Water in fuel issue...Opinions?
#41
Not yet... Working on it. Last week, I checked the tank and got the normal "pint" of water out. Then, I washed the exterior of the boat, not getting any water inside, or on the deck of the cockpit. Waited an hour and checked the gas, no water. A few hours later, I washed the interior of the boat. Waited an hour and checked the gas. Just a few ounces of water. Will keep at it and WILL figure this out. My theory is pretty much that it's either sucking humid air into the tank through the vents... which doesn't make any sense because every boat would do it......or it's what Boomer and Bikergja have said...Pin holes in the top or edges of the tank. 
Those are the only two possibilities. We really, really like this boat and I'll do what it takes to make it stop getting water in there. I have to, because we are trying to decide if we should re-power from the 2-strokes (250EFI's) over to some Verados. (350's or 400's). That means keeping the boat for a loooong time. Can't do anything until this is resolved

Those are the only two possibilities. We really, really like this boat and I'll do what it takes to make it stop getting water in there. I have to, because we are trying to decide if we should re-power from the 2-strokes (250EFI's) over to some Verados. (350's or 400's). That means keeping the boat for a loooong time. Can't do anything until this is resolved
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Happily retired and living in Heavens waiting room.
Happily retired and living in Heavens waiting room.
#46
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9,594
Likes: 46
From: Ft. Worth TX
not being a boss here but have to chime in for safety reasons, DO NOT tape up any fuel vents period or block off any fuel vents off.. Fuel expands and builds pressure thats why the fuel is vented to begin with especially vented hugely (atmosphere) for marine applications. If you restrict fuel venting possible huge issues as fuel vapor builds causing blow up. The hotter the air temp the more fuel vapor and pressure will expand. / build. Again a safety post here.
#48
I have a 35' twin 2cycle 250EFI outboards also on my boat that had 0 issues with water in fuel for 7 years in a brackish environment. Hung in sling the whole time. Full dose Sta-Bil every fill up. Fuel filters changed annually with little if any water (I always checked).
NOW - we move the boat to our new house in Galveston, which is full on salt environment and this summer alone have had to change the fuel filters twice on each engine, and pouring out the filters gives me almost an inch of water!! I can only blame condensation. There have been no other changes. Possibly bad gas but buying it at the largest marina in Galveston.
NOW - we move the boat to our new house in Galveston, which is full on salt environment and this summer alone have had to change the fuel filters twice on each engine, and pouring out the filters gives me almost an inch of water!! I can only blame condensation. There have been no other changes. Possibly bad gas but buying it at the largest marina in Galveston.
#49
6 years later, here's an update! LMAO!!!
I'm posting this so maybe, just maybe it will help someone down the road. I've been a boat owner since 1983 and I have never seen anything like this. I will repeat, I never had fuel smell or fuel in my bilge, but constantly had water in my fuel tank. As it turns out, the tank was positioned in the belly of the boat in a compartment that had no drain into the bilge. I finally found someone who was willing to remove and replace the tank. Once it was pulled out, the reason was clear. There was a crack on one of the welds. I image that the tank was expanding and contracting with temp fluctuations and somehow it was sucking water into the tank. That's all I've got, the pictures don't lie!



I'm posting this so maybe, just maybe it will help someone down the road. I've been a boat owner since 1983 and I have never seen anything like this. I will repeat, I never had fuel smell or fuel in my bilge, but constantly had water in my fuel tank. As it turns out, the tank was positioned in the belly of the boat in a compartment that had no drain into the bilge. I finally found someone who was willing to remove and replace the tank. Once it was pulled out, the reason was clear. There was a crack on one of the welds. I image that the tank was expanding and contracting with temp fluctuations and somehow it was sucking water into the tank. That's all I've got, the pictures don't lie!




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Happily retired and living in Heavens waiting room.
Happily retired and living in Heavens waiting room.





