Gasoline Smell; Headliner Replacement; Prime Before Applying Bilge Paint

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Author Topic:   Gasoline Smell; Headliner Replacement; Prime Before Applying Bilge Paint

Destin Dauntless posted 01-15-2012 09:21 PM ET (US)
I have a 2000 Dauntless 220, The center console opens via a door and contains a porta-potty and battery storage. I have two problems that I'd like to fix. Since I bought it used in 2003, the inside of the console has always smelled like gasoline. Is that standard inside a boat?
The soft headliner is always moldy as it has always been in hot climates like Savannah and the Panhandle. Has anyone ripped out the liner any replaced it with anything worth installing?
I striped out the inside of the console, used a wire brush on a drill, followed by Acetone, and will wash with TSP. I'm down to bare fiberglass. I've decided to use bilge paint to cover the inside glass. Does anyone know if I really have to prime before using the paint? I'm not looking for a showroom finish, just something that cleans up fast and lasts.
http://flickr.com/gp/77198947@N06/ig1285

jimh posted 04-13-2012 05:42 PM ET (US)
It is not typical for a boat to retain a smell of gasoline. I suspect that the gasoline smell you are noticing is due to permeation of a rubber fuel hose or a plastic fuel tank. Does your Boston Whaler have an aluminum fuel tank or a plastic fuel tank?
While we think of a model-year-2000 boat as being relatively new, it is possible that a fuel hose may have been compromised in 12-years of use. This is particularly possible if fuel can sit in a low spot in the fuel filler hose. If the rubber hose sits in water all the time the durability of the hose may be compromised, too.
Do you routinely fill the fuel tank to the brim? This sometimes leaves fuel in the filler hose. If there is a weak spot or area with permeation, some fuel may leak out.
Gasoline is usually rather volatile and evaporates rapidly. If you always smell gasoline, it may be due to permeation from the fuel tank.
Destin Dauntless posted 04-14-2012 10:44 AM ET (US)
after cleaning. Should I apply a primer and then a bilge paint?
http://flickr.com/gp/77198947@N06/5vT796/
andygere posted 04-14-2012 01:18 PM ET (US)
My dad's Dauntless 16 has a plastic integral fuel tank below the floor of the boat, butting up against the inside of the console storage area. The inside of the console, which is also well below deck level, always smells faintly of gasoline. We checked with the local Whaler dealership, and they confirmed that it is typical with these boats, and results from the somewhat permeable plastic fuel tank. Articles posted here have indicated that others experience the same thing.
While I'd be sure to eliminate any possible sources of fuel leaks, I suspect that the larger Dauntless suffers from the same problem.
andygere posted 04-14-2012 01:20 PM ET (US)
To answer the second question, I think painting the interior of the console in a light color is a good solution. Any headliner material you install is likely to get moldy again if the boat is still in a very humid climate. You did a nice job of removing the glue and cleaning up the fiberglass.
Destin Dauntless posted 04-18-2012 08:22 AM ET (US)
Jim,
thanks, all good points that I will investigate; right now I'm using the cooler weather to sit inside the CC "oven" and do the cosmetic repairs. Last May in Georgia I was working on the hall gelcoat and ended by putting an oven thermometer on the deck to confirm that the day time temps were going over 110 degrees.
Andygere,
thanks for confirming my suspicions. Not only does mold set in to the vinyl coating, but over time the fuel smell sinks into the materials too and no amount of pressure washing and bleach will fix the situation. I will be posting pictures in a few weeks of my final fix.

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Author	Topic: Gasoline Smell; Headliner Replacement; Prime Before Applying Bilge Paint
Destin Dauntless	posted 01-15-2012 09:21 PM ET (US) I have a 2000 Dauntless 220, The center console opens via a door and contains a porta-potty and battery storage. I have two problems that I'd like to fix. Since I bought it used in 2003, the inside of the console has always smelled like gasoline. Is that standard inside a boat? The soft headliner is always moldy as it has always been in hot climates like Savannah and the Panhandle. Has anyone ripped out the liner any replaced it with anything worth installing? I striped out the inside of the console, used a wire brush on a drill, followed by Acetone, and will wash with TSP. I'm down to bare fiberglass. I've decided to use bilge paint to cover the inside glass. Does anyone know if I really have to prime before using the paint? I'm not looking for a showroom finish, just something that cleans up fast and lasts. http://flickr.com/gp/77198947@N06/ig1285
jimh	posted 04-13-2012 05:42 PM ET (US) It is not typical for a boat to retain a smell of gasoline. I suspect that the gasoline smell you are noticing is due to permeation of a rubber fuel hose or a plastic fuel tank. Does your Boston Whaler have an aluminum fuel tank or a plastic fuel tank? While we think of a model-year-2000 boat as being relatively new, it is possible that a fuel hose may have been compromised in 12-years of use. This is particularly possible if fuel can sit in a low spot in the fuel filler hose. If the rubber hose sits in water all the time the durability of the hose may be compromised, too. Do you routinely fill the fuel tank to the brim? This sometimes leaves fuel in the filler hose. If there is a weak spot or area with permeation, some fuel may leak out. Gasoline is usually rather volatile and evaporates rapidly. If you always smell gasoline, it may be due to permeation from the fuel tank.
Destin Dauntless	posted 04-14-2012 10:44 AM ET (US) after cleaning. Should I apply a primer and then a bilge paint? http://flickr.com/gp/77198947@N06/5vT796/
andygere	posted 04-14-2012 01:18 PM ET (US) My dad's Dauntless 16 has a plastic integral fuel tank below the floor of the boat, butting up against the inside of the console storage area. The inside of the console, which is also well below deck level, always smells faintly of gasoline. We checked with the local Whaler dealership, and they confirmed that it is typical with these boats, and results from the somewhat permeable plastic fuel tank. Articles posted here have indicated that others experience the same thing. While I'd be sure to eliminate any possible sources of fuel leaks, I suspect that the larger Dauntless suffers from the same problem.
andygere	posted 04-14-2012 01:20 PM ET (US) To answer the second question, I think painting the interior of the console in a light color is a good solution. Any headliner material you install is likely to get moldy again if the boat is still in a very humid climate. You did a nice job of removing the glue and cleaning up the fiberglass.
Destin Dauntless	posted 04-18-2012 08:22 AM ET (US) Jim, thanks, all good points that I will investigate; right now I'm using the cooler weather to sit inside the CC "oven" and do the cosmetic repairs. Last May in Georgia I was working on the hall gelcoat and ended by putting an oven thermometer on the deck to confirm that the day time temps were going over 110 degrees. Andygere, thanks for confirming my suspicions. Not only does mold set in to the vinyl coating, but over time the fuel smell sinks into the materials too and no amount of pressure washing and bleach will fix the situation. I will be posting pictures in a few weeks of my final fix.