www.iFourWinns.com

Gents,

I am getting a pretty strong gas smell in the cabin of my 248. I searched the forum and found some posts that recommend checking the vent tube for blockage/routing/etc. I did check the vent tube. I unhooked it from the tank, removed the fuel cap and blew into it. No restriction at all.

There are no leaks that I can find. The bilge and area around the tank are dry with no evidence of a fuel spill at any time. My fuel filter is tight. I checked the firewall and although there are a couple of areas that are not sealed as tight as I'd like (where tubes and wire come through there are some small openings), it's no different that ever before.

I have noticed the smell gets stronger as the tank gets emptier (therefore, more fumes accumulating within the tank). Is this "normal"? It certainly isn't in a car ... but boats are a different animal.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Seems to be a pretty common problem. To get rid of the smell I cleaned the bilge with a citrus cleaner and cleaned the tank area, replaced the foam in the mattresses and added a layer of egg shell foam. Increased the ventilation to the cabin and put a small air freshener in the cabin. That pretty much took care of all the gas smell. The old foam in the mattresses really held a lot of fuel odor. This winter I will remove all the foam in the cabin and have many boxes of baking soda in the cabin to absorb odors.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

The problem is the fuel tank. The tanks are made out of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and they leach "smell" but not ignitable fumes. Checking everything is always a good idea and it was smart that you did, but it just sounds like normal leaching.

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Brett DiMichele

That's depressing to hear! I guess its good I take all the cushions/items out of the cabin for winter storage, but getting a box of the baking soda you put in your home refrigerator to absorb odors doesn't sound like a bad idea!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Remember, if there ever were to be a fuel leak, that the bilge drains from the very front of the boat (under the cabin, shower sump pump) into the bilge. Fuel fumes/odor could sneak up into the cabin.

I always leave a port window open to let the cabin breath while not in use. I have never noticed the fuel smell or any other odd odor that others have mentioned here.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

That is my plan as well. I am waiting to see if the new port light clip-in screens I ordered will work.

Baking soda is a great idea.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Never, ever had a fuel smell in the cabin. Cushions remain in the boat always during storage.
We use Bounce dryer sheets everywhere during winter layup, the boat smells fresh and clean in the spring every year. The sheets also keep any rodents from making a home in your boat while it is being stored. Not sure if the "leeching" scenario is valid, but it might be a possibility.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I don't see the year of your boat listed. But be aware that rubber hoses don't last forever, especially the ones carrying fuel and toilet waste. Eventually the contents leeches it's way into the wall of the hose. Not enough to leak but enough to out-gas a bit of the smell. One test is to wrap one of the hoses with a wet towel and leave it there for a day. Remove the towel and smell it to see if the odor has leeched into it.

Hoses should generally last around 5 years before giving any signs of leeching. Any time after that you're ahead of the game.

Fortunately it's easy to replace most hoses. A 5/16" socket fits the nut most hose clamps, don't waste your time with a flat blade screwdriver as you'll just wreck the bolt AND your knuckles. Be ready to replace not just the hoses but some of the clamps, as some will get stripped during the process. That and have a bundle of zip-ties handy to secure the hoses in the same manner.

I'd try the wet towel trick on the hoses and see if that's the source of the fuel smell.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Good point. My boat is a 2003 model. I purchased it in June of this year. So, I'm pretty sure, given the other maintenance items that have been neglected, that the hoses are the originals. I will try the wet towel trick this weekend.

Replacing the hoses looks to be elementary. I do have one question, however. The fuel supply hose that fills the tank (1 1/2"?) appears to have some kind of black plastic shield wrapped around it. Can I simply use standard rubber fuel line or do I need to source this particular hose with the plastic around it? I assume that rubber line is fine ... but there has to be some reason this hose is wrapped.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I tend to agree with you on this. When took the mid-cabin floor out to check the vent line, the fumes nearly knocked me over. From outward appearances, the only place those fumes could have come from was the tank, unless as Bill Kearny mentioned, the hoses are leaching.

I think I will price a new tank just for grins.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

This does sound like it's more than the possible permeation of fuel vapors through the plastic tank...I have a couple of those plastic tanks with gas in them in my garage and there is no real odor unless you get real close to them...when I had the deck apart in my 88 FW I had complete access to the aluminum tank and there was no odor at all around any of the fittings...lines...etc...in fact only if you loosened one of the lines would you smell anything...And at the time..the tank..and lines were original (18 years old)
One thing I do not like about the plastic tanks is that they are harder to anchor securely than an aluminum tank...and if it shifts around...it's possible for the plastic to wear through...they are good in that they do not corrode and that's the issue with aluminum...but alu tanks can last as long as 20+ years if installed correctly...and they have nice strong mounting tabs to hold them securely...I have seen these flimsy tabs on some modern FWs to hold the plastic tank in place...doesn't give me a good feeling....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Feel free to call Taylor made and "Validate" it, like I did...

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Brett DiMichele

If the fumes nearly knocked you over, then I would worry. Any permeation through the fuel lines or the fuel tank, would be a subdued smell (still smells bad, but not like sticking your nose into a gas can). I would inspect heavily, the entire fuel system makes sure it's safe. Fumes in a bilge are deadly in so many ways on a gas boat and i want to make sure you and your family are safe!

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Brett DiMichele

I agree with Brett...I'd want to get to all the lines...replace em if needed and then see if the smell is gone...when I had my stringers done the shop left the fill hose on the tank a little loose and the smell was pretty strong...tightened the clamps and it was fine...if that doesn't solve it...I'd consider then having the tank pulled out and checked...all it takes is a screw rubbing on the bottom of the tank and it can wear thru in a couple of years...I once read somewhere that one gallon of gas has something similar to the same explosion potential as a stick of dynomite....don't want to mess around...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

We just had the same issue in our friend's 288. It turned out to be the water seperator unit. There is a gasket in there that can leak if the gasket wasn't installed properly. We had to find the gas leak while the engine was running by rubbing a hand all around the unit checking for wetness. You may want to run the engine, shut off then immediately check so you don't get tied up with the serp. belt. I can't imagine gas fumes being that bad without a leak somewhere. I have those cheap plastic gas cans in my garage and it doesn't smell like gas.