Water getting into the tank from under the console would be rare, as the tank and all connections are already sealed to keep gas and fumes from escaping. In my experience, water getting into the tank is either from condensation or water intrusion into the tank fill or the vent, with the gasket on the fill cap being the most common.
I have been dealing with water issues in the fuel tank of my 20' Key West walkaround since 2016. After discovering water in the tank, I decided to seal and caulk everything before replacing the 60-gallon tank. I also replaced the sending unit, vent hose, and filler hose. I added a lot of HEET water remover and used red Stabil with every fill-up. After a few years of this routine, it seemed to solve the problem. In 2021, I switched to Stabil Marine 360, which is a bluish stabilizer. However, after a few trips, I noticed water appearing again in my water-fuel separator. One day, while out fishing Lake Michigan salmon fishing the engine stalled in the middle of the lake, and I had to call Tow USA to bring my boat back to shore. I removed the floor deck once again to troubleshoot but found no leaks. I took a few more trips on the lake using a portable tank as a backup, but I still saw a little water in my water separator. In 2022, I polished my fuel once and switched back to regular red Stabil. Since then, I have not seen any water in my fuel separator. It’s possible that the regular red Stabil made the difference, but who knows for sure? Good luck.
If the fuel you are using is an ethanol blend, or ethanol contaminated, given time, it will separate, giving you water at the bottom of your tank. If you empty your tank completely and use non-ethanol gas, it should eliminate that as a source of water. Good luck. I enjoy your videos.
It’s either residual, getting in the fuel fill or is already in the fuel when you put it in the boat. I had to replace the tanks in my Pursuit 2870. Big job big money.
If you do look into a smoke machine I recommend the redline version we have one and it can run off baby oil so much cheaper than other models that want a specific oil in them you won’t regret the purchase
I hope these preventative measures help the cause, think about taking out that gas tank makes anxious/angry and it's not even my boat, good luck my friend.
Water could be getting in the vent port on the hull when you are underway. The vent cap is kinda old school. I have the same one on my boat but its on such an angle downwards and about midship that water intrusion is unlikely for me. You may not be having the same luck.
Chances are you're just seeing condensation. Your tank (as you know) is vented to the atmosphere... if your tank's not full of fuel (and who stores their boat with full tanks anyway?) all it takes is a few humid days and cool nights to build up condensation in the tank... even gas stations see it happen to their underground tanks. Best thing you can do is put in a water seperating filter and keep ethanol out of the tank. My (aluminium) boat has removable floors and individual polystyrene blocks under it for floatation. I did consider replacing them with foam... but now I'm glad I didn't. Foam's great for floatation but a nightmare for maintenance.
A fuel leak from under the center console wouldn’t be likely with a moderate seal. A bad gasket getting residue in the fuel filler cap could very well be the issue.
How would you get one of the filler hoses out of the foam? I have the exact same situation as yours on my scout 175? I started digging mine out and gave up since it wasn’t the source of the leak. My tank was leaking and I replaced everything except the filler hose. Im thinking keep digging or maybe couple another hose to it and yank?
They SUCK! Yeah, you have to just dig and dig and dig and get as much of that foam out as you possibly can, then couple the new hose to the old hose on one end and then yank from the other end, worst case scenario the console needs to be removed and a new hole cut in the deck under it where you can get your arm in there and get it through, under the deck is the worst spot because it goes through the stringer or over it :/ then put an cover over the hole and the console back in, SUCKS
Water getting into the tank from under the console would be rare, as the tank and all connections are already sealed to keep gas and fumes from escaping. In my experience, water getting into the tank is either from condensation or water intrusion into the tank fill or the vent, with the gasket on the fill cap being the most common.
I have been dealing with water issues in the fuel tank of my 20' Key West walkaround since 2016. After discovering water in the tank, I decided to seal and caulk everything before replacing the 60-gallon tank. I also replaced the sending unit, vent hose, and filler hose. I added a lot of HEET water remover and used red Stabil with every fill-up. After a few years of this routine, it seemed to solve the problem.
In 2021, I switched to Stabil Marine 360, which is a bluish stabilizer. However, after a few trips, I noticed water appearing again in my water-fuel separator. One day, while out fishing Lake Michigan salmon fishing the engine stalled in the middle of the lake, and I had to call Tow USA to bring my boat back to shore. I removed the floor deck once again to troubleshoot but found no leaks. I took a few more trips on the lake using a portable tank as a backup, but I still saw a little water in my water separator.
In 2022, I polished my fuel once and switched back to regular red Stabil. Since then, I have not seen any water in my fuel separator. It’s possible that the regular red Stabil made the difference, but who knows for sure?
Good luck.
If the fuel you are using is an ethanol blend, or ethanol contaminated, given time, it will separate, giving you water at the bottom of your tank. If you empty your tank completely and use non-ethanol gas, it should eliminate that as a source of water. Good luck. I enjoy your videos.
I'm re-rigging my fiberglass rib. It's a nightmare managing those wires. On my 27 ft center console is much more work but it's a whole lot more room
It’s either residual, getting in the fuel fill or is already in the fuel when you put it in the boat. I had to replace the tanks in my Pursuit 2870. Big job big money.
If you do look into a smoke machine I recommend the redline version we have one and it can run off baby oil so much cheaper than other models that want a specific oil in them you won’t regret the purchase
This one?: redlinedetection.com/products/readysmoke
I hope these preventative measures help the cause, think about taking out that gas tank makes anxious/angry and it's not even my boat, good luck my friend.
Removing that tank would be a nightmare :( lol
Man I bet that would be bad to pull that fuel tank glad you got it straightened out great job as always
You need a smoke tester for evap systems on cars.
Water could be getting in the vent port on the hull when you are underway. The vent cap is kinda old school. I have the same one on my boat but its on such an angle downwards and about midship that water intrusion is unlikely for me. You may not be having the same luck.
Chances are you're just seeing condensation. Your tank (as you know) is vented to the atmosphere... if your tank's not full of fuel (and who stores their boat with full tanks anyway?) all it takes is a few humid days and cool nights to build up condensation in the tank... even gas stations see it happen to their underground tanks. Best thing you can do is put in a water seperating filter and keep ethanol out of the tank.
My (aluminium) boat has removable floors and individual polystyrene blocks under it for floatation. I did consider replacing them with foam... but now I'm glad I didn't. Foam's great for floatation but a nightmare for maintenance.
O-ring on the fuel filler port good? I had one that tore after being brittle. 🤷🏻
A fuel leak from under the center console wouldn’t be likely with a moderate seal. A bad gasket getting residue in the fuel filler cap could very well be the issue.
Ooo just what I was curious about!
How would you get one of the filler hoses out of the foam? I have the exact same situation as yours on my scout 175? I started digging mine out and gave up since it wasn’t the source of the leak. My tank was leaking and I replaced everything except the filler hose. Im thinking keep digging or maybe couple another hose to it and yank?
They SUCK! Yeah, you have to just dig and dig and dig and get as much of that foam out as you possibly can, then couple the new hose to the old hose on one end and then yank from the other end, worst case scenario the console needs to be removed and a new hole cut in the deck under it where you can get your arm in there and get it through, under the deck is the worst spot because it goes through the stringer or over it :/ then put an cover over the hole and the console back in, SUCKS
What if you have a fuel smell on A boat similar to the one you are working on now? thanks.
You gotta figure out where it's coming from! :/
I have the same boat. I and currently having to replace the filler hose, its a nightmare
HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE
When is this one going up for sale?
This one won't be up for sale, it's a buddy of mine and he's had a bunch of people asking him to sell it lol
Why not just use above portable tank.
Hoping not to, takes up space and loose a lot of distance in the loss of capacity :/