Gas smell

T

Tom1352

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2002
RO Number
8847
Messages
7
I am noticing a gas smell in my boat. Engine compartment is dry, but the smell seems to emit from a bilge area just inside the cabin. However, that bilge area is dry as well, but has a strong smell of gas. It would appear I do not have leaks as I recently drained and water etc from engine area into a bucket and all is staying dry. I am a bit nervous about using the boat. Did speak with local marine service head, and he suggested the drain off to see if gas appears and it has not. I am scheduled for service but not able to get me in for 2-3 weeks and would like to use the boat.
It is a 2003 Chaparral Signature 260 cruiser. 320 HP. Gas tank is aluminum.
Thanks for your responses
Tom
 
Turn your batteries off and disconnect shore power. Do not use anything electrical until you have located and fixed the source of the smell.
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

Turn your batteries off and disconnect shore power. Do not use anything electrical until you have located and fixed the source of the smell.

Click to expand...


+1000 What you smell is DANGER!!!
The fumes are more dangerous then actually seeing fuel in the bilge. The last time I smelled fuel(on my jet Ski) I checked the bilge then aired it out saw nothing no longer smelled anything I tapped the starter and blow up. Get someone to check this out ASAP!
 
It could be a weeping leak on a joint. Run your finger around each joint and do the "sniff" test. Hopefully you do have a shutoff and should use it. Check around that too. Check your fuel filters too.
 
Did you recently overfill?
Do you have vent filters?
If you overfilled and fuel came out vent on side of boat then the lifeguard device that is inline there may be holding fuel and causing a smell.
Did this numerous times on my 34' cruisers and smell was hard to get rid off once it permeated the filter.
 
2003, your hoses should be up to specs but don't take chances. Run your hands along the length of the fill, feed and vent hoses. make sure they feel solid, not spongy. Smell your hands every few feet and after touching each fitting.

You have to air out the boat but DON'T use a fan IN the boat to blow air out. You don't want to blow fumes thru the electric motor. Instead, put a fan outside the boat to blow fresh air thru a forward hatch.
 
Good point about the spongy hose. I think ethanol can do this to some hoses. On my 34' I had a issue with a fuel leak to my generator.
I looked at it and I see fuel dripping on a small section of hose from filter to genny.
I look and clamps are tight.
I look closer and I can see fuel is coming out of the hose itself.
Hose had become like a pourous sponge.
Unreal.
Easy fix, messy cleanup!
 
Yes Tom this is a very dangerous situation Gasoline vapors are explosive. Gas evaporates rapidly so that you will smell it well before you see it in the bilge. As above don't switch anything on and it may be best to contact a mechanic who has explosion proof flashlights and tools.
 
Another thing, do you have fiberglass tanks or metal?
 
A long time ago I had a 26' Penn Yan, twin screw tunnel drive (still the most fun boat I ever owned). It had a wet bilge because the engine hatches leaked and every so often there was a slight gas slick. Very seldom did I smell it. I assumed because of the age of the boat the tank was the problem. After pulling out the tank and inspecting it, the tank was not the problem. As I was putting the tank back in, and replacing hoses, I found the source was a cracked vent hose up near the thru hull vent. Check your hoses and maybe you can save the labor.

Billy K.
 
If you have carbureted engines don't forget to check for fuel leak down inside the throttle body.
 
All above advice about checking the hoses is the easiest and least costly start to finding your problem. If there is a chap owners club, I would post there to see if anyone that has your same boat has experienced this. I would also contact Chap to see if they know of any "known" problems.

Did you notice the smell after re-fueling?

Walter
 
If the smell comes from inside the cabin and not the engine compartment that eliminates a lot.

On many cruisers the tank is in the cabin area isn't it? Try to get to the top of the tank and check filler, vent and pick up hoses and clamps. 12 years old means it could be any of these as well as the alum tank itself

And obviously do not use the boat
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Did you recently overfill?
Do you have vent filters?
If you overfilled and fuel came out vent on side of boat then the lifeguard device that is inline there may be holding fuel and causing a smell.
Did this numerous times on my 34' cruisers and smell was hard to get rid off once it permeated the filter.

Click to expand...


I've experienced the same issue if i over fill my cruiser as well. Good question.
 
Have mechanic coming this morning. It is an aluminum tank, and being as smell is strong in cabin I think PascalG is probably correct. The way these boats are put together there is not a lot of regard for future service. The gas intake and all hoses run along inside wall of cockpit on out to vent in front area of cabin...which of course is covered by interior walls.
Thanks for all the advice. Always appreciated.
 
My aluminum tank on my old boat had some pin holes in weld on top of tank.
Too small for smell but when I over-filled it would come out the holes and smell.
I put some liquid metal weld on it but no issues as long as I never over-filled.
They were extremely small but the smell was bad when filled to top!
 
Rubber gasket on my sending unit gasket was shot. No smell until tank was topped off. And it happened on Thanksgiving day when we were in transit. Small hack saw blade holder to cut an access hole, cardboard from a cereal box for a makeshift gasket and we were on our way. Tablespoon of gas smells the same as ten gallons. Small sheet of gasket material now in my toolbox.
 
I think CurrentSea might have the issue I am having. Mechanics felt the fumes were not so overwhelming that with very good air out we could try and start the boat. We did and took it out for a spin. Accelerated a lot and ran it over large boat waves. Came back in and smell is gone! Bilge area in cabin has just the slightest smell and seems to be diminishing. Closed it up and put cockpit cover back on and will check thoroughly again tomorrow for vapors.
Concern is still there though, but little relieved as might have been due to filling to the max.
I must admit I am not a huge fan of Chaparral. Customer service has been poor since the warranty days, and this boat sure has had issues from day one.
Thanks. Tom
 
We get calls once a month to pressure test a tank. Our findings, we average a tank a month to replace. Before we test we do the visual, hoses, fittings and gasket for sending unit.
 
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