I have a heavy fuel smell in the cabin of my 1997 sea ray 240 sundancer. I
smell (very little) fuel in the engine compartment.I called the dealer and they
think that it could be a fuel line (fill,vent or line to engine). they said
that it is rare that the fuel tank in this model and year could rupture. the
thing that i don't get is how come the smell is in the aft cabin and not in the
engine compartment, if a fuel line is bad? (all lines are in the engine
compartment area). I did pull the access panel up in the aft cabin and the fuel
smell was stronger.it looks like i can pull the tank with out to much trouble.
I guess my questions are.
1) if i don't see any fuel in the bilge, could it be leaking?
2) if it is a fuel line could the vapors vent out of the engine compartment and
stay in the aft cabin area?
3) if i do need a new fuel tank, is there a place on the net to find them?

thanks for any help i can get, Joe

You do know, I hope, that you're sitting on a bomb with a very twitchy fuse.
Literally. All electronics off - everything, fridge, charger, everything -
no static electricity sparks, stay away from the boat until you get this
tended to.

Hard to imagine the dealer being sanguine over the telephone. Small amount
of gasoline in the air of a boat's bilge can be very explosive. If you're
lucky when it blows you'll be killed outright.

I view this as a life and death emergency, extremely dangerous, has to be
dealt with absolutely immediately by someone who knows what they are doing.

I know I'm sounding dramatic but I wish I could sound more so.

====

Charles T. Low
- remove "UN"
www.boatdocking.com/BDPhoto.html - Photo Contest
www.boatdocking.com
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat

====

"Run all 8" wrote in message
...
I have a heavy fuel smell in the cabin of my 1997 sea ray 240 sundancer. I
smell (very little) fuel in the engine compartment.I called the dealer and
they
think that it could be a fuel line (fill,vent or line to engine). they
said
that it is rare that the fuel tank in this model and year could rupture.
the
thing that i don't get is how come the smell is in the aft cabin and not
in the
engine compartment, if a fuel line is bad? (all lines are in the engine
compartment area). I did pull the access panel up in the aft cabin and the
fuel
smell was stronger.it looks like i can pull the tank with out to much
trouble.
I guess my questions are.
1) if i don't see any fuel in the bilge, could it be leaking?
2) if it is a fuel line could the vapors vent out of the engine
compartment and
stay in the aft cabin area?
3) if i do need a new fuel tank, is there a place on the net to find them?

thanks for any help i can get, Joe

You do know, I hope, that you're sitting on a bomb with a very twitchy fuse.
Literally. All electronics off - everything, fridge, charger, everything -
no static electricity sparks, stay away from the boat until you get this
tended to.

Hard to imagine the dealer being sanguine over the telephone. Small amount
of gasoline in the air of a boat's bilge can be very explosive. If you're
lucky when it blows you'll be killed outright.

I view this as a life and death emergency, extremely dangerous, has to be
dealt with absolutely immediately by someone who knows what they are doing.

I know I'm sounding dramatic but I wish I could sound more so.

====

Charles T. Low
- remove "UN"
www.boatdocking.com/BDPhoto.html - Photo Contest
www.boatdocking.com
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat

====

"Run all 8" wrote in message
...
I have a heavy fuel smell in the cabin of my 1997 sea ray 240 sundancer. I
smell (very little) fuel in the engine compartment.I called the dealer and
they
think that it could be a fuel line (fill,vent or line to engine). they
said
that it is rare that the fuel tank in this model and year could rupture.
the
thing that i don't get is how come the smell is in the aft cabin and not
in the
engine compartment, if a fuel line is bad? (all lines are in the engine
compartment area). I did pull the access panel up in the aft cabin and the
fuel
smell was stronger.it looks like i can pull the tank with out to much
trouble.
I guess my questions are.
1) if i don't see any fuel in the bilge, could it be leaking?
2) if it is a fuel line could the vapors vent out of the engine
compartment and
stay in the aft cabin area?
3) if i do need a new fuel tank, is there a place on the net to find them?

thanks for any help i can get, Joe

thanks for the warnings......the boat is sitting on the trailer with all
hatches and sliding windows open. I also have taking out the access panel to
the tank and can see that it is not that hard to remove.(1 day out 1 day back
in) I'm guessing that it wil cost about $300.00 us dollars for a new one. But
someone suggested pressure testing the tank before doing anything. do i need to
remove the fuel before testing? whats the going rate ( taking it to the dealer)
for pessure testing a 59 gallon tank?

Thanks, Joe

thanks for the warnings......the boat is sitting on the trailer with all
hatches and sliding windows open. I also have taking out the access panel to
the tank and can see that it is not that hard to remove.(1 day out 1 day back
in) I'm guessing that it wil cost about $300.00 us dollars for a new one. But
someone suggested pressure testing the tank before doing anything. do i need to
remove the fuel before testing? whats the going rate ( taking it to the dealer)
for pessure testing a 59 gallon tank?

Thanks, Joe

On 17 Apr 2004 18:33:10 GMT, (Run all 8) wrote:

I have a heavy fuel smell in the cabin of my 1997 sea ray 240 sundancer. I
smell (very little) fuel in the engine compartment.I called the dealer and they
think that it could be a fuel line (fill,vent or line to engine). they said
that it is rare that the fuel tank in this model and year could rupture. the
thing that i don't get is how come the smell is in the aft cabin and not in the
engine compartment, if a fuel line is bad? (all lines are in the engine
compartment area). I did pull the access panel up in the aft cabin and the fuel
smell was stronger.it looks like i can pull the tank with out to much trouble.
I guess my questions are.
1) if i don't see any fuel in the bilge, could it be leaking?
2) if it is a fuel line could the vapors vent out of the engine compartment and
stay in the aft cabin area?
3) if i do need a new fuel tank, is there a place on the net to find them?

thanks for any help i can get, Joe


If you walked into your house and smelled gas, what would you do? Personally,
I'd call the fire department! If my boat were in a marina, I'd probably do the
same thing. At least you'd get some good advice. Pay attention to what Charles
Low said, it's good advice.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

On 17 Apr 2004 18:33:10 GMT, (Run all 8) wrote:

I have a heavy fuel smell in the cabin of my 1997 sea ray 240 sundancer. I
smell (very little) fuel in the engine compartment.I called the dealer and they
think that it could be a fuel line (fill,vent or line to engine). they said
that it is rare that the fuel tank in this model and year could rupture. the
thing that i don't get is how come the smell is in the aft cabin and not in the
engine compartment, if a fuel line is bad? (all lines are in the engine
compartment area). I did pull the access panel up in the aft cabin and the fuel
smell was stronger.it looks like i can pull the tank with out to much trouble.
I guess my questions are.
1) if i don't see any fuel in the bilge, could it be leaking?
2) if it is a fuel line could the vapors vent out of the engine compartment and
stay in the aft cabin area?
3) if i do need a new fuel tank, is there a place on the net to find them?

thanks for any help i can get, Joe


If you walked into your house and smelled gas, what would you do? Personally,
I'd call the fire department! If my boat were in a marina, I'd probably do the
same thing. At least you'd get some good advice. Pay attention to what Charles
Low said, it's good advice.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!