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  OUTRAGE 22: Problems Adding Fuel to Internal Fuel Tank

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Author Topic:   OUTRAGE 22: Problems Adding Fuel to Internal Fuel Tank
humboldt jim posted 04-06-2009 05:12 PM ET (US)   Profile for humboldt jim   Send Email to humboldt jim  
I took my Outrage 22 out for a shakedown cruise yesterday. She's been sitting for over a year and I was not sure how much fuel I still had. I wanted to top her off and stabilize the fuel. I had a helluva time getting fuel in without it gurgling back up. I could not tell if the vent was passing any air but it may be clogged and resulting in the air being forced back up through the fill pipe. I had to painfully add fuel slowly and gave up trying to fill her after 20 gallons and numerous spills.

Has this happened to others? Could the vent be clogged and causing this problem? I have had a few occasions where the pump has been fast and created some back up, but nothing like what I experienced yesterday.

deepwater posted 04-06-2009 06:36 PM ET (US)     Profile for deepwater  Send Email to deepwater     
[Your description of the problem] sounds like [the fuel tank vent is] plugged. Just before frost you may have gotten a caterpillar up there and it spun a cocoon and now its plugged. Try some weed eater line and use a vacuum at the same time your running the line in and out of the vent to help suck out the loose stuff. It won't dissolve in gas and could plug your fuel pickup tube at any time
JMARTIN posted 04-06-2009 07:43 PM ET (US)     Profile for JMARTIN  Send Email to JMARTIN     
Man, electric vacuum cleaner and gas fumes, sounds risky. Take the vent line off at the tank. You should be able to get to it from the plate in the deck. Then force air through the line. The vent line should have a loop in it and maybe a little screen where it sticks out of the hull.

John

Jeff posted 04-06-2009 07:53 PM ET (US)     Profile for Jeff  Send Email to Jeff     
I know exactly what your problem is. I had the same problem with the fuel filler on my Outrage 22. The problem is due to age and more likely years of ethanol use. Your fuel filler hose is deteriorating and the rubber is holding moisture. When this happens the inner metal coil in the fuel filler [rubber hose] begins to rust, thus delaminating the inner and outer walls [of the rubber hose]. When this happens it creates a pinch point and will only allow so much fuel through. I spoke of the problem in page two of my Outrage deck repair.

See figure #41
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/outrageRestore2.html

The only way to fix this is to replace the hose or live with a slow fill.

jimh posted 04-06-2009 08:57 PM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
When adding fuel to the internal tank you should easily be able to detect an outflow of air at the vent. You can easily feel it on your finger if you place your finger in close proximity to the vent outlet. If you do not feel air being expelled from the tank as fuel is added, check the vent for a blockage.

Also, when adding fuel to the internal tank of any Boston Whaler boat where the fill line is in the forward portion of the tank, it is important that the trim on the boat be down by the stern. If you have too much weight forward in the boat when fueling, the trim will be down by the bow. This causes the fuel in the tank to move forward. This creates difficulties in adding fuel as the vent line will be closed off by a full tank of fuel.

If none of this apply, follow Jeff's advice. You don't mention the age of your Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 22, but the fuel filler lines seldom last more than 20-years. If your Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 22 was built prior to c.1989, you are probably due for a replacement of the main fuel filler hose.

jimh posted 04-06-2009 09:04 PM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
Another suggestion:

After adding fuel to your Boston Whaler boat with an internal tank, intentionally trim the boat so it lists away from the side with fuel fill. This will help to clear any fuel from the filler line which runs almost horizontally across the deck from the gunwale to the tank fuel inlet amidships. If you leave gasoline trapped in the fuel line and it sits for long periods of time, it will tend to permeate the rubber of the fuel hose and soften it.

Generally the fuel fill is on the Port side, so lean the boat to starboard after fueling. This will help get any fuel out of the fill hose.

humboldt jim posted 04-07-2009 12:06 AM ET (US)     Profile for humboldt jim  Send Email to humboldt jim     
She's a 1983. Good suggestions and I will report back.
jimh posted 04-07-2009 12:19 AM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
There was an important epoch in rubber fuel hose manufacturing, a sea change to use a nautical metaphor. Prior to c.1997 the rubber used in fuel hoses often was not resistant to fuels that contain alcohol. After c.1997 the rubber fuel hose should be clearly marked with the term "Alcohol resistant" to note that quality.

If the fuel filler hose in your 1983 Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 22 is an original component, it will be due for replacement. It is likely not resistant to fuels diluted with ethanol or other alcohols, and even if it were, 29-years is a long lifespan for a rubber fuel hose.

humboldt jim posted 04-07-2009 10:28 PM ET (US)     Profile for humboldt jim  Send Email to humboldt jim     
Problem appears to be solved by removing vent line at hull and vacuuming the elbow joint of the vent. I did use the vacuum on the vent hose albeit briefly and with some trepidation as I pictured myself making the Darwin Awards for 2009.

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