Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

[darbo]

Any experience on long term issues with 30 gal of gas pumped into bilge instead of the gas tank? It was pumped out and detergent flushed about 16 hours after it happened. Do we need to worry about permeation into wood or fiberglass? How long (or ever) does it take for smell to go away? Fortunately, not our fault, marina attendant made a mistake!

 

[gcboat]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

I really wouldn't worry about any long term damage to either fiberglass or wood. I'd definately be on top of any rubber or plastic lines that might of been in contact with it - such as bilge pump hose, water lines, etc.
As far as the smell is concerned, that may take awhile. Recommend that you add some concentrated bilge cleaner in there and let it sit for a couple or so hours. Drain and repeat. Might take several cycles of this. Of course read the directions on the bottle.
Did I mention 'no smoking'?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Call me curious, but what opening did the attendant find that he could possibly mistake for a fuel fill that would make it end up in the bilge?

 

[Joe Dirt]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Wouldn't these be questions that your marina should be answering? I mean- if they did that to my boat, they would be the ones dealing with it. It's not like he "oops'd" a handle squeeze in there, he filled your boat with 30 gallons of gas! You should be looking at having them take care of this...

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Call me curious, but what opening did the attendant find that he could possibly mistake for a fuel fill that would make it end up in the bilge?

Good question.
How does this happen?
And no one smelled anything.

Or did you do it yourself?

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Happens more than you think. Often through a gunnel rod holder that drains to the bilge. This is why most marinas hand you the fuel line and refuse to actually pump.

I would flush several times with fresh water, follow with any of the bilge cleaners they sell and more fresh water. I wouldn't expect any actual damage.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

It was pumped out and detergent flushed about 16 hours after it happened.

What went on during those 16 hours? Was the boat used or driven??

Your best bet is to get some bilge cleaner and a petroleum sock. Throw the sock in, pour in the bilge cleaner and some water and let it slosh around in there for a couple weeks. Then drain it out, toss the sock, and rinse your bilge out...

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Wouldn't these be questions that your marina should be answering? I mean- if they did that to my boat, they would be the ones dealing with it... You should be looking at having them take care of this...

Hmmm... they're not even competent enough to fuel it but he should trust them to clean it out properly...

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

What went on during those 16 hours? Was the boat used or driven??

Good point! How did you eventually find out? Were you driving the boat or did you have them fill it up in preparation for a trip out? Lucky it wasn't enough to trigger a bilge pump!

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Good point! How did you eventually find out? Were you driving the boat or did you have them fill it up in preparation for a trip out? Lucky it wasn't enough to trigger a bilge pump!

How could you put 30 gallons into the bilge without it running? I suppose if it did not have a float switch; the smell must have been unbelievable!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Hmmm... they're not even competent enough to fuel it but he should trust them to clean it out properly...

Um- yes? If cleaning out properly can't be done by the marina, they can hire someone. Why should he inherit the cost? I'm sure they have another employee at the marina besides the schlep who filled his boat with gas.

Are you saying that if you took your car to a dealership, and they filled your radiator with oil, you wouldn't make them fix the damage? Right.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

I think he was saying that he needs to be careful with them is all, not that they should not bear the cost.

 

[darbo]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Thanks for all the comments! Here's what happened: attendant opened a cap marked "waste" instead of the one marked "fuel." This was a "dead" hole that went nowhere. It's a 76 Trojan Tri-Cabin that had been rennovated at one point with a new waste holding tank and new heads. The "active" waste cap is painted black and clearly marked. The 2 fuel caps are painted red and clearly marked. The fresh water cap is painted blue and clearly marked. The auto bilge pumps kicked in and that's when we (on the dock) noticed the gas pouring into the river. The bilge pump was quickly shut off, gas pumps shut down, etc. Marina hauled the boat out of the water to the boat yard and it sat there until 9:30 the next morning before the gas was pumped out of the bildge and they flushed it out. They said it's good to go. We've had conflicting advice from a couple "experts." One said it could take 3-5 years for the smell to go away. It may seem okay, but shut the boat up for a couple days and it will definitely be back. Another said after scrubbing it should be sealed with epoxy. Marina is taking responsibility, but they seem to think they are done. Our insurance company is sending a surveyor down tomorrow. It should be interesting!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Apparently pumping more tax dollars into the U.S. education system has not helped reading and comprehension skills. Or was this "attendant" of questionable nationality and English was not his/her first language. Not only was this an act of carelessness on several levels, it could have had a catastrophic outcome had there been an explosion and fire.

 

[darbo]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

Young "WASP" so language not an issue. Regardless of pending outcome, we agree, it could have been disastrous.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Gas pumped into bilge instead of gas tank

As far as damage goes, other than the smell, I doubt there will be any affects to worry about. The odor will cling to wood and cloth the longest but gas fumes evaporate quickly. The worst case scenario is that some gas got absorbed into the flotation foam. Keep in mind that they used to make fuel tanks out of fiberglass, so if your concerned about any hull damage, think of it that way.
The key will be to simply get as much air in there as possible but be careful not to make any sparks and don't run an open motor or fan in the bilge directly. Find a way to constantly exchange the air below deck for a day or so. If the fumes aren't real bad, a large shop vac with an inlet and outlet hose may work.
Good old baking soda also does wonders for absorbing odors.
Water will have very little effect on gas odor, gas is a petroleum product and won't mix with the water. Some bilge cleaners contain enzymes which will break down the gas and oil and help removal.

I had a guy overfill and spill gas in the trunk of an old car years ago, the smell was throughout the car and the only thing at hand to mop it up was some old rags. The odor lasted about a month, until I removed the trunk carpet and liner and let it dry well out in the sun, then I dumped a couple of boxes of baking soda all over in the trunk. The odor was gone soon after. I just vacuumed up the baking soda a few days later.

Keep in mind that if you can smell it, it's still a hazard, what you are smelling is the gas vapor and is the more dangerous than the liquid gas itself.

Being that it was only 30 gallons, it probably wasn't enough to really wet anything other than lowest part of the bilge. The odor lingering is from remaining vapors which will dissipate with some good ventilation.

I watched a guy years ago pump over 200 gallons into a rod holder, they didn't even notice till the fuel gauge didn't respond to the added fuel.

I've had many boats on which the fuel fill was not marked very well and right next to other fill caps. The fill cap on my one boat was side by side with the freshwater fill cap, both were chrome caps and used the same key, with only small print reading "Gas" and "Water". I usually taped the water fill after topping it off to prevent just such a mistake.