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Author Topic:   1998 Dauntless & Ventura warning

Dan posted 11-16-2000 09:03 PM ET (US)
Came across this info while web surfing:
http://www.uscgboating.org/reg/reg_bsc80.asp#gel
BOSTON WHALER INC.
(Edgewater, FL)(980053T)
Year: 1998
Models: 180 VT/DA
Ê Dauntless and Ventura w/ HINs:
Ê BWCAL002G798 - BWCAL326B798
Units: 318
Problem: Fuel tank expansion may force fuel out of fuel fill
cap; possible fire/explosion if ignition source present
Dan posted 11-16-2000 09:10 PM ET (US)
More info
BOSTON WHALER, INC.
(EDGEWATER, FL)(950129T)
YEAR: 1995 & 1996
MODELS: 18' RAGE w/ HINs:
Ê BWCNA002F596 - BWCNAZ038H596
Ê 17' DAUNTLESS w/ HINs:
Ê BWCWA093A595 - BWCWA531H596
Units: 465
Problem: ATTWOOD FUEL FILL RECALL
Whaletosh posted 11-17-2000 10:24 AM ET (US)
This recall was due to the white plastic fuel filler that Whaler got from Atwood. It was a combination fuel fill and vent. Whaler replaced the fills and installed seperate vents as part of recall. If you have one of these then you should probably contact a dealer to get the fix. I am pretty sure it is free. I am pretty sure it also applies to the whole Dauntless/Ventura line.
dgp posted 11-17-2000 01:46 PM ET (US)
When I had my Dauntless 17, this same problem occured to me. My fill cap was black, dunno the brand. This happened while the boat was on the trailer, full fuel tank and 105 degree ambient. This boat also had a fuel vent located in the starboard side by the transom. Fuel expanded and came out the fill cap and ran down the gunnel-rubrail trough then over the side ruining the logo decal and blistering the bottom paint. I filed a report of this problem to the USCG in September of '98. Don
Whaletosh posted 11-17-2000 05:01 PM ET (US)
Don,
These are two distinct problems. The recall was for plastic fills with a flip style lid that was made by Attwood. I belive the problem resulted with gas in the bilge, but my memory is a little fuzzy on the endr result.
Your problem with gas coming out the vent is because you filled the gas up to full on a hot day. Gas storage tanks are underground which is pretty steady at 55 degrees. You pumped cool gas into you tank and it heated up to ambient temperature and expanded as it did. It couldn't go out the fill so it went out the vent. I have seen little plasic fitting tha go inline on the vent line. They whistle when you are filling the tank because of the air going out of the vent. When the vent line gets gas in it when tank is full the whistleing stops. Supposed to help you keep from over filling the tank.
The best way to prevent overfilling is to calibrate your fuel gauge, that way you can get abetter idea of how much to add while leaving a few extra gallons of air in the tank as a buffer against over filling and spilling. The Coast Gaurd has the power to site you for spilling fuel, even by accident. The fines can be really high. Boat/US ran an article on this the newsletter over the summer. They didn't know of a recreational boater that was sited, but the same fines that Exxon had to pay for the Valdeze spill could be forced on you for spilling gas. Wouldn't be as much, but you could end up paying a whopper of a bill.
Whaletosh posted 11-17-2000 05:10 PM ET (US)
Don,
I forgot to mention that Whaler did move the vents on some of the older Dauntless' becuse of problems like yours. My prior post could have been interpreted that you were to blame for the splilling. That is not true, lots of boat builders have this problem with placing the vent incorrectly.
My intention was to give people a solution to preventing fuel spillage out of the vent. The Coast Guard will still hold the owner/operator responsible regardless of the design. You can be fined for any oil or fuel spills that leave visible sheen on the water. Not completey topping off the fueltank is the easiest way to prevent spills from the vent.
dgp posted 11-17-2000 09:06 PM ET (US)
Whaletosh, my fuel fill was of the flip style you mention. Since it was located on the outside of the upper liner above the rubrail when the fuel came out it ran down the gunnel into ground. The real fuel vent was located inside the hull and any fuel would have drained into the rear storage compartment. It never whistled when I filled the tank and it was not plugged up.
I did not fill the tank on the day it came out of the fuel fill. In fact, it wasn't until several days after that this event occured. Thanks for the lecture. Maybe I should have contacted the EPA, filed an environmental impact study request and called in the soil remediation team. Don
dauntlass 18 posted 11-19-2000 12:47 AM ET (US)
My 18 ft. Dauntlass has white flip up fill cap.I get fuel odor in center console&stabard transom compartment.The odor clears up after the boat runs a few mintues.I can find no overboard fuel vent on my boat.I think there is a expansion tank inside hull to handle expansion of fuel.Any one have any input on how the tank is vented.I will contact Whaler re recall.
Whaletosh posted 11-20-2000 08:30 AM ET (US)
Dauntless 18,
Open you fuel fill. You should see the large opening for the gas nozzle, where you actually put the gas in. If there is another smaller hole that is the vent. Attwood designed this fill to make it easier for vents to be put in.
If you are smelling gas in the center console and the storage area, you are getting gas in the bilge somehow. You need to figure out why. I would definately call you local Whaler dealer or Whaler directly and see if your boat is covered on the recall. You don't want ot mess with gas spills for enviromental or safety reasons.
Tsuriki BW posted 11-20-2000 12:06 PM ET (US)
Dauntless 18,
I have the exact same problem with my Dauntless 14. Was concerned having the boat in the garage with the heater unit there also. Will also check with the dealer. Let's post the results here. Could be a very dangerous thing.
Tsuriki BW
dauntlass 18 posted 11-22-2000 10:46 AM ET (US)
I contacted Whaler Whaletosh was correct fuel vent in fill tube.My whaler is not in recall was advised to look for lesks&possibly have whaler dealer perform pressure test.

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Author	Topic: 1998 Dauntless & Ventura warning
Dan	posted 11-16-2000 09:03 PM ET (US) Came across this info while web surfing: http://www.uscgboating.org/reg/reg_bsc80.asp#gel BOSTON WHALER INC. (Edgewater, FL)(980053T) Year: 1998 Models: 180 VT/DA Ê Dauntless and Ventura w/ HINs: Ê BWCAL002G798 - BWCAL326B798 Units: 318 Problem: Fuel tank expansion may force fuel out of fuel fill cap; possible fire/explosion if ignition source present
Dan	posted 11-16-2000 09:10 PM ET (US) More info BOSTON WHALER, INC. (EDGEWATER, FL)(950129T) YEAR: 1995 & 1996 MODELS: 18' RAGE w/ HINs: Ê BWCNA002F596 - BWCNAZ038H596 Ê 17' DAUNTLESS w/ HINs: Ê BWCWA093A595 - BWCWA531H596 Units: 465 Problem: ATTWOOD FUEL FILL RECALL
Whaletosh	posted 11-17-2000 10:24 AM ET (US) This recall was due to the white plastic fuel filler that Whaler got from Atwood. It was a combination fuel fill and vent. Whaler replaced the fills and installed seperate vents as part of recall. If you have one of these then you should probably contact a dealer to get the fix. I am pretty sure it is free. I am pretty sure it also applies to the whole Dauntless/Ventura line.
dgp	posted 11-17-2000 01:46 PM ET (US) When I had my Dauntless 17, this same problem occured to me. My fill cap was black, dunno the brand. This happened while the boat was on the trailer, full fuel tank and 105 degree ambient. This boat also had a fuel vent located in the starboard side by the transom. Fuel expanded and came out the fill cap and ran down the gunnel-rubrail trough then over the side ruining the logo decal and blistering the bottom paint. I filed a report of this problem to the USCG in September of '98. Don
Whaletosh	posted 11-17-2000 05:01 PM ET (US) Don, These are two distinct problems. The recall was for plastic fills with a flip style lid that was made by Attwood. I belive the problem resulted with gas in the bilge, but my memory is a little fuzzy on the endr result. Your problem with gas coming out the vent is because you filled the gas up to full on a hot day. Gas storage tanks are underground which is pretty steady at 55 degrees. You pumped cool gas into you tank and it heated up to ambient temperature and expanded as it did. It couldn't go out the fill so it went out the vent. I have seen little plasic fitting tha go inline on the vent line. They whistle when you are filling the tank because of the air going out of the vent. When the vent line gets gas in it when tank is full the whistleing stops. Supposed to help you keep from over filling the tank. The best way to prevent overfilling is to calibrate your fuel gauge, that way you can get abetter idea of how much to add while leaving a few extra gallons of air in the tank as a buffer against over filling and spilling. The Coast Gaurd has the power to site you for spilling fuel, even by accident. The fines can be really high. Boat/US ran an article on this the newsletter over the summer. They didn't know of a recreational boater that was sited, but the same fines that Exxon had to pay for the Valdeze spill could be forced on you for spilling gas. Wouldn't be as much, but you could end up paying a whopper of a bill.
Whaletosh	posted 11-17-2000 05:10 PM ET (US) Don, I forgot to mention that Whaler did move the vents on some of the older Dauntless' becuse of problems like yours. My prior post could have been interpreted that you were to blame for the splilling. That is not true, lots of boat builders have this problem with placing the vent incorrectly. My intention was to give people a solution to preventing fuel spillage out of the vent. The Coast Guard will still hold the owner/operator responsible regardless of the design. You can be fined for any oil or fuel spills that leave visible sheen on the water. Not completey topping off the fueltank is the easiest way to prevent spills from the vent.
dgp	posted 11-17-2000 09:06 PM ET (US) Whaletosh, my fuel fill was of the flip style you mention. Since it was located on the outside of the upper liner above the rubrail when the fuel came out it ran down the gunnel into ground. The real fuel vent was located inside the hull and any fuel would have drained into the rear storage compartment. It never whistled when I filled the tank and it was not plugged up. I did not fill the tank on the day it came out of the fuel fill. In fact, it wasn't until several days after that this event occured. Thanks for the lecture. Maybe I should have contacted the EPA, filed an environmental impact study request and called in the soil remediation team. Don
dauntlass 18	posted 11-19-2000 12:47 AM ET (US) My 18 ft. Dauntlass has white flip up fill cap.I get fuel odor in center console&stabard transom compartment.The odor clears up after the boat runs a few mintues.I can find no overboard fuel vent on my boat.I think there is a expansion tank inside hull to handle expansion of fuel.Any one have any input on how the tank is vented.I will contact Whaler re recall.
Whaletosh	posted 11-20-2000 08:30 AM ET (US) Dauntless 18, Open you fuel fill. You should see the large opening for the gas nozzle, where you actually put the gas in. If there is another smaller hole that is the vent. Attwood designed this fill to make it easier for vents to be put in. If you are smelling gas in the center console and the storage area, you are getting gas in the bilge somehow. You need to figure out why. I would definately call you local Whaler dealer or Whaler directly and see if your boat is covered on the recall. You don't want ot mess with gas spills for enviromental or safety reasons.
Tsuriki BW	posted 11-20-2000 12:06 PM ET (US) Dauntless 18, I have the exact same problem with my Dauntless 14. Was concerned having the boat in the garage with the heater unit there also. Will also check with the dealer. Let's post the results here. Could be a very dangerous thing. Tsuriki BW
dauntlass 18	posted 11-22-2000 10:46 AM ET (US) I contacted Whaler Whaletosh was correct fuel vent in fill tube.My whaler is not in recall was advised to look for lesks&possibly have whaler dealer perform pressure test.