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Boat smells like gas

Wish-I-Were-Fishn

Asked by Wish-I-Were-Fishn,

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Wish-I-Were-Fishn Grand Master

Wish-I-Were-Fishn

Posted
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2002 Alumacraft Navigator 165 CS, built-in plastic tank. I have a gas odor in the boat. All of the compartments smell and anything you put in them smells too. I pulled the floor to look at the tank and it appears to be fine, but I can't see much of it because it is fitted into the boat so well. Any advice on this? It bothers me. I bought the boat used, and it has only 15 hours on it.

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

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My Lund has a small gas odor too. Gets worse when its hot out. Nothing you can do but leave your compartments open when storing.

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Like2Fish Explorer

Like2Fish

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I had a 1922 Lund Pro V that had a gas odor as well. I pulled up a couple different times and couldn't find anything. I did try using some type of gasket sealer around the sending unit and that did seem to help a little bit. I opened the compartments while the boat was in the garage. I owned the boat for 12 years with the odor.

Like2Fish

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iffy Enthusiast

iffy

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Try tightening the hose clamps on the filler hose and the vent hose where they clamp onto the tank. If the odor persists, try plugging the hoses and pressurizing the tank slightly to see if there is a crack in the plastic. Do NOT exceed a couple PSI.

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

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This isnt likely leak related but just a plastic tank issue. Seems like these tanks leech or something. Its very common.

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iffy Enthusiast

iffy

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Common problem? LOL This must be something new then. I have an underfloor plastic tank in my Lund boat and it doesnt smell like gas. Several aquaintences do also, and theirs don't either. I was a marine mechanic at a lund dealership for many years and gas smell from plastic tanks was never an issue. If there was any smell it was usually due to loose clamps, loose fuel sender screws, or old cracked hose. Somehow gas is getting out of the tank.

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upnorth Grand Master

upnorth

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The only time I get a gas smell on my boat is if I either over fill the tank or eat some nasty chili wink.gif

I make a point of as soon as the auto stop on the gas hose stops of not trying to get the last little bit in the tank.

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united jigsticker Mentor

united jigsticker

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I had a 96' and now a 2004, both have the gas smell.

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eurolarva Proficient

eurolarva

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Might be from trimming the motor for travel. Pressure still in the fuel lines and the carb at a 45 degree angle can make it tough for the float to stop the fuel flow so it opens and gas drains till fuel pressure in the lines goes down to nothing. I have seen this with older model motors.

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Down Deep Mentor

Down Deep

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I recently bought a new boat and 2007 115 Mercury 4-Stroke motor. Today, I was reading the manual and under the section discussing using fuel with Ethanol it listed fuel odor as a result of the alcohol permeating the hoses and/or connection. My 1999 Lund had a fuel odor from time to time. I never found any leaking fuel in the bottom of the boat. This is the best explaination I've come across.

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

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Iffy thats hard to believe that you didnt have these problems at your dealership. Several people I know have this problem and it seems like several on this post do as well. My boat has no leaks and no loose or bad hoses ( at least that I or my dealer could find) and I get the smell from time to time. I dont know what causes it but I think its quite evedent its a common problem.

I sure wish I could figure out what the cause is.

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Orlip Rising Star

Orlip

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Quote:

The only time I get a gas smell on my boat is if I either over fill the tank or eat some nasty chili
wink.gif

I make a point of as soon as the auto stop on the gas hose stops of not trying to get the last little bit in the tank.

A little bit of the same going on here. blush.gif

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upnorth Grand Master

upnorth

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All gas tanks on boats are vented somewhere, it could be that under the right wind conditions it blows back into the boat a bit especially with a full tank and it being a litte bouncy on the water.

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Gissert Grand Master

Gissert

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I have a Lund Mr. Pike 16, and I get some fuel smell with a full tank coming off the vents by the filler.

Sometimes if the speed/wind is right, I will get a exhaust/fuel smell back into the boat from the motor.

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john.wells Proficient

john.wells

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I had the same problem this year for the first time ever with my '96 Lund. I pulled the tank out, inspected and pressure tested it- it was fine. I also pressure tested the hoses- all were fine. While the tank was out, I vented the whole boat by putting a box fan over the tank cavity and opened all of the hatches to draw fresh air through the bilge. I haven't had any odors since. Since gasoline is heavier than air, the only thing that I could think of was a gradual accumulation of fumes with no escape. I may install a powered bilge blower as I never pull the drain plug (I always use my bilge pump) to remove water. I think that from now on, I will remove the drain plug in the winter to give any fumes an outlet. Just how exactly the fumes got there is a mystery, but I possibly had a not-so-tight clamp on one of the tank hoses, or fuel coming out of the carb, or both. Any way you slice it, though, fuel fumes in the bilge of a boat is no good. I would suggest a bilge blower if no leak can be found.

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MasterClear Explorer

MasterClear

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Problems I've seen have been due to alcohol in the gas. Unless the fuel filler, vent and delivery hoses are certified for use with alcohol in the gas they will deteriorate and give you a smell. These hoses can be very hard to get at for replacement and if you go thru the work make sure they can handle alcohol in the gas. Even the hose to the motor will cause this issue. That is the first place I'd look - it is the easiest, then the filler and after that the vent. No matter what, a fuel smell in the bilge is a fire waiting to happen, not to mention the fuel smell contaminating your tackle and equipment.

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FishdogCo Rookie

FishdogCo

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On my boat, 17 Lund Mr. Pike, on the port side towards the rear is an inspection plate. If you have a similar setup, pull that plate and what you see may suprise you. The bilge vent is vented into this cavity on each side of the boat and there is an opening to goes from that blind cavity to the side rod lockers. I do get some odor coming form the bilge.

Most of the odor I get is from overfilling the tank as mention prior thru the vents on the side. I believe the odors are a common issue.

Mark

Team Fishdog

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united jigsticker Mentor

united jigsticker

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Well, I went to a dealer and opened the compartments on several rigs, and guess what...they smell like gas.

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