I just bought a 1982 Hunter 25, with a Chrysler 9.9 hp outboard bracketed on the stern. The boat has full cockpit controls for the engine, with cables running through booted holes cut in the transom. When I got her, there were two red plastic 6 gallon gas tanks in the lazarette, with the fuel hose running through one of the booted holes to the engine. The lazarette, of course, drains to the bilge. We half-filled one of the tanks with gas/oil mixture, took the other tank off the boat, and left it for a couple of days, hose attached, vent closed. When we returned a couple of days later, the whole cabin smelled of gasoline. I have since relocated the gas tank to the cockpit floor, but I need a better arrangement, as there's little enough room as it is. It has been suggested that I install a permanent, below-deck plastic tank on the shelf in the lazarette, with a hose venting the tank overboard, and a deck-plate fill hose. Does anyone have experience with an arrangement such as this? Is it safe? Will it keep gas fumes out of the interior of the boat? The yachtyard owner says it will, but I'd like additional input before I spend the bucks.
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Jon Bastien
Have same setup...
...and the same problems with fumes in the bilge. I'm considering a permanent mounted tank, but I'm going to put it on the port side, aft of the quarter berth (I can access this space easily by removing the bulkhead panel. This space will allow me to mount a larger tank than I could if it were in the lazarette, and also help balance out the boat (Ever notice how all the heavy stuff is on the starboard side?). I'll vent it over the stern, but I haven't figured out where to put the deck fill plate yet. Another possibility for fuel tank location is to get "belly" tanks, which mount on the centerline of the boat, and put it just aft of the ice box (although I think the water tank was originally located there). On my H25, there's a bladder bag here for water, but I'm thinking of moving my bladder bag someplace else to make room for a belly tank. Also, I'll have to come up with some kind of adapter to connect the tank's fuel pick-up line to the outboard's fuel connector... Shouldn't be too difficult, I think. To answer your questions, I think your yachtyard owner is correct- Replacing your portables with a PROPERLY INSTALLED, GROUNDED, AND VENTED permanent fuel tank should solve the fume problem. --Jon Bastien H23 '2 Sheets to the Wind' H25 'Adagio'
...and the same problems with fumes in the bilge. I'm considering a permanent mounted tank, but I'm going to put it on the port side, aft of the quarter berth (I can access this space easily by removing the bulkhead panel. This space will allow me to mount a larger tank than I could if it were in the lazarette, and also help balance out the boat (Ever notice how all the heavy stuff is on the starboard side?). I'll vent it over the stern, but I haven't figured out where to put the deck fill plate yet. Another possibility for fuel tank location is to get "belly" tanks, which mount on the centerline of the boat, and put it just aft of the ice box (although I think the water tank was originally located there). On my H25, there's a bladder bag here for water, but I'm thinking of moving my bladder bag someplace else to make room for a belly tank. Also, I'll have to come up with some kind of adapter to connect the tank's fuel pick-up line to the outboard's fuel connector... Shouldn't be too difficult, I think. To answer your questions, I think your yachtyard owner is correct- Replacing your portables with a PROPERLY INSTALLED, GROUNDED, AND VENTED permanent fuel tank should solve the fume problem. --Jon Bastien H23 '2 Sheets to the Wind' H25 'Adagio'
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John Allison
Fuel Tank Relocation
A permanent tank on the aft lazaret shelf is not the answer. I had to cut a hole in that shelf to gain reasonably good access to both the motor bracket mount bolts and the cockpit drain hose. Both have been replaced. Sooner or later, you will have to do the same. I have a single 6.5 gallon tank on the shelf. I replaced it this year due to some very minor leakage of fuel around the fill gauge. That got rid of most of the odor. However, not all. Actually, power boaters have the answer ..... open the boat to air and turn on the bilge blower for 5 minutes prior to starting. I have always abided by this rule. This is not an uncommon problem and has been the complaint of many a 25 owner.
A permanent tank on the aft lazaret shelf is not the answer. I had to cut a hole in that shelf to gain reasonably good access to both the motor bracket mount bolts and the cockpit drain hose. Both have been replaced. Sooner or later, you will have to do the same. I have a single 6.5 gallon tank on the shelf. I replaced it this year due to some very minor leakage of fuel around the fill gauge. That got rid of most of the odor. However, not all. Actually, power boaters have the answer ..... open the boat to air and turn on the bilge blower for 5 minutes prior to starting. I have always abided by this rule. This is not an uncommon problem and has been the complaint of many a 25 owner.
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John Larsen
Same Problem on '78 H25
Also have the same problem with gasoline odor. I've considered a permanent tank aft of the icebox since the space is not easilly accessible for other use.
Also have the same problem with gasoline odor. I've considered a permanent tank aft of the icebox since the space is not easilly accessible for other use.
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Jim carroll
vent portable
I have an 86 25.5. When I purchased the boat it had a vent installed on a portable tank,same as you described.The tank is in the starb. locker and the vent runs out of the back of the locker in the cockpit.The pros tell me it is fine as is. I have no fume problem.Good luck.
I have an 86 25.5. When I purchased the boat it had a vent installed on a portable tank,same as you described.The tank is in the starb. locker and the vent runs out of the back of the locker in the cockpit.The pros tell me it is fine as is. I have no fume problem.Good luck.
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Jesse Delanoy
Jim Carroll - How can I
vent a portable gas tank to a fitting on the hull? The tank has a little screw-open/screw-closed vent on the gas cap, allowing it to vent to wherever the tank happens to be sitting. If I could take this tank, and rig a vent hose to a fitting on the stern, allowing fumes to spill overboard, I'd probably be ok. But how do I safely modify the vent arrangement on a portable plastic tank?
vent a portable gas tank to a fitting on the hull? The tank has a little screw-open/screw-closed vent on the gas cap, allowing it to vent to wherever the tank happens to be sitting. If I could take this tank, and rig a vent hose to a fitting on the stern, allowing fumes to spill overboard, I'd probably be ok. But how do I safely modify the vent arrangement on a portable plastic tank?
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Jim Carroll
It looks easy
It looks easy, but I didn"t install it.If your tank is configured like mine you have a supply hose comming off the tank to the outboard.Mine has a second hose connected to the tank the same way as the supply line is,it snaps on the same type of fitting off the tank as the supply line than is run to a vent fitting at the stern end of the locker.The end is held on with a clamp.The outside is a 1/2 moon deal to keep rain out.I hope you can make it work.
It looks easy, but I didn"t install it.If your tank is configured like mine you have a supply hose comming off the tank to the outboard.Mine has a second hose connected to the tank the same way as the supply line is,it snaps on the same type of fitting off the tank as the supply line than is run to a vent fitting at the stern end of the locker.The end is held on with a clamp.The outside is a 1/2 moon deal to keep rain out.I hope you can make it work.
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Jesse Delanoy
Jim Carroll - It might work
My second portable tank - the one I took off the boat, has its fuel line connector mounted on a second gas cap which screws onto a second cap opening on the tank. (the tank I'm actually using now has its fuel line connector permanently mounted on the surface of the tank.) Perhaps I can remove the gas cap/fuel line assembly from tank #2, cut off the tube which runs from the inside of the cap to the bottom of the tank, replace the original gas cap on Tank # 1 (the one containing the little screw-open vent) with the cap containing the fuel hose connection, so that I now have a tank with two quick-disconnect hose connections: one permanently mounted, which feeds fuel to the engine, and one mounted on the gas cap, to which I can attach a vent hose running to a stern fitting. I'd need to take the tank out of the lazarette to fill it with gas, but since both hoses are "quick disconnect" types, this shouldn't be a problem. If I try it and it works, I'll post further. Meeting with the yachtyard owner Saturday to look at possible permanent tank arrangements.
My second portable tank - the one I took off the boat, has its fuel line connector mounted on a second gas cap which screws onto a second cap opening on the tank. (the tank I'm actually using now has its fuel line connector permanently mounted on the surface of the tank.) Perhaps I can remove the gas cap/fuel line assembly from tank #2, cut off the tube which runs from the inside of the cap to the bottom of the tank, replace the original gas cap on Tank # 1 (the one containing the little screw-open vent) with the cap containing the fuel hose connection, so that I now have a tank with two quick-disconnect hose connections: one permanently mounted, which feeds fuel to the engine, and one mounted on the gas cap, to which I can attach a vent hose running to a stern fitting. I'd need to take the tank out of the lazarette to fill it with gas, but since both hoses are "quick disconnect" types, this shouldn't be a problem. If I try it and it works, I'll post further. Meeting with the yachtyard owner Saturday to look at possible permanent tank arrangements.
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Jim Carroll
Good luck Jesse
Good luck! I guess if you don"t mind spending the money a perm tank would be great. If I could quit spending money on sails and rigging I might consider it.Let me know how it works out.
Good luck! I guess if you don"t mind spending the money a perm tank would be great. If I could quit spending money on sails and rigging I might consider it.Let me know how it works out.
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Jay Hill
No Odor Problem with original setup
Have 6 gal tank in stern locker but no fumes in bilge or cabin. The only thing that I know I do is close the vent on the tank EVERY time I use it. I also check for leaks on hoses and tank about monthly.
Have 6 gal tank in stern locker but no fumes in bilge or cabin. The only thing that I know I do is close the vent on the tank EVERY time I use it. I also check for leaks on hoses and tank about monthly.
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Jesse Delanoy
Jim Carroll and Jay Hill
Jim - The screw cap with the hose fitting is a different size than the regular gas cap, so I can't replace one with the other as I suggested earlier. How did you obtain a portable tank with two gas hose fittings on it? Jay - I left the tank, vent closed, in the stern locker the very first time. The weather was hot, the gas expanded even though not in direct sunlight, and gas and fumes seeped out from the pressure at the fuel hose connection fitting, with fumes draining into the bilge and the cabin. I have, since then, left the tank in the cockpit, vent open, so that pressure doesn't build up. An outboard-repair shop owner told me that he's seen many tanks, left outside with vents closed, explode from the pressure created by sunlight heating the tank.
Jim - The screw cap with the hose fitting is a different size than the regular gas cap, so I can't replace one with the other as I suggested earlier. How did you obtain a portable tank with two gas hose fittings on it? Jay - I left the tank, vent closed, in the stern locker the very first time. The weather was hot, the gas expanded even though not in direct sunlight, and gas and fumes seeped out from the pressure at the fuel hose connection fitting, with fumes draining into the bilge and the cabin. I have, since then, left the tank in the cockpit, vent open, so that pressure doesn't build up. An outboard-repair shop owner told me that he's seen many tanks, left outside with vents closed, explode from the pressure created by sunlight heating the tank.
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