Or that could have been the title of this had things gone worse than they did yesterday on "Bottoms Up".
On my previous trip to the boat I got the keel to raise and lower several times and plumbed the fuel tank to the Outboard and got the engine running. It ran rather well for my entire 20 min of testing.
My Venture 22 has a hatch in the middle of the aft "seat" in the cockpit. There is a hole leading from this area with a bushing installed which it appears is for the fuel line to pass out of to the outboard.
Unlike later models that have fuel tank compartments open to the cockpit under either the port or starboard seating it appeared to me the intention was for the tank to go down below the little hatch aft and the fuel line to run out. I assembled my fuel line running through the bushing dropped the tank into place and things were great for my test.
On leaving the boat I left the tank in place and did not give it another thought.
Yesterday I opened the hatch to try and crawl over the rotted V berth to re-back and re-bed the bow cleat. I was met with overpowering gasoline fumes. For certain any spark or source of ignition would have produced an explosion. It was like a just pumped gasoline tank on a tanker that had not yet been washed or vented.
First of course I opened the main hatch wide, then I opened the tank hatch and removed the fuel tank. Sadly the forward hatch is bolted closed and I have yet to attack that problem.
With no fans it took most of the afternoon for the fumes to disperse enough for me to work below decks. Needless to say the gas tank is now sitting in the cockpit.
Other than my inflatable this is my first outboard powered boat. It seems pretty clear the area where I put the tank was the designed tank location. Do I have a malfunctioning tank? I did not see any leaks? Could the gasoline vapors have escaped around the non-vented tank cap somehow? My tank is a "new old stock" steel 6 gallon tank that I got from a chandler that was going out of business due to retirement.
I have not fitted the rudder yet, but depending on clearances and comfort I am considering building a slated box at the aft end of the cockpit to put the gas tank in. This would of course allow fumes to escape without filling the boat and being covered on the top would keep the sun off the tank.
Another thought is to remove the foam around the tank area so I can work there easily, lay in some bulkheads around the tank and put a vent in the side if the tank area that leads to the motor area or out the stern. If I lead it out the stern I will of course need to assure no water ingress during following seas. I might also put a brushless motor in the area to clear fumes.
My third thought is to get a 6-10 gallon non-portable tank that will fit through the hatch, anchor it in place and run a vent hose out the stern just like my big boat with the inboard.
I am looking for feedback please. If that feedback is that I did something wrong PLEASE do not be shy about educating me.
I hope to have Bottoms Up in seaworthy condition in the next two weeks. I suspect the previous owner is anxious for her to leave his dock.
On my previous trip to the boat I got the keel to raise and lower several times and plumbed the fuel tank to the Outboard and got the engine running. It ran rather well for my entire 20 min of testing.
My Venture 22 has a hatch in the middle of the aft "seat" in the cockpit. There is a hole leading from this area with a bushing installed which it appears is for the fuel line to pass out of to the outboard.
Unlike later models that have fuel tank compartments open to the cockpit under either the port or starboard seating it appeared to me the intention was for the tank to go down below the little hatch aft and the fuel line to run out. I assembled my fuel line running through the bushing dropped the tank into place and things were great for my test.
On leaving the boat I left the tank in place and did not give it another thought.
Yesterday I opened the hatch to try and crawl over the rotted V berth to re-back and re-bed the bow cleat. I was met with overpowering gasoline fumes. For certain any spark or source of ignition would have produced an explosion. It was like a just pumped gasoline tank on a tanker that had not yet been washed or vented.
First of course I opened the main hatch wide, then I opened the tank hatch and removed the fuel tank. Sadly the forward hatch is bolted closed and I have yet to attack that problem.
With no fans it took most of the afternoon for the fumes to disperse enough for me to work below decks. Needless to say the gas tank is now sitting in the cockpit.
Other than my inflatable this is my first outboard powered boat. It seems pretty clear the area where I put the tank was the designed tank location. Do I have a malfunctioning tank? I did not see any leaks? Could the gasoline vapors have escaped around the non-vented tank cap somehow? My tank is a "new old stock" steel 6 gallon tank that I got from a chandler that was going out of business due to retirement.
I have not fitted the rudder yet, but depending on clearances and comfort I am considering building a slated box at the aft end of the cockpit to put the gas tank in. This would of course allow fumes to escape without filling the boat and being covered on the top would keep the sun off the tank.
Another thought is to remove the foam around the tank area so I can work there easily, lay in some bulkheads around the tank and put a vent in the side if the tank area that leads to the motor area or out the stern. If I lead it out the stern I will of course need to assure no water ingress during following seas. I might also put a brushless motor in the area to clear fumes.
My third thought is to get a 6-10 gallon non-portable tank that will fit through the hatch, anchor it in place and run a vent hose out the stern just like my big boat with the inboard.
I am looking for feedback please. If that feedback is that I did something wrong PLEASE do not be shy about educating me.
I hope to have Bottoms Up in seaworthy condition in the next two weeks. I suspect the previous owner is anxious for her to leave his dock.