Gas coming from drain plus after fishing

[fish_addict707]

1999 Design Concepts Pacific Angler w/ Yamaha 115

Hello all! Here's a little problem I'm having with a new to me boat. I went fishing a couple times in the SF bay in semi rough conditions and noticed a gas smell but never saw gas or anything..just thought it was because it was a little rough.

I went fishing in the Sloughs yesterday and fairly calm waters and started noticing a smell of gas after moving to a different spot to fish. After a little bit of fishing, we called it a day.

After pulling the drain plug, I noticed that a lot of browing/ yellow coming out realizing it was gas. Where should I start to try and diagnose the problem?

Thank you.

 

[GA_Boater]

Do you have access to the fuel tank? Under the floor, I suppose. Check any hoses you can get to, but the tank may have developed a hole. Hope there is a big deck plate over the tank.

 

[shrew]

There are no conditions under which you should be smelling gas. No matter how rough it is. You have a gas leak somewhere and it is leaking into your bilge. Please discontinue using your boat until this is remedied. Gas vapor will settle to the lowest part of the bilge and it can ignite. If your bilge pump kicks off, you're dumping gas into the water. If you pull your plug at the boat ramp, you're dumping gas into the water. If you pull the plug at home, your dumping gas onto the ground.

It's either the tank, the fuel line, or a connector in the fuel line.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

In case what's been said already isn't enough to convince you...... with gasoline in your bilge you have a floating bomb. There's no way in hell I'd use that boat again until the problem is identified and repaired. The problem obviously could be in a number of places, it could be as simple as a fuel/water separator not installed correctly or it could be as difficult as a pinhole in your fuel tank. Good luck, and be safe.

 

[Chris1956]

The usual places for gas to leak are the fuel gauge sender, vent hose, fill hose, fuel pickup hose/fittings or the tank itself. Hopefully the fuel tank vent hose broke or something else as simple to fix.

 

[wahlejim]

I will add this.... It is not a chance that something might happen, it will happen. This is a story from where I go boating on a regular basis...

http://www.riponpress.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=36&ArticleID=8898

Just happened this summer. Fuel leak was the cause.

 

[fishin98]

+1 on the prior comments....don't use the boat until the fuel leak issue is resolved.

 

[Watermann]

It's disheartening to see these "new to me boat" threads with these types of troubles. It's about a sure thing the guy who sold the boat not only knew about the fuel leak but was told that the deck would have to be removed to get at the leak so rather than repair it, he sold the boat bomb.

Start at the motor and work your way towards the fuel tank looking for the leak. Lots of good ideas so far of where to find a possible easy fix leak. For there to be visible fuel in the bilge that would drain out of the bilge plug then there's a substantial leak.

 

[tanker1983]

All great points. I might add;


Do your searches OUTSIDE with plenty of daylight. Use a handheld LED (non-heat generating light). Also ensure your engine hatch has been open for an hour or so. Disconnect the batteries to ensure your don't accidently activate any accessories. Fumes + spark = BOOM!!

 

[fish_addict707]

Thank you for all the replies! The boat will be out of commission until the issue is solved. I will keep you guys informed of what I find. Thanks!