Hello all!
I'm new to this forum and boating in general so please bare with me as I may not know all the correct terminology.
I have a 1995 Bayliner Capri 1800 LS with a 120 Force O/B motor that I bought last summer. The boat ran good but needed some minor tweaks with the motor as it was rough idling and had difficulty starting up sometimes. I resolved those problems over the winter and the boat fires up great.
I noticed some liquid in my ski locker that appeared to be gas/oil mix, smelled just like it too. I first noticed this at the end of last season. I took the boat to my sister's house to be stored and my BIL asked what the heck that smell was. We tried spraying it out with a hose and eventually got it all out -OR- so we thought. I had a marine mechanic due some repairs and pressure test the tank. The boat probably had about 6 gallons of gas/oil mix in there when he did the repairs. I got the boat back with a clean bill of health. Motor fired right up and he said the gas tank pressure tested out fine.
When I went back to get my boat in Feb., I noticed that smell again and confirmed there was liquid in the ski locker again!! We stuck a wire from the drainage hole from the ski locker back to the bilge pump area to ensure there wasn't any leaves obstructing the flow. Sprayed out the liquid again which took a long time to drain out of the ski locker and slowly into the bilge pump area and finally out the drainage hole of the boat.
I tried starting the boat with the hose and muffs on but the tank was bone dry - No gas getting to the motor from the bulb that was just replaced. Finally made it back home and looked in the storage locker and there was still a little bit of liquid in there. Makes me question the results of the pressure test or maybe there was a hair line fracture that went undetected.
I filled another 12 gallons of gas/oil mixture and headed to the lake. While out there, I noticed that there was alot of liquid in the ski locker. I've checked the gas fill hole and the other hoses around the tank and everything seems to be dry and no signs of dry rot. I think there's something larger going on below the deck. Problem is, the gas tank is embedded below the deck and I have no access unless I rip up the deck.
Before leaving the lake I dumped about 10-15 gallons of lake was in the ski locker and let it drain from the incline of the ramp. Seems like it all drained out but checked again when I parked the boat and the some liquid is still present in the ski locker. I've never had this problem before and in fact, there's hardly ever any water when I pull the drain plug after a long day on the lake.
The odd thing is, there will be liquid in the ski locker and none present in the bilge pump/transom area. I don't know if it's a design flaw but I would think the very rear of the boat should be the lowest point for gravity to work it's course and drain any liquids. I had to raise the tongue of the trailer as high as it would go for liquid to finally make it's way out the boat.
I think I'm going to have to cut up the deck and probably replace the tank.
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to do this, the tools needed, where to purchase a new tank and of what material. I think the one in there is aluminum. I've read on a different thread that you can coat the tank with some material to prolong the life. How much can this cost to repair?
I'm reluctant to cut up the deck without some advice because of the potential explosion waiting to happen if I create a spark.
I'm at a loss here folks and would appreciate all the help/advice. I usually hit the lake at least once a week and would hate to miss the whole season.
Sorry for the long winded overview, I figure more is better. Thanks in advance!
I'm new to this forum and boating in general so please bare with me as I may not know all the correct terminology.
I have a 1995 Bayliner Capri 1800 LS with a 120 Force O/B motor that I bought last summer. The boat ran good but needed some minor tweaks with the motor as it was rough idling and had difficulty starting up sometimes. I resolved those problems over the winter and the boat fires up great.
I noticed some liquid in my ski locker that appeared to be gas/oil mix, smelled just like it too. I first noticed this at the end of last season. I took the boat to my sister's house to be stored and my BIL asked what the heck that smell was. We tried spraying it out with a hose and eventually got it all out -OR- so we thought. I had a marine mechanic due some repairs and pressure test the tank. The boat probably had about 6 gallons of gas/oil mix in there when he did the repairs. I got the boat back with a clean bill of health. Motor fired right up and he said the gas tank pressure tested out fine.
When I went back to get my boat in Feb., I noticed that smell again and confirmed there was liquid in the ski locker again!! We stuck a wire from the drainage hole from the ski locker back to the bilge pump area to ensure there wasn't any leaves obstructing the flow. Sprayed out the liquid again which took a long time to drain out of the ski locker and slowly into the bilge pump area and finally out the drainage hole of the boat.
I tried starting the boat with the hose and muffs on but the tank was bone dry - No gas getting to the motor from the bulb that was just replaced. Finally made it back home and looked in the storage locker and there was still a little bit of liquid in there. Makes me question the results of the pressure test or maybe there was a hair line fracture that went undetected.
I filled another 12 gallons of gas/oil mixture and headed to the lake. While out there, I noticed that there was alot of liquid in the ski locker. I've checked the gas fill hole and the other hoses around the tank and everything seems to be dry and no signs of dry rot. I think there's something larger going on below the deck. Problem is, the gas tank is embedded below the deck and I have no access unless I rip up the deck.
Before leaving the lake I dumped about 10-15 gallons of lake was in the ski locker and let it drain from the incline of the ramp. Seems like it all drained out but checked again when I parked the boat and the some liquid is still present in the ski locker. I've never had this problem before and in fact, there's hardly ever any water when I pull the drain plug after a long day on the lake.
The odd thing is, there will be liquid in the ski locker and none present in the bilge pump/transom area. I don't know if it's a design flaw but I would think the very rear of the boat should be the lowest point for gravity to work it's course and drain any liquids. I had to raise the tongue of the trailer as high as it would go for liquid to finally make it's way out the boat.
I think I'm going to have to cut up the deck and probably replace the tank.
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to do this, the tools needed, where to purchase a new tank and of what material. I think the one in there is aluminum. I've read on a different thread that you can coat the tank with some material to prolong the life. How much can this cost to repair?
I'm reluctant to cut up the deck without some advice because of the potential explosion waiting to happen if I create a spark.
I'm at a loss here folks and would appreciate all the help/advice. I usually hit the lake at least once a week and would hate to miss the whole season.
Sorry for the long winded overview, I figure more is better. Thanks in advance!
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