Awful Gas Smell

[cravertosu]

Hey Guys,

I have a 88 25ft wellcraft sportfisherman and whenever I fill up the take past 2/3 full i get an awful gas smell that doesn't really go away until it drops down to half. The smell seems to come up from the cuddy. This is my first boat so I really don't have much a clue as to where to start.
Also, it takes FOREVER to fill. If I fill the tank any faster than a trickle it backs up the fill tube and cuts the pump off. There is a vent near the fill port and seems to vent well.
Love to just sell it and get a newer CC when I get back but we're going to try to have another baby so I need to keep her if I want a boat.

Thanks,
Tim

[jawz12]

Originally Posted by cravertosu

Hey Guys,

I have a 88 25ft wellcraft sportfisherman and whenever I fill up the take past 2/3 full i get an awful gas smell that doesn't really go away until it drops down to half. The smell seems to come up from the cuddy. This is my first boat so I really don't have much a clue as to where to start.

Thanks,
Tim

i can practically guarantee you,you've got a leak in the fuel tank...this is really wierd-i just looked at the same boat a few days ago,same problem...

[Sea Draggin]

I would start with the sending unit seal. Replace or fix that and see if thats the problem. Its a common source.

[cravertosu]

Originally Posted by jawz12

i can practically guarantee you,you've got a leak in the fuel tank...this is really wierd-i just looked at the same boat a few days ago,same problem...

I thought that was probably it too and it very well may be just that but it really doesn't seem to burn fuel any faster on the top half. I'm going to have the whole thing rewired when I get back also so I'll probably just have it replaced regardless....maybe with a bigger one!

Thanks,
Tim

[cravertosu]

Originally Posted by Sea Draggin

I would start with the sending unit seal. Replace or fix that and see if thats the problem. Its a common source.

Wow! Ya'll are QUICK! What exactly is a sending unit seal? Somewhere along the fill tube?


Thanks,
Tim

[jawz12]

there's really only one way to find the problem,pressurize the tank...use very low air pressure-4psi max...
but...at the ripe old age of 1988,it's a sure bet that tank is the problem...i've seen many leaks up high on the tanks-let me show you an example...
this is a hole in the tank-this is caused by water lying on the top of the tank...the owner of this rig,he just replaced the fuel feed hoses-notice their new appearance,he didn't notice the hole...


a sending unit is what sends the signal to the fuel guage on the helm...

[Questsportfishing]

What the hell are you doing putting any more fuel or even turning on the key for with gas smell???.... you can have anything from rusted ar brken clamps on your fill or vent lines to someone screwing in a screw somewhere 2/3 of the way to the top!!! if you smell fuel - fix it! questions to ask yourself.. 1. how high can I fly when it goes boom? 2. Will it ruin my day of fishing if it goes boom? 3. Even if it does not go boom do I really want to smell fuel or worry about a leak ?? geeesh army ranger get your lil happy ass back in one piece and I will help ya rip it out... sunshine marine tanks in miami or anyone of the other tank builders will be glad to help ya out for a price. Or you can just sell her and buy our 25' Mako.

[Questsportfishing]

By the way Jim ... GOOD ON YA KID!! I heard some great reviews on your class! keep up the great work!

[cravertosu]

Originally Posted by Questsportfishing

What the hell are you doing putting any more fuel or even turning on the key for with gas smell???.... you can have anything from rusted ar brken clamps on your fill or vent lines to someone screwing in a screw somewhere 2/3 of the way to the top!!! if you smell fuel - fix it! questions to ask yourself.. 1. how high can I fly when it goes boom? 2. Will it ruin my day of fishing if it goes boom? 3. Even if it does not go boom do I really want to smell fuel or worry about a leak ?? geeesh army ranger get your lil happy ass back in one piece and I will help ya rip it out... sunshine marine tanks in miami or anyone of the other tank builders will be glad to help ya out for a price. Or you can just sell her and buy our 25' Mako.

HAHAHAHA! You are 100% RIGHT! Pretty much decided if we opened the front hatch and let it blow through wasn't a WHOLE lot of an explosion factor.
I really knew that I needed to get it fixed, just one of those things I kept putting off so I could fish more before I deployed. NOT that that's an excuse.
The plan is to replace the fuel tank/system and have the whole thing rewired when I get back. However, what year is the mako, what all does she have on her, and what are you looking to get?

Thanks again,
Tim

[Questsportfishing]

the mako is a 1980 and completly re-built from the bottom up. has a 250 etek on her all new gauges, wire harness and binicale controls. has a 100 gallon sunshine marine tank and a custom laceless t-top with sea foam green underside and white on top the seat / rocket launcher was made also. the hull is also seafoam green awlgrip and topsides are off white. new trim tabs, garmin, vhf, and a continental trailer with new springs brakes and lights. get your butt home safe and I'll carry ya fishing on it just for fun. we actually have $29k in her and due to this wonderfull economy breaking even would be nice. runs great and has trim tabs. My best / personal boat though is a 28' bertram with a set of 225 four strokes though! that one has a cabin, holds 236 gallons of fuel and 47 gallons of water. has a real head and we use her on almost a daily basis. get home and we can carry ya fishing ...or see if a bottle of rum can float when empty!