www.iFourWinns.com

We have a huge problem with water in our fuel tanks. We have had them pumped out several times, getting 2-3 gallons of water from the starboard tank. This cannot be condensation. We are located in southwest Florida.

The dealer, says "no way". They tell us to change where we purchase our gas. We have a 2004 Four Winns 298 Vista Cruiser. We purchased the boat new, and have had this problem off and on since the beginning. The water issue began during summer months, but now seems to be year round. We do not trailer, she resides in dry storage (outside) at a marina. We have changed from purchasing fuel from our marina to purchasing it from other marinas. We try to keep the tanks full. At this time we have not been able to use our boat for several weeks due to this problem.

Yes, we keep spare fuel filters on board and change them each time she seems sluggish to get on plane. We have tried fuel stabilizers and other additives to absorb the water, some seem to work for a short time, but we end up having to get the tanks pumped out to get releif from the problem.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

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Channel Surfer

Check the fuel filler cap. Is it a tight, watertight seal.

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

We actually thought of that today. I don't know of anyway to check the tightness of the seal, so we are going to replace the O ring on the gas cap whether it needs it or not.

Any ideas of how to get rid of the water that has already accummulated? The company that we use to suck out the water has not responded to us all week, we are thinking they might be on vacation. Believe it or not, there is only one company in this area.

We would really really lilke to use the boat this beautiful weekend!

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Channel Surfer

Somethings not right here. You could be missing the fuel cap gasket and not get that much water in the tank. Anyone pissed at you and pouring water in your tank while stored outside during the week? Is it really a water problem? How did you determine that? Sluggish performance could be something totally unrelated. If it is water are you hearing of others having issues? Just trying to understand.

We determined it was water based on having the tanks pumped completely dry and running the fuel through an oil water seperator. That first time we dumped the fuel. Now we recycle the good fuel back in and discard the water. We change the fuel filters and get water out of them.

The fill caps are up pretty high, you would need a ladder to reach them when in storage, and there is failry decent security. I can't imagine any enemies that we have who would do this. We have not heard of any other boats having this problem, until we discussed it agian with our mechanic. While the dealer refuses to help, our mechanic (who works for the dealer) has said they are receiving similar complaints. It was during this discussion that our mechanic looked at the fuel caps and said the seals looked okay.

The slope off of the bow and down the sides cause puddling by the fuel caps. Since we have not been able to come up with any other reason for the water in the tanks (again more in starboard tank then the port), we are going to try this fix.

We won't know of our success until we can get the present water out of the tanks. We are so frustrated. It is not possible to plan a weekend get away, we nevery know if we will make it out of the marina. This weekend we had plans to go up to Cabbage Key - but that is not possible.

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Channel Surfer

If water pools on your fuel fill, I'd get a new fill. It's not a lot of money and if you can get at the back of the fill it's an easy enough job. While you are at change the vent fitting as well. There are only a few ways to get water in the tank, the filler, the vent, or the sender. Or of course you can be getting crappy fuel.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

+1 and I would get locking caps. Having been to many marinas and living aboard, I haven't seen any substantial security yet. I'd definitely have locking caps if I had exposed land storage. You can easily access the fill cap on a blocked up 3xx boat with a six foot folding ladder.
Interestingly, the 318 at the marina I was at last year also had water in one or both of his tanks and a string of other extremely odd issues for a brand new boat. He believes the dealer that went out of business before his boat was sold was sabotaging boats in order to cash in on warranty work.. I think after he had the tank pumped the issue was resolved.

Confirm that your fuel tank vent isn't getting water into it either. They're supposed to face backwards against the forward motion of the boat. Make sure yours aren't facing into spray. It's unlikely rain would get into them, not in enough quantity to be a big deal. I suppose someone with a hose aimed directly at the vent line could cause some water to get in there. It wouldn't go in easily since it'd be going against the pressure of a closed tank (as in, the filler isn't open or the engine isn't running). But if you're dealing with vandalism, well, anything's possible.

Meanwhile, retrofitting some water separators that allow easier take-off might be worth considering. That way you'd at least be able to drain off the water without the hassle and expense of replacing the whole filter each time.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I know that in automitive applications you can add a bottle of standard rubbing alchol to dissipate water in fuel. I do not know if that will work with no adverse results in marine applications but I have been wondering. Anyone know for sure?

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Jon & Rhonda

'88 235 Sundowner
5.7L OMC Cobra
'01 F150 4.2L

I have a 288 vista. I also just had water in one tank. Problem was a missing gasket on the fuel cap. I used the product called E-SORB. Worked great.

Rhojo, using rubbing alcohol as a water dispersent may have worked in the old days but I wouldn't try it today. First, of all most rubbing alcohol is pretty low alcohol and already contains a lot of water. Second, most of of us are now stuck with E10 fuel which already has 10% alcohol. Adding more is not really going to help.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Good info. thanks JR!

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Jon & Rhonda

'88 235 Sundowner
5.7L OMC Cobra
'01 F150 4.2L

Are you sure you are not just getting bad gas at time of purchase? Do you get your gas at the same place and are any other boats having water issues? We had the same problem and found out many others at our marina were as well. The marina had bad gas.

With ethanol anything is possible. Our marina had it last year and I am still having trouble and going on my 3rd set of fuel filters because of that crap. Needless to say, the gas dock no longer has that liberal poison in their tanks. Probably a bunch of blow-boaters came up with that ethanol for boats garbage.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY