Fuel tank leaking

[Bayflite73]

Hey guys, I spent some time trying to start my ssv-177 today including filling up the mostly empty tank with gas. Well it never started and is sitting on its trailer without its cover all day. I just went out and noticed an overpowering gas smell. Smelled near the overflow vent, by the fill tube, nope it's from the engine compartment. Ran a paper towel over all the exposed gas lines and while really dirty they were dry. Then I put a paper towel next to the drain hole drilled under the floorboards and it came back soaked with gas.

I won't be trying to start the potential time bomb of this boat before I can get it to a service center (put in a request to Hannay's today) but my question is, is this boat worth saving seeing as we're a one income family now and I don't have a multiple thousands to keep throwing at it?

[Hyperacme]

Ask them to look it over and give you a guess - ta -met on repair costs.
That should only cost ya $100, and should go towards repair's if you elect to do them.
Nothings ever cheap when it comes to boats ....

[Plugcheck]

Not exactly well versed with that  particular model, but I'd like to add that if you just fueled up, and considering recent temps, the fuel could have expanded and leaked a bit. Assuming a belly tank, do you have access to the fill/vent/sender areas of the tank to perform a more thorough inspection?  That's what a shop will do so you could learn and save plenty DIY.  If it leaks into the bilge, might just be time for a tank which could easily be in the $500+ range if a shop does all the work.  Personally, I'd pull a few gallons out then check the leaks.  As to the question is it worth saving, all of them are, but that is just my opinion.  Fuel tank fix is doable.  Good luck.

[Bayflite73]

Thanks guys! It is a belly rank, 28 gallon and plastic. It's foamed in but there's a floor panel held down with about 10 screws that gives me access to the whole thing.

I agree that they're all worth saving. I'll see what the shop says once I get an appointment and cross my fingers!

[Bayflite73]

Ask them to look it over and give you a guess - ta -met on repair costs.
That should only cost ya $100, and should go towards repair's if you elect to do them.
Nothings ever cheap when it comes to boats ....

And you're absolutely right Gregg, nothing is ever cheap!

[Plugcheck]

I'd guess fuel expansion or a leak from a connection.  Can you pull the cover and inspect?

[Hyperacme]

Ya if it ten screws .. pull it and see if it's something easy, like a loose clamp on a hose.

[dorelse]

Its plastic?  I'm guessing its not something catastrophic then.

[CVX Fever]

Ya if it ten screws .. pull it and see if it's something easy, like a loose clamp on a hose.

Agreed. When I read your post that's the first thing I thought. If it's a plastic tank you know it isn't rotted and seems unlikely that it suddenly cracked.

[Bayflite73]

Well I bit the bullet and made an appointment at Hannay's. It's st the end of July which is a bummer bit with how schedules are working out this summer im probably only missing one or two days of boating time anyway.

Hopefully it means I'll be up and solidly running (for the first time) in time for the meet!

[Bayflite73]

So it turns out the not starting was caused by the choke on the carb being flipped around (opposite the screw) so it wasn't able to turn over at all! Checked the fuel lines, watched gas squirt into the carb, checked the distributor cap, all that first. Anyway it starts up now! We got the idle adjusted as well as it was about 1200 but now purrs at 800 - 900.

I pulled the deck over the fuel tank and after removing what was at one point a mouse nest from around the fill/vent hoses and found that the fuel leak is from the seal of said tubes not being tight enough! I tightened all six screws, cleaned up the gas until the top of the tank was clean around that area and... no more gas! She's in the driveway bow down now, but will turn her around tomorrow and run some water around to wash out any old gas sitting under the tank and then clean the bilge.

Hopefully that will be it for the summer and I can meet up one of these days for a run or two, but I can feel good about having a working boat for the meet now! (knock on wood!)

Thanks for the tips guys!

[Tonka Jim]

Splash some dawn dish soap or ammonia in the bilge to cut the gas & oil.
It will sparkle when your done!

[Bayflite73]

Splash some dawn dish soap or ammonia in the bilge to cut the gas & oil.
It will sparkle when your done!

Good idea Jim! I'll do that!

[Hyperacme]

" Nothings ever cheap when it comes to boats .... "

I'm glad I was wrong !

[CVX Fever]

Couldn't have expected a better end result than that! Glad to hear it was some simple and cheap fixes.

[Glastronjohn18]

It's good that someone has an easy fix for once. Glad to hear you're back on the water.

[Bayflite73]

Thanks guys! I'm hoping to get her in the water tomorrow or Thursday for the real test. Fingers crossed!

[Bayflite73]

Cleaning up rusty screws. Who puts regular screws on stainless hose clamps? (Old clamps to the right in the first pic.)