Gas fumes in cabin - Catalina 22

[tegwilym]

Yes another question that I'm seeking advice for my newbieness (if that is a word?). Since the fuel tanks for the Catalina 22 live under the cockpit seat in the large open area under the cockpit, I get gas fumes in the cabin that my girlfriend constantly complains about every time she goes in there to get out of the wind. I don't have a plywood bulkhead behind the rear port-side dinette seat back, so it's open all the way back there. I'll get around to replacing that one of these days.So, the question: Has anyone come up with a way to keep the fumes back there so they will vent out the vents in the hull? I was thinking of building a simple wall around the tank area out of foam or something, just to keep a barrier between the smelly fuel and the cabin area. Also, would this be dangerous if you have a stove in the cabin? I guess the fumes would stay down low, so maybe it's not bad, but just wondering. The smell isn't overwhelming to me, but she has a very sensitive nose.

 

[Ross]

If you are getting the smell then you probably

are spilling some of the liquid. I guess it just depends on how big an explosion you can tolerate. Keep the cans out in the open air.

 

[tegwilym]

Fumes

I do have the tank vents closed, and I don't think there was any spills, but I'll sniff around some more I guess.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Gas Smell in Cabin

Gas fumes will not vent out on their own, they will find the lowest point (bilge) where they will wait for a spark. That is why there are regulations, and rules about running an exhaust fan after re-fueling a gasoline powered vessel for so many minutes before starting the engine. Now you probably don't have that problem with an outboard, but a spark from something else (static electricity?) could, well like Ross says, "how big of an explosion can you tolerate?"!Get the fuel tank out of the locker!

 

[tegwilym]

running the outboard

So do I keep the tank on deck when running the outboard? Right now I have the tank down in the port cockpit locker (where there is a place for the tank) and run the hose and battery charging cable out the vent to the motor.So what is the point of the tank "platform" down there if I'm doing this wrong?Yeah, I see the point - duh - the vents on top won't do anything unless I get some wind blowing down the forward vent and then maybe out the back if the air get stirred up enough. Hmmm...

 

[Ross]

A small computer fan will run on a small solar

panel and will let you ventilate that locker. Just mount the fan against one of the vents and let it blow the air out. If it were mine I would glass in the fuel compartment to isolate it from the rest of the boat.

 

[sailaway78]

Gas Fumes

As Ross said, how big an explosion can you tolerate. If you have fumes that you can smell, there is that possibility. You either need to find some way to seal up the locker where the tank is kept, and get some ventilation in there, or find another place for it. You didn't say how big the tank was, but there must be a better way.

 

[tegwilym]

Tank

I think it's about a 5 gallon tank, I'll have to check to make sure. It fits nicely on the tank platform without sliding around, so it's at least that size.Yeah, I was thinking that I should build some walls around that thing to keep the fumes where they should be. A fan sounds like a good idea.Searching the forum, someone said you shouldn't smell anything at all, and to change the hose.

 

[Monty Miller]

I am confused...

...as to where you are storing your auxilary outboard gas tank. It sounds like you are placing it in a cockpit locker that is open to the main cabin. Auxilary gas tanks should only be stored in the open air. Is this something the previous owner did? Gas could be stored in a locker that is 100% sealed and properly vented to the outside. If this is the case don't block the vent with the fuel line running out of it and don't have anything electrical in the same compartment. If you are going to install a blower use a system that gas inboard boats have. They use a special inline blower located outside of the engine compartment. A spark from any electrical device can ignite the gas fumes. Please resolve this before you sail again because your situation sounds very dangerous!

 

[tegwilym]

Gas

See the photos at the attached link.http://home.comcast.net/~tegwilym/boat/(see photos 313 and 315)The tank is in the far back corner of the boat under the cockpit seat on the port side. The entire area below the cockpit is a wide open area, and I don't have a plywood bulkhead behind the seat (it was missing when I bought it) so the back area is open to the cabin. There is one photo there showing the gas tank inside the seat locker. It wouldn't be too hard to build some kind of bulkhead around it.Is this how the Catalinas use to be built? Mine is a 1971 model.

 

[Monty Miller]

Not good

It has been said that an empty gas tank is more dangerous than a full one. The fumes alone can be extremely explosive while gas as a liquid will just burn. I would get that tank out of there and store it in the open air of the cockpit. Also, in 302 did I see another fuel container stored in the main cabin? Enough fumes in the main cabin with the electric bilge pump starting up would make for a very short sail. Without sounding like a jerk I would suggest you visit your local fire station and learn about gasoline. Nice boat by the way!

 

[tegwilym]

outdoor fuel

Yeah, I'm guilty. That is another gas can in there. I did post this on the TrailerSailor site also for maximum advice. Someone posted a photo of a table just under the tiller at the back of the cockpit that hid the gas tank underneath. That looked like a really nice plan, I'm going to check that out tonight and see how something like that would work out. Gives me a place to rest my coke also since I can't do much with the tiller there anyway. This is how the boat came when I bought it. I blame my years with Lido 14 with paddle propulsion as a backup.*ugh*So much to learn...

 

[Monty Miller]

So much to learn...

... is why we are all here!

 

[Phil]

You can fix it

I have 1974 Catalina 22 with the same set up. You have to replace the plywood bulkhead piece. Then run vent hoses down from the two vents above the gas tank area. The vent hoses should go down to the lowest part of that area for the reasons Mick said. when you sail a lot of air flowes thru there & even when on mooring the air still moves thru to keep it vented I have no trouble with fumes at all. I always make sure I fill the tank out side the boat and make sure it's free of any spilled gas on the outside of the tank. the new plastic gas tanks are very tight just make sure the caps are tight. If you smell fumes there is danger. I hope this helps

 

[DavidH]

A dd a bulkhead

I had a 74 Catalina. I added a bulkhead in the port aft locker,a blower and vents it is really easy to do and solves the problem. Just add one in from side to center.

 

[Mike1956]

In the Cockpit

I made a fuel locker for the rear of the cockpit, just big enough to hold my plastic 6 gallon tank. the lid is even in height, with the lazerettes, and is locked with a hasp and padlock. I can stand on the lid to hook up the boom pigtail, and no fumes inside of my boat! Some day I'll get a picture to post. Frank Butler, if you read this thread, I'll share my idea with you in exchange for a new C25, fully loaded

 

[tegwilym]

Problem fixed!

Ok guys. Thanks for the tips. I really liked the rear cockpit idea, so tonight I took a trip to the boat store and bought some of that plastic stuff. I think I've got the problem solved. See my web link below for some photos of what I did tonight.Let me know what you think.http://home.comcast.net/~tegwilym/boatfixes/Tom