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Author Topic:   235 CONQUEST: Fuel Fumes in Cabin

execufish posted 04-27-2008 11:53 PM ET (US)
Hello. A little over 12 months ago we purchased a new 235 Conquest, our dream boat. And it certainly lives up to its expectations. However just in the last few months we have noticed a continuing and strong fuel smell coming from the cabin area, so much so that we have decided not to use the boat for saftey reasons. We have had our local dealer pressure test the tank and lines and apparently found nothing. A reply from Boston Whaler has said this is quite common in Boston Whaler boats with plastic tanks. We are not convinced. Has anyone else been affected by this problem or heard anything about it?
Cheers Aaron

jimh posted 04-28-2008 12:30 AM ET (US)
Compare at
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/003462.html
jollyrog305 posted 04-28-2008 07:09 AM ET (US)
Do you (or did the dealer) see any signs of fuel leaking/staining - especially in the forward bilge area? Was the vent hose checked for any obstructions?
Lars Simonsen posted 04-28-2008 10:08 PM ET (US)
Yes, some gas fumes can permeate the plastic tanks. I can smell a gas smell in the center console of my boat, but it's apparently not at levels that are of concern (at least my boat hasn't exploded yet, even when I've had sparks from disconnecting and connecting the battery in the console). I guess that certain constituents of gas can pass through the plastic at levels that cause the typical gas smell, but not at ignitable levels. This does seem to be a common "problem" but not one of real concern.
Brian7son posted 04-29-2008 04:08 PM ET (US)
"A reply from Boston Whaler has said this is quite common in Boston Whaler boats with plastic tanks"
It may not be a problem in a center console, but in the cabin of a Conquest, it would be totally unacceptable. Basically, your cabin would be useless, only good as a storage area and even then, if you put clothes or towels in there and they smell of gas fumes, that wouldnt work either. You can't sleep in there with gas fumes and you wouldn't want to sit inside the cabin and eat a sandwich while smelling gas fumes either.
I would ask the dealer to show you in the "brochure" where it tells you that gas fumes in the cabin is a common problem. There is no way that you would have bought the boat if they told you that in advance.
Make them fix the problem. It is totally unacceptable.
Buoy posted 04-29-2008 05:37 PM ET (US)
I agree with Brian7son. I have an 06' 235 Conquest, been filled up with fuel, and the only thing I smell in the cabin is "new boat smell".
execufish posted 05-02-2008 07:02 PM ET (US)
Thank you all for your replys.... The dealer has told us they have completely pressure tested the tanks, checked breathers etc.... we are having one last go with the dealer trying to find the cause before we will unfortunately take further action... the biggest problem being the boat is off the water!!!!
bkloss posted 05-03-2008 10:26 AM ET (US)
Not to minimize a potentially more severe problem but my previous Dauntless 180 had the gas fume smell in the bilge and it was only from the plastic tank and the fumes permeating thru the tank. I now have a 2007 Outrage 210 that has the same issue. When I open up the center console door; you can easily detect gas fumes in there as well. I was previously informed by BW that this was a normal situation but if I felt uncomfortable, I could call my local FD to see if there was an unrelated issue that was causing a more severe problem.
I don't or couldn't find a way to sleep or spend time in my "cozy" center console so the fumes are not an issue. I also have a 3 stage battery charger that is on all the time to keep the batteries fully charged and the boat cover on and no problems even in 100+ temps - no big bangs from the side yard. I don't smoke and I wouldn't feel comfortable lighting one up with my head in the center console, either.
BUT I couldn't accept the situation of having the fumes in a cabin area where one would spend time! It's one thing to constantly have the smell of fiberglass (because that is what the boat is made of)
I'm not saying that that this is not common for BW boats with cabins but if it is; I would think twice before moving up.
If it didn't happen in the first 6 months (with warm weather to heat up the tank) then I would be more inclined to say that it is a different issue.
Brian
Jefecinco posted 05-03-2008 07:35 PM ET (US)
When I first got my Dauntless 16 I was shocked the first time I opened the center consol door and reached in to turn on the batteries. The gasoline smell was worse than I'd ever experienced with my previous I/O powered boat.
I also checked with my dealer (Killinger Marine) and was told the strong smell was normal due to the material used for the furl tank. FWIW I've never had a problem but the smell remains after nine years.
If I had a cabin boat with the same smell I would have to do something to get rid of the odor. If the bilge arrangement allowed it I would install a high capacity bilge blower to keep the bilge well ventilated. I suspect that would get rid of the fuel smell in the cabin.
The strong fuel smell with the "plastic" tanks is well known in post classic Whalers owners and to BW dealers.
Butch
Mambo Minnow posted 05-04-2008 06:11 AM ET (US)
I have an aluminum 92 gallon fuel tank in my Conquest made by Florida Marine tank. I thought there were only a few older Whalers (e.g. Outrage 17 II) that had a plastic below deck fuel tank.
I would be worried with introduction of ethanol having such a large plastic tank.
Jefecinco posted 05-04-2008 10:45 AM ET (US)
Mambo,
The "plastic" fuel tanks may not be plastic but that is the way to which they are usually referred.
Thus far there have been no reports known to me of issues with the tanks because of ethanol use. FRP tanks, OTOH, have been known to be problematic with etanol use.
Butch
swist posted 05-06-2008 01:07 PM ET (US)
Plastic tanks are made of cross-linked polyethylene (usually). They do not react with ethanol.
It does seem to be the case that plastic tanks transmit fuel odor. To what extent there is actual fuel vapor present I don't know. Plastic tanks were originally designed for low-capacity applications (less than 6 gallons), and such tanks were kept outside, or in an unconfined space where good air circulation makes the problem much less detectable.
But in recent years I have noticed all manner of huge plastic tanks designed for permanent installation (even if not designed for it, filling a 70 gal belly tank with gas pretty much makes it permanent!). It strikes me that with the very large surface area on such tanks, the fuel "odor" or whatever it is problem would be more severe.
Is there some way large plastic tanks can be treated not to absorb and transmit fuel odor? Does everyone with a large plastic tank have an odor problem?
Feejer posted 05-06-2008 05:12 PM ET (US)
My Sea Hunt 202 had a 70 gallon crossed linked tanked. The the bilge always had a very slight smell of gas. The day I picked up my boat their were 4 other Sea Hunts being picked up by their new owners. Everyone's has a slight, I think it might be the nature of the beast. I never saw a drop of gas anywhere.
swist posted 05-06-2008 06:41 PM ET (US)
It sure makes a huge difference if you are smelling fumes or just "gas smell". For example, if you spill some gas on something and let it evaporate, the gas and associated fumes will be gone, but the object will still smell like gas.
Nauti Tauk posted 05-16-2008 06:46 PM ET (US)
To spend that much on an absolutely beautiful boat and have the smell of gas ANYWHER is just not acceptable in any way shape or form.(IMO) If the dealer can't find a cure and Whaler doesn't budge on the "that happens with plastic tankage" I'd get my money back and maybe a little more for the aggrevasion/loss of use caused. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford a larger whaler but they sure are nice!
high sierra posted 05-17-2008 01:02 AM ET (US)
execufish, take your boat by a fire station with a gas sniffer. They if a good station will get there unit for sniffing gas and give you a reading. Call first to determine if they have a working unit. It will let you know if it is an explosive odor. high sierra (retired fire captain)
high sierra posted 05-18-2008 12:23 AM ET (US)
Their not there. Late night
Thirsty Whaler posted 05-18-2008 10:22 AM ET (US)
I have a 2005 Conquest 235. The issue is the vent/fill cap on the Conquests. When the wind is blowing from the port-quarter, fumes seep into the space between the companion seat bulkhead/cabin bulkhead area. I ended up removing the port storage bin assembly and building a second bulkhead/divider and mounting it vertically where the port speaker is mounted using the divider built into the hull assembly as a mount-point.
Going back to a standard fill cap with a thru-hull tank vent like the setup on our 1995 Outrage 21' would also provide a permanent solution.
waters posted 08-04-2009 04:50 PM ET (US)
execufish
I was googling this "fuel permeation" fuel odor to see if I could find anyone else with issues. Did you ever get this resolved? We are currently dealing with fuel odor in our cabin on a 2009 Pursuit OS375.
skred posted 08-05-2009 12:39 PM ET (US)
I have been wondering if it's possible and/or practical to replace a poly/plastic tank (in this case, 10 gallon capacity mounted in the forward locker) with a stainless steel tank, or - more economically, perhaps, a modified beer barrel. Maybe a "pony" or 1/4-barrel size. This would not be used in a saltwater environment, of course. The stainless idea could be prohibitive from a cost view. Even aluminum might be an alternative - unless ethanol has some effect on that, too... Ideas?
waters posted 09-22-2009 02:31 PM ET (US)
Please read my posting on thehulltruth.com
http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/235233-pursuit-os375-fuel-fumes-cabin.html
3boys posted 09-22-2009 09:20 PM ET (US)
Gents,
I purchased a used Boston Whaler 305 this past Spring. Just prior to the purchase, the original owner had brought the boat to the Marinemax dealer who had sold it to him and complained of a strong fuel smell in the cabin. Long story short, it was determined that the sending unit gasket had been eaten away - most likely due to Ethanol. The repair was made using Ethanol resistant materials and all is well.
In my humble opinion, fuel vapors in the cabin is an UNACCEPTABLE situation...
All the best,
Chris
TRAFFICLAWYER posted 09-23-2009 07:43 AM ET (US)
Had that strong odor of gas in the bilge of my 1998 Ventura, Whaler would have changed out the tank to aluminum but I sold the boat for other issues.
Jefecinco posted 09-24-2009 10:15 AM ET (US)
Let's not panic here guys. We're talking about a gasoline odor not gasoline vapor.
This is a very old thread which was effectively put to bed a while back.
It's a fact that the "plastic" or cross-linked polyethylene fuel tanks allow fuel odors to escape. These tanks have been provided in Boston Whaler boats for over ten years. Have you heard of any accidents involved with these tanks?
The odors apparently are not dangerous but for some they are objectionable, particularly in a cabin boat. Before going to the trouble and expense of replacing the plastic tank with an aluminum tank I would at least try a ventilating fan.
I've noticed that the gasoline odor in the console of my small Dauntless is gone after the boat cover has been removed for a few minutes with the console door open. The odor does not reappear even after several hours of sitting in the sun fishing.
This is much ado about nothing.
Butch

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Author	Topic: 235 CONQUEST: Fuel Fumes in Cabin
execufish	posted 04-27-2008 11:53 PM ET (US) Hello. A little over 12 months ago we purchased a new 235 Conquest, our dream boat. And it certainly lives up to its expectations. However just in the last few months we have noticed a continuing and strong fuel smell coming from the cabin area, so much so that we have decided not to use the boat for saftey reasons. We have had our local dealer pressure test the tank and lines and apparently found nothing. A reply from Boston Whaler has said this is quite common in Boston Whaler boats with plastic tanks. We are not convinced. Has anyone else been affected by this problem or heard anything about it? Cheers Aaron
jimh	posted 04-28-2008 12:30 AM ET (US) Compare at http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/003462.html
jollyrog305	posted 04-28-2008 07:09 AM ET (US) Do you (or did the dealer) see any signs of fuel leaking/staining - especially in the forward bilge area? Was the vent hose checked for any obstructions?
Lars Simonsen	posted 04-28-2008 10:08 PM ET (US) Yes, some gas fumes can permeate the plastic tanks. I can smell a gas smell in the center console of my boat, but it's apparently not at levels that are of concern (at least my boat hasn't exploded yet, even when I've had sparks from disconnecting and connecting the battery in the console). I guess that certain constituents of gas can pass through the plastic at levels that cause the typical gas smell, but not at ignitable levels. This does seem to be a common "problem" but not one of real concern.
Brian7son	posted 04-29-2008 04:08 PM ET (US) "A reply from Boston Whaler has said this is quite common in Boston Whaler boats with plastic tanks" It may not be a problem in a center console, but in the cabin of a Conquest, it would be totally unacceptable. Basically, your cabin would be useless, only good as a storage area and even then, if you put clothes or towels in there and they smell of gas fumes, that wouldnt work either. You can't sleep in there with gas fumes and you wouldn't want to sit inside the cabin and eat a sandwich while smelling gas fumes either. I would ask the dealer to show you in the "brochure" where it tells you that gas fumes in the cabin is a common problem. There is no way that you would have bought the boat if they told you that in advance. Make them fix the problem. It is totally unacceptable.
Buoy	posted 04-29-2008 05:37 PM ET (US) I agree with Brian7son. I have an 06' 235 Conquest, been filled up with fuel, and the only thing I smell in the cabin is "new boat smell".
execufish	posted 05-02-2008 07:02 PM ET (US) Thank you all for your replys.... The dealer has told us they have completely pressure tested the tanks, checked breathers etc.... we are having one last go with the dealer trying to find the cause before we will unfortunately take further action... the biggest problem being the boat is off the water!!!!
bkloss	posted 05-03-2008 10:26 AM ET (US) Not to minimize a potentially more severe problem but my previous Dauntless 180 had the gas fume smell in the bilge and it was only from the plastic tank and the fumes permeating thru the tank. I now have a 2007 Outrage 210 that has the same issue. When I open up the center console door; you can easily detect gas fumes in there as well. I was previously informed by BW that this was a normal situation but if I felt uncomfortable, I could call my local FD to see if there was an unrelated issue that was causing a more severe problem. I don't or couldn't find a way to sleep or spend time in my "cozy" center console so the fumes are not an issue. I also have a 3 stage battery charger that is on all the time to keep the batteries fully charged and the boat cover on and no problems even in 100+ temps - no big bangs from the side yard. I don't smoke and I wouldn't feel comfortable lighting one up with my head in the center console, either. BUT I couldn't accept the situation of having the fumes in a cabin area where one would spend time! It's one thing to constantly have the smell of fiberglass (because that is what the boat is made of) I'm not saying that that this is not common for BW boats with cabins but if it is; I would think twice before moving up. If it didn't happen in the first 6 months (with warm weather to heat up the tank) then I would be more inclined to say that it is a different issue. Brian
Jefecinco	posted 05-03-2008 07:35 PM ET (US) When I first got my Dauntless 16 I was shocked the first time I opened the center consol door and reached in to turn on the batteries. The gasoline smell was worse than I'd ever experienced with my previous I/O powered boat. I also checked with my dealer (Killinger Marine) and was told the strong smell was normal due to the material used for the furl tank. FWIW I've never had a problem but the smell remains after nine years. If I had a cabin boat with the same smell I would have to do something to get rid of the odor. If the bilge arrangement allowed it I would install a high capacity bilge blower to keep the bilge well ventilated. I suspect that would get rid of the fuel smell in the cabin. The strong fuel smell with the "plastic" tanks is well known in post classic Whalers owners and to BW dealers. Butch
Mambo Minnow	posted 05-04-2008 06:11 AM ET (US) I have an aluminum 92 gallon fuel tank in my Conquest made by Florida Marine tank. I thought there were only a few older Whalers (e.g. Outrage 17 II) that had a plastic below deck fuel tank. I would be worried with introduction of ethanol having such a large plastic tank.
Jefecinco	posted 05-04-2008 10:45 AM ET (US) Mambo, The "plastic" fuel tanks may not be plastic but that is the way to which they are usually referred. Thus far there have been no reports known to me of issues with the tanks because of ethanol use. FRP tanks, OTOH, have been known to be problematic with etanol use. Butch
swist	posted 05-06-2008 01:07 PM ET (US) Plastic tanks are made of cross-linked polyethylene (usually). They do not react with ethanol. It does seem to be the case that plastic tanks transmit fuel odor. To what extent there is actual fuel vapor present I don't know. Plastic tanks were originally designed for low-capacity applications (less than 6 gallons), and such tanks were kept outside, or in an unconfined space where good air circulation makes the problem much less detectable. But in recent years I have noticed all manner of huge plastic tanks designed for permanent installation (even if not designed for it, filling a 70 gal belly tank with gas pretty much makes it permanent!). It strikes me that with the very large surface area on such tanks, the fuel "odor" or whatever it is problem would be more severe. Is there some way large plastic tanks can be treated not to absorb and transmit fuel odor? Does everyone with a large plastic tank have an odor problem?
Feejer	posted 05-06-2008 05:12 PM ET (US) My Sea Hunt 202 had a 70 gallon crossed linked tanked. The the bilge always had a very slight smell of gas. The day I picked up my boat their were 4 other Sea Hunts being picked up by their new owners. Everyone's has a slight, I think it might be the nature of the beast. I never saw a drop of gas anywhere.
swist	posted 05-06-2008 06:41 PM ET (US) It sure makes a huge difference if you are smelling fumes or just "gas smell". For example, if you spill some gas on something and let it evaporate, the gas and associated fumes will be gone, but the object will still smell like gas.
Nauti Tauk	posted 05-16-2008 06:46 PM ET (US) To spend that much on an absolutely beautiful boat and have the smell of gas ANYWHER is just not acceptable in any way shape or form.(IMO) If the dealer can't find a cure and Whaler doesn't budge on the "that happens with plastic tankage" I'd get my money back and maybe a little more for the aggrevasion/loss of use caused. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford a larger whaler but they sure are nice!
high sierra	posted 05-17-2008 01:02 AM ET (US) execufish, take your boat by a fire station with a gas sniffer. They if a good station will get there unit for sniffing gas and give you a reading. Call first to determine if they have a working unit. It will let you know if it is an explosive odor. high sierra (retired fire captain)
high sierra	posted 05-18-2008 12:23 AM ET (US) Their not there. Late night
Thirsty Whaler	posted 05-18-2008 10:22 AM ET (US) I have a 2005 Conquest 235. The issue is the vent/fill cap on the Conquests. When the wind is blowing from the port-quarter, fumes seep into the space between the companion seat bulkhead/cabin bulkhead area. I ended up removing the port storage bin assembly and building a second bulkhead/divider and mounting it vertically where the port speaker is mounted using the divider built into the hull assembly as a mount-point. Going back to a standard fill cap with a thru-hull tank vent like the setup on our 1995 Outrage 21' would also provide a permanent solution.
waters	posted 08-04-2009 04:50 PM ET (US) execufish I was googling this "fuel permeation" fuel odor to see if I could find anyone else with issues. Did you ever get this resolved? We are currently dealing with fuel odor in our cabin on a 2009 Pursuit OS375.
skred	posted 08-05-2009 12:39 PM ET (US) I have been wondering if it's possible and/or practical to replace a poly/plastic tank (in this case, 10 gallon capacity mounted in the forward locker) with a stainless steel tank, or - more economically, perhaps, a modified beer barrel. Maybe a "pony" or 1/4-barrel size. This would not be used in a saltwater environment, of course. The stainless idea could be prohibitive from a cost view. Even aluminum might be an alternative - unless ethanol has some effect on that, too... Ideas?
waters	posted 09-22-2009 02:31 PM ET (US) Please read my posting on thehulltruth.com http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/235233-pursuit-os375-fuel-fumes-cabin.html
3boys	posted 09-22-2009 09:20 PM ET (US) Gents, I purchased a used Boston Whaler 305 this past Spring. Just prior to the purchase, the original owner had brought the boat to the Marinemax dealer who had sold it to him and complained of a strong fuel smell in the cabin. Long story short, it was determined that the sending unit gasket had been eaten away - most likely due to Ethanol. The repair was made using Ethanol resistant materials and all is well. In my humble opinion, fuel vapors in the cabin is an UNACCEPTABLE situation... All the best, Chris
TRAFFICLAWYER	posted 09-23-2009 07:43 AM ET (US) Had that strong odor of gas in the bilge of my 1998 Ventura, Whaler would have changed out the tank to aluminum but I sold the boat for other issues.
Jefecinco	posted 09-24-2009 10:15 AM ET (US) Let's not panic here guys. We're talking about a gasoline odor not gasoline vapor. This is a very old thread which was effectively put to bed a while back. It's a fact that the "plastic" or cross-linked polyethylene fuel tanks allow fuel odors to escape. These tanks have been provided in Boston Whaler boats for over ten years. Have you heard of any accidents involved with these tanks? The odors apparently are not dangerous but for some they are objectionable, particularly in a cabin boat. Before going to the trouble and expense of replacing the plastic tank with an aluminum tank I would at least try a ventilating fan. I've noticed that the gasoline odor in the console of my small Dauntless is gone after the boat cover has been removed for a few minutes with the console door open. The odor does not reappear even after several hours of sitting in the sun fishing. This is much ado about nothing. Butch