gas smell in bilge

[Mike in Woodlands]

As stated before, if you pull the floor behind the bait well, be sure the long screws are used only ON THE SIDES AND BACK never right behind the bait well. The gas tank (@ least on logics) extends past the bait well, and the long screws can penetrate the tank causing a non repairable leak. I had a leak on mine once when the gas tank fitting for the gas hose broke and gas sloshed into the bilge! I have had a slight gas smell ever since in my bilge till it is ventilated. Good luck with the your boat... you will love it as we love ours. Mike

[charlieb821]

When we bought our 210 in 2001, I noticed the smell. The thread posts said it was just the hull smell, so I disregarded. But, it still smelled. Had another problem; the gas gage didn't work all the time. But' I always put at least 20 gallons in the tank before we we went out, so I didn't worry.

Thanksgiving week we went out and after a half hour stopped to fish. Wife noticed an apparent oil slick from around the stern area. Didn't smell gas but decided to go back in. About halfway back in, engine started running very rough, no power, barely maintained headway, quit within 100 feet of the doc. Thought we had run out of gas due to a fuel leak.

Took the boat home to put in garage and got 20 gallos of gas on the way. Engine ran fine in washing tank. But, before I got hull washed down, it started to rain. Bilge pump started and could smell gas in bilge pump output. Could see oil slick on blige water on ground. Took to dealer inmmediately.

Dealer called a few days later; gas tank was completely full (80 plus gallons), gas tank looked fine. But, gas tank did have a small pinhole in top of tank, and would leak gas anytime tank was overfilled or the boat was shaken, driven, towed, etc.

Engine quiting problem was due to a shorted relay (subject of Honda recall), once fixed the engine runs fine.

Moral: It's not always the hull smell!