Help!!!

[Dwhite4133]

Our family has bought our first boat. It is a 1992 Glasstron 170 Euro and we have noticed a gas smell while driving it. Let me back up a minute. The first time we took it out solo it stopped on us. Turns out it was water in the fuel tank. That has since been drained and the boat is back on the water. Ever since then we have smelled gas while driving the boat and when we take the cover off of it. I was able to find the smell and it is just in front of the storage area. I have attached a picture for reference. Also, the gas gauge does not work. Could this be caused by over filling the gas tank? I’m new to boating and don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the safety of my family. Any info could be helpful on what this is and recommendations on how to fix it. In case you need this is has a Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha One engine.

 

[roffey]

it looks like someone has been at the sending unit for the gas gauge? Why is the carpet cut away like that?

 

[roffey]

I suspect that is the cause of the smell and gauge not working.

 

[Dwhite4133]

I’m not sure why it’s cut away like that. There is a piece of wood with carpet that lays over it. How concerned should I be about this? Could it be an overflow of the gas tank or something more in depth?

 

[roffey]

Wait for more knowledgeable folks than I but... the carpet is cut away around the sending unit. The sending unit tells the gas gauge how much gas you have. If it was removed to drain the tank and not correctly reinstalled maybe that's why you have problems with gas fumes and no gauge....

I would investigate further. Who removed the water from the tank and how did they do it? Excessive fumes in a boat are bad.. potentially deadly.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Where do you store your boat? Hopefully not in an enclosed space or anywhere near a spark. I would have that sucker outside, if it were me, until you have this sorted out.

 

[rallyart]

The sending unit should be sealed well when reinstalled but that is not always done. It needs a neoprene seal between the unit and the tank. It could have some damage if it was removed and reinstalled as it's not exactly new and that would cause the lack of function, but fuel gauges on boats are notoriously inaccurate. Overfilling will not damage a fuel sending unit.

The fuel smell might be coming from a leak in the sending unit or a line that is loose, or a carb that is leaking or not venting properly. Or it might have some gas that spilled into the bulge area when being drained. If that's the case using a bilge cleaner liquid will remove it and whatever other mess is in the bilge, leaving behind a nice fresh smell.

Make sure you run the blower for at least a couple minutes before starting the boat.

 

[kpg7121]

I’m not sure why it’s cut away like that. There is a piece of wood with carpet that lays over it. How concerned should I be about this? Could it be an overflow of the gas tank or something more in depth?

How concerned should you be? Very. Gas fumes & or leaks in a boat are an explosion waiting to happen. If you can't figure this out take it to a shop that knows what they're doing & not the moron who gave you your boat back leaking fuel.

 

[Fuss188]

Pull the sending unit and inspect the gasket. While you have it out you can manually move the float up and down and see if the gauge moves with it. If it doesn't move look, at the wires to the gauge and the gauge itself.