My husband and I just bought a 1976 27ft Catalina. It has a gasoline motor. The problem being, is that you can smell the gas fumes. There is no leaks anywhere and if we run the blower it's fine. But, when we are not moving and the blower isn't going it's awful. We can't sleep on the boat due to the fumes. Has anyone else experienced this same problem?
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R.W.Landau
Vent
Cathy, If you see no signs of leaking, check the tank vent, I mean the hose and fittings also. Chances are the hose has never been replaced. If this is your first boat, I would like to warn you that those gas fumes are deadly! An explosion waiting to happen, and it does. My next thought is to check or just replace all the gas lines. Check at the carb mounting to make sure there is no build up from a leaky gasket. Use a good household grease cutter like Dawn for dishes or a off the shelf bilge cleaner. It could be from a previous leak and the bilge may be the source. If nothing else the bilge will be clean and help you look for a leak. Please make this a priority fix so that you can enjoy the boat with no worry. Let us know what you find. r.w.landau
Cathy, If you see no signs of leaking, check the tank vent, I mean the hose and fittings also. Chances are the hose has never been replaced. If this is your first boat, I would like to warn you that those gas fumes are deadly! An explosion waiting to happen, and it does. My next thought is to check or just replace all the gas lines. Check at the carb mounting to make sure there is no build up from a leaky gasket. Use a good household grease cutter like Dawn for dishes or a off the shelf bilge cleaner. It could be from a previous leak and the bilge may be the source. If nothing else the bilge will be clean and help you look for a leak. Please make this a priority fix so that you can enjoy the boat with no worry. Let us know what you find. r.w.landau
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MJ
Get A Marine Mechanic ASAP
...to check out the situation. I would not start the engine again without a mechanic's appraisal. You can probably get a marine mechanic to look at it for about $50, and he will be able to tell what is up. The Atomic 4 is a good and safe engine if maintained properly, but you have really got to get this checked out.
...to check out the situation. I would not start the engine again without a mechanic's appraisal. You can probably get a marine mechanic to look at it for about $50, and he will be able to tell what is up. The Atomic 4 is a good and safe engine if maintained properly, but you have really got to get this checked out.
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Ian
Fuel filter
I have a 1977 C30 with the Atomic 4. When we bought it we have the same problem - mysterious gas fumes. We couldn't stay below for too long without getting a headache. Checked all of the hoses, valves, and engine and didn't find anything. I know the vent was working because I have this strange problem of fuel shooting out of it when I refuel. Recently I was running some new electrical lines and I noticed, for the first time, a fuel filter. I had the galley drawers pulled out. The previous owner had kindly put rags under the filter to absorb the tiny leak. The rags were soaked with gas! I tightened the fuel filter & check all of the associated fittings. I put a new rag under it to check it - no new leaks. Anyways, just be sure you have run your fingers over every inch of the system, there may be hidden components. Mechanics may not check all of the hidden spaces so it's up to you. Good luck1
I have a 1977 C30 with the Atomic 4. When we bought it we have the same problem - mysterious gas fumes. We couldn't stay below for too long without getting a headache. Checked all of the hoses, valves, and engine and didn't find anything. I know the vent was working because I have this strange problem of fuel shooting out of it when I refuel. Recently I was running some new electrical lines and I noticed, for the first time, a fuel filter. I had the galley drawers pulled out. The previous owner had kindly put rags under the filter to absorb the tiny leak. The rags were soaked with gas! I tightened the fuel filter & check all of the associated fittings. I put a new rag under it to check it - no new leaks. Anyways, just be sure you have run your fingers over every inch of the system, there may be hidden components. Mechanics may not check all of the hidden spaces so it's up to you. Good luck1
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Rob Rich
Fittings
Your A-4 should have a hose running from the topside filler cap down to the tank itself, located under the starboard aft berth. When filling the tank, check for any leakage that might occurr only at that time. Like R.W. said, you will probably want to replace that hose. On the tank itself, there is a cylindrical cut-out that houses your gas guage. Check to see if the gasket under the guage has been replaced recently, or is of the "form your own" variety. My guess is that it is self-formed, or old, or both. This could account for a good bit of the fumes. Then, check all manner of hosing leading from the tank to the the engine. If these are old or even show remote signs of age - you know what to do. While you are replacing the hoses, you should install a water-separating fuel filter. It is very cheap, and will save you huge headaches. Of course, prior to all this, remove all fuel from the tank. When I did this, I got a 5 gallon gas can and placed it over the bilge. Then I removed the gas guage and stuck an outboard priming fuel hose into the tank. Put the other end of the hose into the gas can and squeeze the rubber ball to start a siphon. Do not attempt to use a pump to do this, as few are certified to pump gasoline and may explode. Make sure all hatches are open and that you have a wind blowing through the cabin, as the fumes will build quickly. I would let the empty tank dry for at least a day or two before installing anything else. If you have any further questions, re-post and I will e-mail you. Also, check the archives, as there is a good post in there about cleaining out your tank. Best of Luck - Rob
Your A-4 should have a hose running from the topside filler cap down to the tank itself, located under the starboard aft berth. When filling the tank, check for any leakage that might occurr only at that time. Like R.W. said, you will probably want to replace that hose. On the tank itself, there is a cylindrical cut-out that houses your gas guage. Check to see if the gasket under the guage has been replaced recently, or is of the "form your own" variety. My guess is that it is self-formed, or old, or both. This could account for a good bit of the fumes. Then, check all manner of hosing leading from the tank to the the engine. If these are old or even show remote signs of age - you know what to do. While you are replacing the hoses, you should install a water-separating fuel filter. It is very cheap, and will save you huge headaches. Of course, prior to all this, remove all fuel from the tank. When I did this, I got a 5 gallon gas can and placed it over the bilge. Then I removed the gas guage and stuck an outboard priming fuel hose into the tank. Put the other end of the hose into the gas can and squeeze the rubber ball to start a siphon. Do not attempt to use a pump to do this, as few are certified to pump gasoline and may explode. Make sure all hatches are open and that you have a wind blowing through the cabin, as the fumes will build quickly. I would let the empty tank dry for at least a day or two before installing anything else. If you have any further questions, re-post and I will e-mail you. Also, check the archives, as there is a good post in there about cleaining out your tank. Best of Luck - Rob
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Dave
Smell
Cathy: You may want to check the archives section of this forum. Search on "atomic" and you will get a quick education on your engine. Your smells can be reduced by using "Febreeze".....As for the cause...looking at the age of the vessel you probably have a mechanical fuel pump.....From what I understand there is a diaphram in the pump that goes with age and this is where the fumes are coming from. Solution is to replace the mechanical pump with an electrical pump.....Job appears to be fairly easy (takes about an hour of time to make the replacement) (so the forums say).....I have the same vintage C27 that you do and the same problem. In a couple of months I will be able to tell you all about how to do it first hand since I hopefully will have it done by the end of March.....Good luck......P.S. I bought my boat a couple of years ago and love it....DAVE
Cathy: You may want to check the archives section of this forum. Search on "atomic" and you will get a quick education on your engine. Your smells can be reduced by using "Febreeze".....As for the cause...looking at the age of the vessel you probably have a mechanical fuel pump.....From what I understand there is a diaphram in the pump that goes with age and this is where the fumes are coming from. Solution is to replace the mechanical pump with an electrical pump.....Job appears to be fairly easy (takes about an hour of time to make the replacement) (so the forums say).....I have the same vintage C27 that you do and the same problem. In a couple of months I will be able to tell you all about how to do it first hand since I hopefully will have it done by the end of March.....Good luck......P.S. I bought my boat a couple of years ago and love it....DAVE
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Rod Worrell
Another Precaution!
Cathy, if you do siphon out the gas tank, I hope you also understand that any electrical device on board that has juice to it (120 volt shore power or any battery type item) should not have any power coming to it during the time you are working on the tank, hoses, siphoning, etc. One light or motor or radio or drill motor, etc., couldignite the vapors that are in the air during this exercise. We want to hear about your success and not your obituary! Let us know your results.
Cathy, if you do siphon out the gas tank, I hope you also understand that any electrical device on board that has juice to it (120 volt shore power or any battery type item) should not have any power coming to it during the time you are working on the tank, hoses, siphoning, etc. One light or motor or radio or drill motor, etc., couldignite the vapors that are in the air during this exercise. We want to hear about your success and not your obituary! Let us know your results.
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