Bad gas smell and water in ski locker

[ranger098]

Hi all, just got a 2002 mobius LSV... with a carb indmar 310. Love the boat but have two issues that i am trying to work out..

1. There is a real bad gas smell while the boat is running. Coming from the engine, and to be specific it seems to be stronger at the back of the boat (which would be the front of the engine) near the exhaust. within an hour of being in the boat, the three of us had headaches, if that helps you know that it's a real strong smell. Boat runs and starts perfect.

2. I am getting water in the ski locker. Not under the locker, like other posts discuss, but in it. Before heading out, i shop vac'd the water out so it was totally dry. I didnt use the ballast system while out, so i am not sure where else this water could be getting in? I would love to get this figured out, and am hoping someone else has been here before.

Other than that, the boat is sweet! Some people complain that moomba's cannot handle rough water very well, but i was more than pleased with it. Cant wait for the water to warm up!

[sivs1]

I can help with number 2. At the back of the ski locker there is a hole that runs all the way to the stern, this is to help it drain. Issue I found was I get water coming forward into the locker and struggling to get back out. You'll see some posts on here where people have put a rubber plug in the hole as a stopper. I have yet to do this and was out Saturday and got some water from the bilge area into the ski locker. As far as number one, check your hose clamps coming out of the tank into the fuel filter and pump etc...

[bkearney]

Yeah... the water from the bilge in the locker is a common design flaw on that age moomba

[ranger098]

Plugging that hole should be easy enough, good advice. Seems like the locker is the lowest point in the boat, so that makes sense.....

[Beejwest]

Could be a small exhaust leak from the muffler or exhaust manifolds. That could cause water to come in too. When you smell it, are you idling while sitting still, or can you smell it running down the lake? Does your blower effectively remove the smell/fumes?

[Beejwest]

Oh, and for the water in the locker, plug the hole at the rear of the locker with one of these;
http://t.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-1-2-in-Plastic-Mechanical-Test-Plug-33400/100342630

I had to do a little grinding on mine to get it to fit, but once tightened with the wing nut, it expands and does a great job keeping nasty oily bilge water out from under my fat sac.

[ranger098]

Could be a small exhaust leak from the muffler or exhaust manifolds. That could cause water to come in too. When you smell it, are you idling while sitting still, or can you smell it running down the lake? Does your blower effectively remove the smell/fumes?

I can smell it even while running down the lake, and the blower will not rid the fumes. In my old boat (same engine), there was a plug at the bottom of the exhaust baffle, to drain water when winterizing.. i am guessing there may be one on this one as well... but didnt look yet. maybe there is an issue around there

[bergermaister]

Check to make sure the blower is actually blowing, not just humming, tubes haven't come loose, fallen off.

How about the fresh air intake tubes up under the dash and glovebox - are there hoses connected and leading down to the channels to vent the engine compartment?

[samvq1]

In an old I/O I had, the gasket on the fuel sending unit on top of the fuel tank had swelled. It would leak when the tank was filled then stop when the fuel level got to a certain point. Having a headache sounds more like exhaust but the tank is something to check.

[kaneboats]

Just be dang careful. Don't use the boat till you track it down. If you have a fuel leak you can have a fire in a hurry.

[Beejwest]

Yeah the plug for the exhaust baffle is underneath the port side of the muffler. There are pics in the sticky thread about inboard winterizations.

[Beejwest]

^^^ but what Kane said. Be careful!

[jmb]

I'm with Kaneboats. You could have an explosion if not careful. Should smell no gas at all.

[ranger098]

Thanks all... I'll dig a little deeper and report my findings

[ranger098]

Fixed the gas smell today. It was just a loose fitting off the output of the fuel pump leaking gas. It has to stop at a certain point in order to connect the gas line, I just had to give it 2 more turns in. No more leak. Probly not a common issue, but ya never know!

Can't wait to get surfin

[kaneboats]

Good for you. Happy to hear it's fixed and safe.