gas tank leak? 1984 seville 19'

[awcjfk]

hi,
i am pretty sure i have a gas tank leak. i have the boat stored in my driveway. occasionally smelled gas along side of boat a few weeks ago. at that time i checked the engine compartment, check the drain plug on the transom, only water dripping out.(plug had been removed). last night taking the garbage out the smell was stronger, i checked the drain plug again and gas was dripping out in a small stream. i placed a gas container underneath the drain plug. i am pretty convinced that the botton of the gas tank must be leaking and flowing towards the transom since i have the bow slightly raised.

the stream got lighter, by this morning there was a ocassional dripping but seemed to be water not gas.

i am trying to find out if the gas tank back then was made from alumininum or steel and also aprox gallons of gas it would hold (i think it takes somewhere between 24-35 gallons)

(so much for the new ashphalt driveway i had put in 2 years ago)

any help or suggestions is appreciated.
thanks again, john

 

[Double D]

John.........is your tank fiberglass ??? My neighbor had a similar problem.....where the Ethenol in the fuel attacked the resin...and the tank began to leak.

Good Luck.....

 

[awcjfk]

hi, according to searay it aluminum. i am checking out some marine gas tank installers in farmingdale and oyster bay to see if they can pressure test the tank if i trailer it to them. rather deal with this now than in the spring! let me know if you know anyone that deals with this kind of problem.

thanks, john

 

[PascalG]

it's probably alum on a SR, not fiberglass. if original, it's due :-( with the boat sitting unused, it's unlikely your leak is coming from a fuel line...

sorry if this sounds obnious but be VERY careful with fuel vapors, the bilge must be full of them. hopefully your batteries are off, make sure you dont' get anything in there that can cause a spark like flashlight, extention cord, shop vac, etc... and if your boat is near the end of the driveway, i'd be concerned about someone tossing a cigarette butt in the bucket !