www.iFourWinns.com

Hi guys - my first post and I was hoping I could some feedback on a problem I am experiencing.

I bought a 2000 Vista 268 last year, the boat works great but at the end of last season we started to notice an odor in the cabin. The odor was difficult to identify but it seemed like a petroleum smell (gas/oil???). The bilge had dirty water accumulating under of the gas tank so before storage I had the bilge washed out with bilge cleaner when it was winterized.

This spring the smell in the cabin is stronger than ever, particularly when we first open it up each weekend. So this year I loosened and retighten all of the fuel hose clamps. I found that rainwater was building up in the bilge under the gas tank. It is coming thru a channel in the transom storage locker. The bilge water had a distinct fuel/oil type smell, but there was no oily sheen in the water. I cleaned out the bilge again and cleaned the outside of the gas tank. The odor abated and then returned and it is stronger in one of the 2 center wells in the gas tank. It definely seems like a gas fume but I cannot locate any leaks, at least on the surfaces on the tank which I an get at. We do not sleep on board and until this gets fixed we will not be.

I called the local marina mechanic to look at it but he went when I was not there and although he smelled something he said it was a "vinyl" smell. This was useless as he did locate the source.

If anyone has had a similar problem or has any suggestions as to how I can find the source I would certainly appreciate the feedback.


Acrobat

Don't know what to tell you, we have the same boat, and do get a "boat" smell in the cabin that we feel is normal. Sometimes a little fuely, sometimes a little fiberglassey smell. Your boat will never smell like your home, so if you can't find any kind of a leak, you probably will just have to get used to it. There is probably nothing wrong with the boat if you have checked it like you say you have.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I have known ion generator type air filters to remove all kinds of odors permanently. If you already have one, or can borrow one from a friend, it'd be worth a shot - just place it in your cabin, turn it on and come back in a few days. Of course this assumes there's no leak causing the odor.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

I agree with above. If there is no leak and you store boat all closed up, you will get a chemical odor that is noticed when you first go into cabin til you open cabin up and ventilate. I think mine smells like carpet glue or contact cement?!??
Just odors of a fiberglass boat.
Because I trailer my boat I try to rinse bilge often and drain to keep moisture out of boat. For storing boat during summer, I keep head window open, to help vent cabin.

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

I keep my port and starboard front windows open (rain never comes in through these due to the bow flare). Smells good inside!

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Brett DiMichele

MMmmmm...... smells like chicken!

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Most days on the water it does smell like chicken.. Walmart chicken... I can't help it.. thier bonless chicken fingers are actually GOOD!

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Brett DiMichele

Thx guys for replys.

I agree that there is going to be smells on the boat. This one seems stronger than most. I think first things first I need to get rid of the bilge water. This weekend we were about to go out for a Sat evening, ended up sitting out a thunderstorm, tied up to the dock, with many pops. But I did note that the source of the bilge water was the rainwater running down from the back canvas ran right into the transom locker then the bilge. It was dummping water over my batteries and engine. One of the latches was not snugged upped plus there was very little weather stripping on the locker. That's why there was so much bilge water. I replaced the weather stripping and blocked the transom locker channel. I also dryed out the bilge. I'll fix the latch this weekend. Now that I got rid of all of the water I'll see if I still have as big a problem with cabin odor this coming weekend..

BTW can anyone tell me what the 1" grey crosslink hose which come from the forward cabin and dumps into the bilge in the by the engine. I remember someone asked this question last year but can't remember th the answer.

Acrobat

Acrobat,

It sound like your boat just sitting on the water is nose heavy. Any water should run toward the aft end. If any water got into the locker it should run out towards swim deck not towards engine hatch and onto battery's????
I don't know, just thinking out loud.

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