Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

[daeuco]

An unfortunately common problem among bassers nowadays seems to be that the fuel tanks allow gas vapor to actually pass through the plastic, resulting in a gas smell in all your holds.
Apparently 40 - 50% of bass boats built in the last few years have this problem.
No one seems to have had ANY luck getting anyone to do anything about it.
I'm trying to stir up interest in all of us with this problem banding together and presenting it as a group to the gas tank manufacturer.
Please, if you are experiencing this, for now, list your year make and model here.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

I find it very difficult to believe that gas vapors are passing through the plastic tank body. More likely a leak at a seal due to pressure build up IMO.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

You see my signature.
This along with other bass boats I have owned over the years and, no, never no vapors in the bilge area.
Did one time due to a bad hose to the outside vent, but still was not that bad.
I have never seen gas vapors go through plastic.

 

[daeuco]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

I find it very difficult to believe that gas vapors are passing through the plastic tank body. More likely a leak at a seal due to pressure build up IMO.

Nevertheless, several people on bassboatcentral.com have contacted there boat manufacturers and been told that the problem is permeability of the plastic gas tanks. This info comes from several different boat manufacturers. Champion, Nitro, and Stratus are some of the manufacturers relaying this info.
Yes, sometimes there is a leak, but in other cases, the fuel system has been been pressure tested and no leaks found (my case for example).
See also this article.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3012/is_6_181/ai_76855519'

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

Temperature inversion can play tricks on the nostriles. A sudden change in the weather can cause the tank to vent fumes. Since the fumes tend to settle at the lowest level, they may end up in the bilge but are so diluted that they really don't present any danger. Much of this has to do with where the tank vent is. I too find it hard to believe plastic tanks are passing fuel vapors. The government and boat safety agencies would be all over that like stink on a skunk. My boat is stored inside and my hatches are left open not because of that issue, but so they can air out. I'm on the water a week at a time so there is a fair chance even a little water gets into one or more hatches. Don't want any mold in them. Air circulation would clear any collected vapors.

 

[daeuco]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

Well, whether you believe it or not, the gas vapor is getting out of the tanks into the holds. That much is a hard FACT. It's really immaterial how it gets out. The fact remains that it should not.
This is either a defect in materials or workmanship and should be treated as such.
The dealers / factories just keep saying its "normal". It's also "normal" for people to get killed in auto accidents. That doesn't make it right.
I can't believe how few people are willing to stand still for this gas problem.
What's wrong with everyone?

 

[jevery]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

It didn't take much looking to find that apparently permeability of plastic fuel tanks is an issue that is currently being debated and causing enaction of tougher standards. Thicker walls and/or less permeable plastics. Still I don't understand what you would have manufactures do? Replace tanks that met all requirements when installed. Apparently it's not so much a danger as a nuisance, and collectively an environmental pollution issue. What the feds usually do is enact tougher standards and then wait for vehicles that do not meet the new standards to eventually wear out.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

it really must not be a big problem for most, as you are the first to complain about it. that has not found a direct cause, hose, fitting etc.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

No problem with my Skeeter, but then I have metal tanks.

 

[januarysails]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

I just posted a simular question. I had a bad smell in my cabin. Gasy like old fuel and exhaust. The responces were about dirty bilge. I degreased and scrubed and actually filled the bilge with dishsoap and water overnight. It worked. I found that under my batteries was old funk. I cleaned and now no smell. Try scrubing all the hidden places that bilge funk can accumulate. Good luck

 

[DJ]

Re: Bass boaters - do you have a gasoline smell in the holds?

What's wrong with everyone?

Nothing wrong at all.

There are a lot of very experienced boaters here that have not seen/heard/smelled the issue. We do not generally go sounding an alarm unless we've experienced it.

With that said, a dangerous leak and a smell are two very different things. A "smell" may permeate a plastic. It may permeate hoses too. However, smells are not necessarily dangerous. Annoying-yes, dangerous-the jury is still out on that one.

I had a fuel smell on a 1995 bay boat. It had an aluminum tank. I actually removed the tank and inspected/tested it. I replaced the hoses (inlet/vent/outlet. No leaks. I never did find the cause of the smell. I will say that a little Arm and Hammer baking soda in the bilge would make it go away for weeks at a time.

You have to remember that you have a fuel tank in an enclosed area that is holding a very aromatic fluid. In addition we now have fuels that are constantly changing in formula. This is not like a car. Car tanks are exposed to the air.

If this is a huge issue, the boat makers are getting the complaints. They will go after the tank makers, if there really is an issue.

If you fell that strongly about it, I suggest you stay on your boat maker. They have a lot more clout with suppliers than an individual ever will.