Woodytoofl
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2018
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 21
Hi team, been a while!
I am afraid the dreaded day has come. I have been noticing fuel smell after fueling for a while, but it went away pretty quickly. I had replaced my fuel sender and gasket when I repowered, along with fuel hoses, new racor etc. but not my filler and vent hoses. I figured that was probably my issue and actually ordered new and had them in the workshop for my next maintenance action.
i had the calling last week to make a long run in the Gulf of Mexico to chase the kingfish and cobia bite, and ran 40 miles to the craig wreck. It was snotty, and we took a pretty good pounding on the way out. I had 120 gallons of fuel in the box when we left. we did not notice anything on the way out and fishing, but on the way back home I got a strong fuel smell in the pilot house, and saw some fuel in the bilge. Long story short, we flushed the bilge down hard with the wash down and a ton of dawn, scooped things out as best as possible, opened all ports to vent the fumes, and made our way home without issues.
Back on the lift, I pulled the deck hatches, removed the filler and vent hoses, sealed stuff off and did the ballon trick for a pressure test... it was a fail ... i borrowed a neighbors inspection camera thing and could see wet on top of the tank in the port back corner, and where liquid had pooled and was dripping out the hose port into the bilge.
time to roll the sleeves up and pull the tank I am afraid. I took a picture of the tank label, I have the 173 gallon RDS tank.

I called RDS and they are backlogged and will not be making any custom runs until spring. They recommended that I contact EZell industries (perry fl), and I had a friend recommend custom marine fuel tanks in Jupiter for build quotes. I wrote to parker and they gave me drawings for my stringer layout and the fuel tank. for both quotes I asked for 3/16 aluminum, and epoxy coated.
so that is where I am now, awaiting the estimates, thinking through logistics (emptying and storing fuel, hoisting the tank etc) and laying out deck cuts and parts Orders.
if anyone has another fabricator recommendation it would be welcome - I am in the Florida keys, so a Florida source is desirable. Will keep you posted on my adventure.
it is too bad, the fishing now is off the charts, and I am going to miss it ...
bo
I am afraid the dreaded day has come. I have been noticing fuel smell after fueling for a while, but it went away pretty quickly. I had replaced my fuel sender and gasket when I repowered, along with fuel hoses, new racor etc. but not my filler and vent hoses. I figured that was probably my issue and actually ordered new and had them in the workshop for my next maintenance action.
i had the calling last week to make a long run in the Gulf of Mexico to chase the kingfish and cobia bite, and ran 40 miles to the craig wreck. It was snotty, and we took a pretty good pounding on the way out. I had 120 gallons of fuel in the box when we left. we did not notice anything on the way out and fishing, but on the way back home I got a strong fuel smell in the pilot house, and saw some fuel in the bilge. Long story short, we flushed the bilge down hard with the wash down and a ton of dawn, scooped things out as best as possible, opened all ports to vent the fumes, and made our way home without issues.
Back on the lift, I pulled the deck hatches, removed the filler and vent hoses, sealed stuff off and did the ballon trick for a pressure test... it was a fail ... i borrowed a neighbors inspection camera thing and could see wet on top of the tank in the port back corner, and where liquid had pooled and was dripping out the hose port into the bilge.
time to roll the sleeves up and pull the tank I am afraid. I took a picture of the tank label, I have the 173 gallon RDS tank.

I called RDS and they are backlogged and will not be making any custom runs until spring. They recommended that I contact EZell industries (perry fl), and I had a friend recommend custom marine fuel tanks in Jupiter for build quotes. I wrote to parker and they gave me drawings for my stringer layout and the fuel tank. for both quotes I asked for 3/16 aluminum, and epoxy coated.
so that is where I am now, awaiting the estimates, thinking through logistics (emptying and storing fuel, hoisting the tank etc) and laying out deck cuts and parts Orders.
if anyone has another fabricator recommendation it would be welcome - I am in the Florida keys, so a Florida source is desirable. Will keep you posted on my adventure.
it is too bad, the fishing now is off the charts, and I am going to miss it ...
bo
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