full.

Got back to dock, dumped a full cup.

Let it run again for a while, dumped 1/2. Tried again for 5 minutes and nothing. Tried again for another 5 minutes at a high idle and no water again. So, I guess it’s done for a little while – FINALLY! Looks like I’m good to go (for now).

I’ve got a 115 gal. tank and there’s about 40 gals in there. I’m sure condensation is the problem after cooler nights. I’m just glad it was nothing major. :wink:

FWIW, it’s an '05 Yamaha F225EFI.

'05 Wellcraft 232 Coastal

Could be the start of an ethanol problem,same happened to me end of last season,had to have carbs rebuilt to totally cure it.Make shure you startron the heck out of it.

03 1720 Key West

Please Please!!! get that gas remaining in the tank all completely out! and I mean completly! if possible open a inspection plate (guage) so you can get a hose all the way in to the corner of the tank and siphon out the last remaing bit with the boat tipped up and angled a little, you will be amazed at what will come out in the last possible quart you get out of there, it will resemble a jelly like sludge substance that if left in there will cause you much grief. What you described is exactly what I have seen in at least a dozen boats this summer, a few just kept changing filters and eventually ended up needing carbs rebuilt along with fuel pumps. I have a 12v fuel transfer pump with a filter setup on it that I’ll glady lend you that makes it a lot easier and you can usually salvage a lot of the fuel. I’ll pm you my #

Russ B.
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy

I seriously doubt that you got 40 gal of water from condensation, sounds like you got a bad load of fuel from the pump, left the gas lid lose, picked it up from the vent(most likely, I’ve had it happen to me, check to see if you are getting any spray coming up and hitting the vent, or posibly you have an enemy out there that has decided to pour water in your tank(seen that also). I agree that you need to get the water out of the tank, remove the fuel sending unit and look into the tank(don’t use a match for light, ha ha), you will see the water on the bottom of the tank. you can get an electric fuel pump or just use a spare primer bulb with hose, hook it to a piece of rigid tubing, so you can aim the tube and suck the water off the bottom of the tank(it will look like large bubbles laying on the bottom). Once your are done, if you have an elctric pump, hook it up to your water separator filter and recirculate the fuel from the pickup to the fill(make sure everything is grounded), that should clean up the rest of the water(spin the filer off from time to time and dump it). Once youre done, this would be a good time to top it off with high ethanol content fuel, the ethanol will absorb whats left and allow it to be burned. read a can of water zorb, most of them are alchol, either isoprople or ethanol. Top to bottom has what you need to clean it up

From what I understand, there is no E-free gas in Kershaw County.

The gas is E-free now, as the previous user stated he had NEVER put a drop of E10 gas in the boat.

I assume with ~40 gallons of GAS in the boat, there’s lots of space for condensation since it’s a 115 gallon tank. The nights have been cooler, so I’m guessing condensation is the culprit here.

I rustled up a drum, but I don’t know if I’m going to use it yet. Like I said, I dumped A LOT of water outta the filter, but then didn’t get a drop of water after two more attempts. I should be running the boat a little tonight. I’ll check the filter again after tonight and if I don’t get any water, then I’m not going to bother pumping out my tank. I’ll just fill up with that only gas available (E10) and pray.

'05 Wellcraft 232 Coastal

if your running real gas…top the tank all the way off…

e-10 keep as little as possible,top off before use…