At least for one weekend! NOT use, repair. As I've mentioned we've went down from a '98 Sumerset to a 25 year old 34' cruiser. Since first use, we've gotten a pretty strong gasonline odor in boat, strong enough to make eyes water if bilge blower isn't left on (true inboards, motors are directly under salon floor). Been looking for source, checked fuel pumps, delivery lines, etc. Finally while inspecting tanks, found that fill lines have deteriorated, literally falling apart! This is from the outside, not result of alcohol I don't think. Doesn't leak when fuel is being put in, just fumes.

Spent 1/2 day Saturday, and all day today removing and replacing fill and vent hoses on starboard tank. These things are 6-8ft long!! At $6+ for fill and $2+ for vent(per foot). Have been in houseboats for several years now,,FORGOT how cramped and tight work area is on these things! Had to remove engine muffler to get enough room to reach mounting strap holding fill line up so it won't bag and hold gas after filling, still scratched rt. shoulder and forarm every time I wormed in and out,,, naturally never having done this before, it took several trips for removal and a couple during replacement. Also, to get hose back on tank nipple ended up cutting a hole in floor under ice machine to get enough leverage to bend and slide in place. Had I known this before hand, getting old hose off would have been a heck of a lot easier!! Guess what the first thing I'm gonna do when I start on the other hose next weekend!!

Odor seemed drastically reduced when I finally got everything buttoned up this evening at 6;00. Still gonna do other side though,, those hoses have got to be the same age.

Best,

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

I'm glad you found the problem before it bit you!!!

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Did it look kinda like this?



This was in our '88 SunRunner Ultra 252, about 5 years ago. We started smelling gas, and after a lot of searching, we found out this inlet line was the problem. And it didn't drip when we filled the boat, but what it DID was soak the hose clear thru like a sponge, filling the bilge with fumes. Yet, just looking at the hose, it appeared dry and "okay".

That hose never saw a UV ray of light or a drop of alcohol, yet it turned itself into a spaghetti strainer. I firmly believe that these hoses are the causes of a lot of "unexplained" boat fires...

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1988 SkipperLiner 53x14
1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 *for sale*
2003 Chaparral 260 SSI
2000 Allegro Bus 40' DP

Edited: 09/29/2008 at 03:56:27 PM by FranticallyRelaxing

NAWW,, that looks good compared to this stuff! try to get some pictures tomorrow.

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

And that's my whole point--to LOOK at this hose, it only appears to be a bit weather-checked. And when we filled the boat, gas never dripped or ran down the hose, and it appeared dry. For quite awhile we were baffled as to the source of our gas fumes. The admiral was the one who thought to wrap an old towel around the hose...Voila! The towel soaked up a LOT of gas from the bottom edge of the hose.

This brings up another issue that's a pet peeve of mine, BLOWERS. Standard thought is, turn the blower on in case there's gas fumes in the bilge. Well, that's all fine and dandy, but if there's gas fumes in the bilge,
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, and
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START YOUR BOAT!!!

Run the blower for several minutes to vent the bilge, then shut it off and open all engine covers and let everything air out. Several hours later, shut off or disconnect all batteries and find the source of your fumes. ..

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1988 SkipperLiner 53x14
1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 *for sale*
2003 Chaparral 260 SSI
2000 Allegro Bus 40' DP

Edited: 09/30/2008 at 11:38:01 AM by FranticallyRelaxing