Gas smell in boat

[Can'tFishEnuf]

I have a Lowe FM165 and can smell gas very faintly. I noticed it a couple times last summer, and smell it now after being in storage all winter. I have looked everywhere and see no evidence of any leaks. The funny thing is when I open the access holes to the tank, I can't smell anything down there. The tank is plastic, can the smell leech through the plastic? I smell it in the front compartments just as much as the back compartments. The only place I don't smell it is by the tank. The motor hasn't been run since fall, so I don't think I would smell it now if it were a leaky gas hose. Or, maybe I'm just smelling something else and it just smells like gas. I'm at a loss.

[Giant_Jackpot]

I’ve got the same thing in my 2000 1750 Fish Hawk. I even had the Crestliner factory pressure test the tank and they found no problems. They replaced all of the filler hoses and filler hardware and I still have the problem (they did all this work free of charge). I think it is from the venting system that is built into the gas cap. Is your vent the kind that dumps the gas overboard or the newer style like mine? I’ve given up worrying about it…….

[Northlander]

I also have this in my 2004 Lund Explorer. Most guys I talk to have it and its only when you open the compartments. Had mine checked and theres no leaks. Must be as said above a venting thing.

[Surface Tension]

All on board tanks are vented outside the boat. That also explains why you can smell gas when you open the fill cover, all the vapors are getting sucked out the vent. The topic of smelling gas vapors came up last year, all test were inconclusive as to the source. Plastic can leech smells and that might be whats going on. Not all plastic gas tanks are the same and some lots will retain smells and leech them out. This reminds me of a small cooler I use in the winter as my minnow bucket. I had a batch of minnows die in it and to this day I can't get the smell out no matter what I do.

Any other cooler would be sent free after getting cleaned with bleach water. Its just got something to do with the plastics that were used in the manufacturing. I'm convinced it the same thing going on with this gas smell in boats that can't can't be nailed down.

[walleyehawk]

I have the same problem and I think it is the vents near the gas cap as mentioned before.

When I take a road trip with my Lund Angler, there will be a mark from gas droplets on the side of the boat. I was wondering if the movement of the fuel in the tank would not cause a pressure buildup and be causing it, but I am far from mechanical.

The first time they looked at them 2-3 years ago, the dealer said sometimes spider webs or other obstructions can get in the vent lines. They claim they cleaned it out but it still does it. When I get my boat back from out of state storage, I am going to have the dealer fix it. I am tired of everything from rods(and fishing line) to life preservers and other equipment reaking of gas smell.

[Can'tFishEnuf]

The vent hose goes right back to the top of the fill hole, so the gas if any should just go right back in the tank. I'm not familiar with the old style. This sounds like it's pretty common. I'm not going to worry about it too much, but I am going to keep an eye on it.

[sparkyaber]

Have to bring back this thread- I had my boat in for repairs for a couple of weeks, when I got it back and started loading things back into it I was opening the two front compartments and the rod storage and the smell of gas was almost overpowering! I checked the side compartments, same smell. Went to the back and I could still smell gas, just not as prevelent. The boat is a Triton FS 190.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Abe

[Jaybird]

I hope somebody can shed some light on this. I've got the same problem with my 1993 Pro-V. I can smell gas in all the compartments when I open them up. I've pulled the floor cover and inspected the tank (which is plastic) and connections with no luck.

I guess the up-side is that I can always use the excuse that my gear is gas-scented to explain why I don't catch fish.

[SUNNYD]

Same problem here in my 2003 Lund Angler SS. I think SurfaceTension might be on to something with the gas smell eminating from the plastic gas tank. I have no leaks in mine and I have quit worring about it. The holding tanks may be the issue here. I don't think that I am going to rip out my 32 gallon tank anytime soon (that would be one he!! of a job as it would require me to remove flooring) so I have just learned to deal with the faint smell of gas when opening my compartments.

I guess I would have more worries if the smell of gas coming from the compartments where like as I dumped gas in them, but it is not so I will not worry about it.

Take care!

[united jigsticker]

Same problem on my 2004 Lund Explorer.

Must be normal eh'?

[robbro]

I have the same problem with a new Alumacraft Classic. I keep the boat in the garage and notice the smell is stronger in warm weather. Gas expands and contracts quite a bit with temp changes. I believe this "breathing" forces the vapors out through the tank vent.