2006 Tomcat 255 fuel fumes in Cabin

S

squidslayer

New member
For many years on my 2006 Tomcat .. at least the last 5…. I have been getting an intermittent gasoline smell in the cockpit…usually when I am running and the door is closed. I stuffed a pillow in the opening between the dashboard and starboard hull to keep the smell out from the cabin and keep the door open when running. I had tried many times to trouble shoot it took all the opening covers and reached in to the fuel tank and felt…smelled and tightened the ……….fill……..vent and outflow hoses fittings... and clamps…..to no avail. You can smell fuel around the tank depending on the breeze coming in……. I see no signs of leak and there is no fuel in the bilge. I can only barely see and feel a small part of the edge of the tank…so I cannot inspect the majority of the tank for any weeping fuel. Since there is no sign of a major leak…but concerned for safely I have installed a engine compartment type safety blower vent that should prevent any dangerous levels of fuel vapors to build up. I plan to keep an eye on it for any liquid fuel and to treat it as a nuisance of concern. The only way to see the whole tank to inspect would be to cut the whole floor out of the bathroom or more…….many many thousands$$$$
Any advice would be deeply appreciated

DickE
El Sobrante Ca
"ShirlyMae"
 
I've had the same issue with my 2008. Any time the wind comes up or we travel over 15 knots we have to open the door to vent the smell. I checked every hose and connection and added more clamshell vents but nothing has worked.
 
Hmm. We have a 2009 TomCat and have never experienced this. We can run 20-25 knots with the cockpit door closed and have never smelled fuel. However, I'll keep my eye on this post, as I'm now curious and concerned. I hope you find the solution, and that it's not having to remove the tank. I can't imagine what that would cost since the tanks are not accessible.
 
Pacificcoast101":16r6ndn2 said:
I've had the same issue with my 2008. Any time the wind comes up or we travel over 15 knots we have to open the door to vent the smell. I checked every hose and connection and added more clamshell vents but nothing has worked.
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Is your smell on the starboard tank side??....if you open up one of the round hatches or take the 3 ft starboard side shelf out I can smell it....but on the port side I cannot.
It has been an issue for years...but I have not blown up yet.....there is nothing in that area to spark...and fumes although noticable....does not seem to be strong enough to be a hazard...just an annoyance and a concern. I will be checking it often...and like I said put a blower to vert while operating and a solar powered vent when not....just to be safe.
Have you talked to your dealer?
 
Have not experienced any fumes on our Tomcat. You might try to isolate the leak by applying low pressure or vacuum to the tank to see if it holds. While the tank is pressurized check for leakage. If you don't find any leaks then most likely you have a venting problem or spillage from the fill hose, the vent line or the fuel supply line. Also try replacing all the hoses. Be very careful while trouble shooting this problem.
 
The reason I asked is the plastic tanks were permeable . In your case I would check and see if the hose is permeable . New EPA regs require non permeable hose .
The other place to look is at the senders . They have a gasket and can leak a bit .
Marc
 
Wefings":3u7psvhi said:
The reason I asked is the plastic tanks were permeable . In your case I would check and see if the hose is permeable . New EPA regs require non permeable hose .
The other place to look is at the senders . They have a gasket and can leak a bit .
Marc
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What and where is a sender?
 
I would be very careful putting the tank under pressure and risk damaging the seams, and would contact the tank vendor for technical assistance
 
squidslayer":c4qdmpfw said:
Wefings":c4qdmpfw said:
The reason I asked is the plastic tanks were permeable . In your case I would check and see if the hose is permeable . New EPA regs require non permeable hose .
The other place to look is at the senders . They have a gasket and can leak a bit .
Marc
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What and where is a sender?
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The sender is the fuel level device. Sends signal to your gauges on the dash. It's located just about under the step in the forward corner of the cockpit. Access through the round access hole either in the step or in the wall. Just about where your fuel fills come down from the deck and the vent goes up.

Charlie
 
I don't have a Tomcat but it almost sounds like your fuel vent is getting supercharged at over 15 mph by wind as you are bopping along. Maybe the vents can be rotated to the rear as not catch so much air. We put clam shells to block air and water from causing any issues with our fuel vents. I'd check all your hoses and try to tighten the top plate on your fuel sender.
I did not sleep at Holiday Inn Express last night either
D.D.
 
Thanks for all help....The fumes are present even when the tanks 1/2 full and the boat has not moved for weeks... so no fuel would splashing up on the fittings.....how then or what then?
thanks
Richard
 
Pacificcoast101":31s45hra said:
I haven't found any leaks. We don't smell the fumes all the time, only when running at least 15 knots.
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Have you determined if the fumes are comming from the starboard side...like mine??? you can tell by smelling in the access round covers on each side
 
It probably is. The smell is stronger when we open the cabinet below the sink. I tried running the boat with the round covers in the cockpit off but it didn't help. I'll check the senders to see if they are loose. We've had large surf all month in SoCal, so I haven't been able to take the boat out for three weeks anyway.
 
One option--not real cheap--is to purchase a Gasoline Fume Detector M-2A-R by Fireboy Xintex. I have used these on both internal tank gas powered inboards and the LPG model for propane installations.

This will allow you to be sure that there are not explosive concentrations of vapor in the bilge.

The tanks on the Tom Cat 255 are not real accessible, which is a potential issue in any boat with tanks below decks.
 
Pacificcoast101":3i3mf08z said:
It probably is. The smell is stronger when we open the cabinet below the sink. I tried running the boat with the round covers in the cockpit off but it didn't help. I'll check the senders to see if they are loose. We've had large surf all month in SoCal, so I haven't been able to take the boat out for three weeks anyway.
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So...... if you do not run it .. it does not smell?. mine does not either unless I open up a cover at the dock... have you tryed to sniff it out at the dock?
When My boat runs the smell is sucked back forwards thru gap between the dash and the starboard hull... a fluffy old pillow stuffed in the gap stops the fumes inside issue . But Does not solve the source . I don't see any senders on the tank... only fill...vent... and fuel out.
I can deal with the smell.. its the safety That concerns me
 
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