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Author Topic:   Fueling Difficulty with '99 16 Dauntless

tuck95 posted 08-28-2001 05:08 PM ET (US)
I'm having difficulty fueling my Daultless when on the water. Normally I fuel it on the trailer but I'm on vacation and the boat is in the water for two weeks on Martha's Vineyard. Yesterday I went to the harbor marina to fuel it with a 1/2 tank and it took 3 gallons and no more. Today I went with 1/4 tank and it took only 5 gallons. The gas is right up to the top of the neck. I tried to stand on the bow to level the tank but no success. Is there a know problem with tank filling or venting with the '99 Dauntless? Does anyone have any suggestions on troubleshooting?
Thanks!
B Bear posted 08-29-2001 04:43 PM ET (US)
tuck95,
Are you sure it is not the fuel gage?
You can visually check the tank from the bilge cover opening or, I believe under an access plate under the console seat.
Bear
tuck95 posted 08-29-2001 10:21 PM ET (US)
Thanks Bear. I'm leaning toward an intermittently faulty tank vent right now (if the boat has one.) I filled it up about a week ago and then used it over several days for a total of 8-10 hours. The gauge gradually went down to 1/2 tank over that period which seemed reasonable. Then I tried to fuel and it would only take 3 gallons. The next day (yesterday)I used about 4 hours and it took 5 gallons bringing the gauge from 1/4 to 1/2. I tried again today and was able to get in 27 gallons after an hour of use. Now the gauge reads full.
I'm assuming there is some kind of check valve in the tank vent which is sticking and not letting the air out and the gas in.

Dick posted 08-29-2001 10:29 PM ET (US)
No check valve in the vent system. Could be a kink in the hose if as you say the tank appears full when looking into the filler. Could also be caused by filling to fast for the angle of the filler hose.
dauntlass 18 posted 08-30-2001 07:30 AM ET (US)
My 1998 dauntless 18 had same problem .I think vent is inside fill tube. not a seperate vent tube out on side of hull. When refueling I would pump fuel in at about half of gas pump speed and when back up started I would stop pump for 5 to 10 sec. and than start pumping fuel again . This process worked fine for me .Nice vacation spot your at. PS I have noticed on some later models of Dauntless a vent on side of hull with warning decal fuel vent.
blackdog posted 08-30-2001 09:40 AM ET (US)
Yes , my 2001 has a vent on the side, fuel goes in as fast as you want. As Bear posted above you can pop the access cover in the engine well. My fuel sensor and pick is right there. You can also visually inspect the fuel level. I think you problem is a common one in that year Dauntless. Check out a recall and I believe BW was fixing it. Call your local dealer’s service department or better yet e-mail Boston Whaler.
Blackdog
tuck95 posted 08-31-2001 08:47 PM ET (US)
Thanks to all for the suggestions and info. I'll check with Boston Whaler on this when I get home next week.
By the way, I've really enjoyed the 16 Dauntless on Martha's Vineyard. Caught lots of bass and blues, had fun with my 4 kids, and just enjoyed cruising and birdwatching around the beautiful bays like Cape Pogue. Its truly amazing how many Whalers are in and around Edgartown Harbor!
Tom W Clark posted 09-03-2001 06:51 PM ET (US)
I've had the use of a very nice '99 Dauntless 14 recently and was out in it yesterday. I tried to add fuel at the fuel dock but only got 2 gallons in and a lot of gas on me and the splash well. Later, I was able to fill the tank at a gas station with the boat on the trailer and parked with the bow facing down hill. I filled it, but it was not easy. Many burps and slashes of gas on me and the parking lot. Very frustrating.
When I got home I investigated the plumbing in the bilge. This is not my boat so I was not familiar with it. I did discover that the vent is indeed in the filler! It's also not very large but the real problem is that the vent exits the tank at the rear, as does the filler.
What happens is that when the boat is in the water, the tank is leaning towards the stern. If there is more than 1/2 a tank, the vent is "underwater", so to speak. The forward end of the tank forms an air pocket which will compress a tiny bit from the weight of the fuel in the fill above the level of the tank. When the compressed air becomes too great, it burps some out the fill spewing some gasoline with it and preventing the gas in the fill from going into the tank.
The sender for the gas gauge is also at the rear which means that it will read full until the tank is well past 1/2 empty. I added 13 gallons yesterday to this 24 gallon tank and the gas gauge never did read anything less than full.
An external vent will help the breathing of the tank, but does the recall fix include moving the vent fitting on the tank to "higher ground"?
blackdog posted 09-04-2001 08:57 AM ET (US)
Tom,
I was looking at my tank on the 2001 16’ Dauntless. Looks like they changed the design a bit from what you described. The fuel pickup is located aft and is visible from an inspection hatch in the splash well. A vent is rigged to about mid ship on the Port side.
In side the pilot seat there is another inspection hatch and beneath it is the senor. The gauge is pretty accurate as far as I can tell. I’ll let you know when I fill her this week. 45-gallon tank, I have just below a Ľ on the Gauge. Should be around 30-35 Gallon to fill if the gauge is accurate.
tuck95 posted 05-16-2002 11:26 PM ET (US)
Here's an update on the '99 Dauntless fueling problem and hopefully the end of story. Its turns out that BW is doing a free "courtesy" retrofit to the new style fuel venting on the '99 Dauntless. Its a big job (11 hours or so) since it entails pulling out the tank, cutting a vent hole in the port side hull midship, changing the filler neck and the gas tank hoses, etc. I took my boat into the local BW dealer, Precision Marine, in New Rochelle, NY and they did the retrofit. They did a nice clean job as far as I can tell and I'm eager to test it out this weekend. From a customer satisfaction and loyalty perspective I feel Whaler handled this problem well. I'm glad I bought a Whaler!
jimh posted 05-16-2002 11:49 PM ET (US)
[Due to software glitches, the date of this post and the one above are shown as 2001 when actually are 2002--jimh.]
Swellmonster posted 05-23-2002 07:51 AM ET (US)
You guys know your tanks. I will try to share your experiences with others.
In other threads, they have talked about grounding the gas tanks. Where and how are yours grounded?
Tallydon posted 05-23-2002 07:20 PM ET (US)
I don't have a fueling problem, must be that newer version of the D16. But what I do have, not sure this is a problem, is the faint smell of gasoline in the center consule when I open the door. I have checked the bilge and there is no gas and is dry. Do other D16 owners have the same experience?
B Bear posted 05-23-2002 07:42 PM ET (US)
I'll check mine tomorrow and this Sat at the Tea Party. I'll get back to you later.
Bear
B Bear posted 05-24-2002 09:03 PM ET (US)
I had a slight gasoline oder in the console, via the cable tunnel, when I first started up after the winter layup due to the draining of the fuel/water seperator into the bilge a couple of weeks ago.
Today I filled her up, for the Tea Party tomorrow, and after bringing home I checked the console, no gas smell at all.
There is that warning sticker above the gas cap about checking the fuel system at least once a year. I had gone over mine when I added a fuel filer downstream of the seperator a couple of weeks ago.
I would imagine that just a seep would cuse an oder.
Remember that the fist year of BW warranty is 100% on everything. I had a light go out on my navigation/anchor light and BW replaced the entire switch. I believe you are still within a year of your purchase, take her in and let them go over her for you.
Bear
B Bear posted 05-24-2002 09:05 PM ET (US)
That is "navigation/anchor light switch".

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Author	Topic: Fueling Difficulty with '99 16 Dauntless
tuck95	posted 08-28-2001 05:08 PM ET (US) I'm having difficulty fueling my Daultless when on the water. Normally I fuel it on the trailer but I'm on vacation and the boat is in the water for two weeks on Martha's Vineyard. Yesterday I went to the harbor marina to fuel it with a 1/2 tank and it took 3 gallons and no more. Today I went with 1/4 tank and it took only 5 gallons. The gas is right up to the top of the neck. I tried to stand on the bow to level the tank but no success. Is there a know problem with tank filling or venting with the '99 Dauntless? Does anyone have any suggestions on troubleshooting? Thanks!
B Bear	posted 08-29-2001 04:43 PM ET (US) tuck95, Are you sure it is not the fuel gage? You can visually check the tank from the bilge cover opening or, I believe under an access plate under the console seat. Bear
tuck95	posted 08-29-2001 10:21 PM ET (US) Thanks Bear. I'm leaning toward an intermittently faulty tank vent right now (if the boat has one.) I filled it up about a week ago and then used it over several days for a total of 8-10 hours. The gauge gradually went down to 1/2 tank over that period which seemed reasonable. Then I tried to fuel and it would only take 3 gallons. The next day (yesterday)I used about 4 hours and it took 5 gallons bringing the gauge from 1/4 to 1/2. I tried again today and was able to get in 27 gallons after an hour of use. Now the gauge reads full. I'm assuming there is some kind of check valve in the tank vent which is sticking and not letting the air out and the gas in.
Dick	posted 08-29-2001 10:29 PM ET (US) No check valve in the vent system. Could be a kink in the hose if as you say the tank appears full when looking into the filler. Could also be caused by filling to fast for the angle of the filler hose.
dauntlass 18	posted 08-30-2001 07:30 AM ET (US) My 1998 dauntless 18 had same problem .I think vent is inside fill tube. not a seperate vent tube out on side of hull. When refueling I would pump fuel in at about half of gas pump speed and when back up started I would stop pump for 5 to 10 sec. and than start pumping fuel again . This process worked fine for me .Nice vacation spot your at. PS I have noticed on some later models of Dauntless a vent on side of hull with warning decal fuel vent.
blackdog	posted 08-30-2001 09:40 AM ET (US) Yes , my 2001 has a vent on the side, fuel goes in as fast as you want. As Bear posted above you can pop the access cover in the engine well. My fuel sensor and pick is right there. You can also visually inspect the fuel level. I think you problem is a common one in that year Dauntless. Check out a recall and I believe BW was fixing it. Call your local dealer’s service department or better yet e-mail Boston Whaler. Blackdog
tuck95	posted 08-31-2001 08:47 PM ET (US) Thanks to all for the suggestions and info. I'll check with Boston Whaler on this when I get home next week. By the way, I've really enjoyed the 16 Dauntless on Martha's Vineyard. Caught lots of bass and blues, had fun with my 4 kids, and just enjoyed cruising and birdwatching around the beautiful bays like Cape Pogue. Its truly amazing how many Whalers are in and around Edgartown Harbor!
Tom W Clark	posted 09-03-2001 06:51 PM ET (US) I've had the use of a very nice '99 Dauntless 14 recently and was out in it yesterday. I tried to add fuel at the fuel dock but only got 2 gallons in and a lot of gas on me and the splash well. Later, I was able to fill the tank at a gas station with the boat on the trailer and parked with the bow facing down hill. I filled it, but it was not easy. Many burps and slashes of gas on me and the parking lot. Very frustrating. When I got home I investigated the plumbing in the bilge. This is not my boat so I was not familiar with it. I did discover that the vent is indeed in the filler! It's also not very large but the real problem is that the vent exits the tank at the rear, as does the filler. What happens is that when the boat is in the water, the tank is leaning towards the stern. If there is more than 1/2 a tank, the vent is "underwater", so to speak. The forward end of the tank forms an air pocket which will compress a tiny bit from the weight of the fuel in the fill above the level of the tank. When the compressed air becomes too great, it burps some out the fill spewing some gasoline with it and preventing the gas in the fill from going into the tank. The sender for the gas gauge is also at the rear which means that it will read full until the tank is well past 1/2 empty. I added 13 gallons yesterday to this 24 gallon tank and the gas gauge never did read anything less than full. An external vent will help the breathing of the tank, but does the recall fix include moving the vent fitting on the tank to "higher ground"?
blackdog	posted 09-04-2001 08:57 AM ET (US) Tom, I was looking at my tank on the 2001 16’ Dauntless. Looks like they changed the design a bit from what you described. The fuel pickup is located aft and is visible from an inspection hatch in the splash well. A vent is rigged to about mid ship on the Port side. In side the pilot seat there is another inspection hatch and beneath it is the senor. The gauge is pretty accurate as far as I can tell. I’ll let you know when I fill her this week. 45-gallon tank, I have just below a Ľ on the Gauge. Should be around 30-35 Gallon to fill if the gauge is accurate.
tuck95	posted 05-16-2002 11:26 PM ET (US) Here's an update on the '99 Dauntless fueling problem and hopefully the end of story. Its turns out that BW is doing a free "courtesy" retrofit to the new style fuel venting on the '99 Dauntless. Its a big job (11 hours or so) since it entails pulling out the tank, cutting a vent hole in the port side hull midship, changing the filler neck and the gas tank hoses, etc. I took my boat into the local BW dealer, Precision Marine, in New Rochelle, NY and they did the retrofit. They did a nice clean job as far as I can tell and I'm eager to test it out this weekend. From a customer satisfaction and loyalty perspective I feel Whaler handled this problem well. I'm glad I bought a Whaler!
jimh	posted 05-16-2002 11:49 PM ET (US) [Due to software glitches, the date of this post and the one above are shown as 2001 when actually are 2002--jimh.]
Swellmonster	posted 05-23-2002 07:51 AM ET (US) You guys know your tanks. I will try to share your experiences with others. In other threads, they have talked about grounding the gas tanks. Where and how are yours grounded?
Tallydon	posted 05-23-2002 07:20 PM ET (US) I don't have a fueling problem, must be that newer version of the D16. But what I do have, not sure this is a problem, is the faint smell of gasoline in the center consule when I open the door. I have checked the bilge and there is no gas and is dry. Do other D16 owners have the same experience?
B Bear	posted 05-23-2002 07:42 PM ET (US) I'll check mine tomorrow and this Sat at the Tea Party. I'll get back to you later. Bear
B Bear	posted 05-24-2002 09:03 PM ET (US) I had a slight gasoline oder in the console, via the cable tunnel, when I first started up after the winter layup due to the draining of the fuel/water seperator into the bilge a couple of weeks ago. Today I filled her up, for the Tea Party tomorrow, and after bringing home I checked the console, no gas smell at all. There is that warning sticker above the gas cap about checking the fuel system at least once a year. I had gone over mine when I added a fuel filer downstream of the seperator a couple of weeks ago. I would imagine that just a seep would cuse an oder. Remember that the fist year of BW warranty is 100% on everything. I had a light go out on my navigation/anchor light and BW replaced the entire switch. I believe you are still within a year of your purchase, take her in and let them go over her for you. Bear
B Bear	posted 05-24-2002 09:05 PM ET (US) That is "navigation/anchor light switch".