Official 370 Sundancer thread

phil_p said:
Hey Folks.
Anyone ever had an issue with a lingering gasoline smell. A few weeks ago I topped off my tanks, approx. 75 gal each P & S, and for the 1st time added some West Marine stabilizer. Several days later we were on the boat doing this & that and there was a distinct gas smell in the cabin and cockpit. Couldn't see any gas in the water or bilge even after giving the bilge a light wash down and pumping the water out and I don't see any leakage/wetness around the fuel pumps or filters. I've let the engine compartment and cabin air out over several days and it's a lot less but sometimes noticeable after the boat is closed up for several days. Sometime I don't smell anything but my wife does. Haven't taken it out yet due to crappy weather and winds but I've run the engines several times.

Anyone ever had any small point of corrosion at any joint, corner or other place that might have penetrated the tank wall causing a leak? My next step to be safe is to get my mechanic or someone with a gas sniffer/leak detector (if that exists) to poke around. Lots of luck if there's a leak way up towards the bow. There's no reason my tank vents would be clogged but haven't checked.

Any idea comments would be appreciated.

Phil
Click to expand...

I fueled up yesterday and noticed this extremely strong smell of fuel in the cabin today. And it's not the first time. After some searching on here I'm a bit relieved that it appears to be a typical issue for our 370s. But what's really causing it and can anything be done about it? I read a response saying it's just the tank overflows but why would it be so strong in the cabin when they're on the outside and everything was closed up for the night? It seemed to be stronger in the cabin than even in the engine room! Anyone have more insight/advice on this?


1995 370 Sundancer
 
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Faucet replacements complete...


1995 370 Sundancer
 
DaFish said:
Looks great - did you source faucets from HD or WM?
Click to expand...

The bar sink and galley sink faucets came from Go2marine.com. They're Scandvik brand. The bath faucet is from HD. I would have bought all three at HD but could find the cold only for the bar or a good size for the galley. But pricing wasn't much different anyway.


1995 370 Sundancer
 
How were you able to access underneath the galley sink to remove the galley faucet? I do not see any access in my 1998 370 Express.
 
Hick said:
How were you able to access underneath the galley sink to remove the galley faucet? I do not see any access in my 1998 370 Express.
Click to expand...

Thru the opening for the fridge. Fridge comes out fairly easily.


1995 370 Sundancer
 
I had this exact same gasoline smell in the cabin primarily during full ups on my '95 370.
I had much difficulty finding it... but I finally did.

In my case it was a bad gasket on the sending unit on the top of the starbord gas tank.
While trying to locate the smell I removed the starbord access hatch in the aft berth. It's the one that acts as a shelf over the bed/cabin. When you remove this panel you will discover that there is no seal on it, and that it's open all of the way back to the bildge. At least in the '95 370s. So any smell from the engines/gas tanks/ etc can travel right into the cabin via that hatch. Now, from that same hatch, and another one in the adjacent closet, you can view and inspect the overflow for the starbord fuel tank. That would be the second, and much more difficult to view and repair possibility. But do yourself a favor and check the fuel tank level sending unit gaskets first. If you see any fuel seeping or greasy discoloration outside the tank in that area, then bingo.
you also might consider putting some foam tape on the edges of the aft berth access panel so it forms a seal when it's screwed down closed.

I hope this helps,
John


TN370 said:
I fueled up yesterday and noticed this extremely strong smell of fuel in the cabin today. And it's not the first time. After some searching on here I'm a bit relieved that it appears to be a typical issue for our 370s. But what's really causing it and can anything be done about it? I read a response saying it's just the tank overflows but why would it be so strong in the cabin when they're on the outside and everything was closed up for the night? It seemed to be stronger in the cabin than even in the engine room! Anyone have more insight/advice on this?


1995 370 Sundancer
Click to expand...
 
Not sure if anyone is interested but we have replaced our carpeting in the cockpit/stern area due to changing the upholstery. This carpet we are replacing is only 4 years old and is the new style from Infinity, woven style, color is called Sea Grass. It will look great if you have the white/ gold colors like we did, our boat is 1997 Sundancer. We are hoping someone can put it to good use, just want to recoup some dollars if we can.
Check out the pics and let me know if interested.

c71c9625c71027001f2228127e95cf3e.jpg
a1614dc52176a82eb0bf9e9d25362232.jpg
055910c9f15a695d9c0d569d17ef82f5.jpg


Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
jsneal said:
I had this exact same gasoline smell in the cabin primarily during full ups on my '95 370.
I had much difficulty finding it... but I finally did.

In my case it was a bad gasket on the sending unit on the top of the starbord gas tank.
While trying to locate the smell I removed the starbord access hatch in the aft berth. It's the one that acts as a shelf over the bed/cabin. When you remove this panel you will discover that there is no seal on it, and that it's open all of the way back to the bildge. At least in the '95 370s. So any smell from the engines/gas tanks/ etc can travel right into the cabin via that hatch. Now, from that same hatch, and another one in the adjacent closet, you can view and inspect the overflow for the starbord fuel tank. That would be the second, and much more difficult to view and repair possibility. But do yourself a favor and check the fuel tank level sending unit gaskets first. If you see any fuel seeping or greasy discoloration outside the tank in that area, then bingo.
you also might consider putting some foam tape on the edges of the aft berth access panel so it forms a seal when it's screwed down closed.

I hope this helps,
John
Click to expand...

Mine was not that access, but the hole where all the electrical wiring on the Starboard side goes from the engine room to the cabin. This is behind the sub woofer at the helm down through the floor, into a cavity over the top of the mid cabin closet. Remove the ceiling in the closet and you will see what I am talking about. Sea Ray "sealed" it with a giant glob of silicone caulk which over time comes loose from the coaming floor, and if you are running any additional wires, or replacing, you are going to open it up. Mercury and Marine Max helped find this issue in my 1998 back in 2003. because of the quantity and diversity of wire types, there really isn't any other way to plug this hole except gooping the hell out of it. What really causes the issue, is after running the engines, you come to the dock, and run the air conditioners with maybe leaving the bilge blowers on but probably not. The a/c's create a vacuum, which pulls all of the engine room funk right into the cabin. I have left the boat on one afternoon, and come back the next day to a cabin full of engine room (gas, exhaust, bilge, you name it). It was always attributed to leaving the A/C's on during the summer.
Hope this helps.
 
Rule pump in shower/condensate sump

The pump in mu shower sump has failed and I forgot to check the model number before leaving the boat last time. I'm trying to avoid a trip just to get the details. Can anyone advise the model number and specs of the small Rule sump pump in a 1997 370? FOr clarity, the failed pump is the one "in the box" not the external backup pump in the under floor storage area. TIA....
 
Nice work! I have an exact pile of pieces with the same pattern in my basement that I'm working on this weekend.
 
Morningstar2 said:
Not sure if anyone is interested but we have replaced our carpeting in the cockpit/stern area due to changing the upholstery. This carpet we are replacing is only 4 years old and is the new style from Infinity, woven style, color is called Sea Grass. It will look great if you have the white/ gold colors like we did, our boat is 1997 Sundancer. We are hoping someone can put it to good use, just want to recoup some dollars if we can.
Check out the pics and let me know if interested.

c71c9625c71027001f2228127e95cf3e.jpg
a1614dc52176a82eb0bf9e9d25362232.jpg
055910c9f15a695d9c0d569d17ef82f5.jpg


Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Hi, I was just curious as to how much you were looking at in terms of recouping some of your costs ? My husband and I purchased a 1997 Sundancer at the end of last season and we were thinking of replacing the cockpit carpeting. Please feel free to give us a call, my name is Jeannine and my husband is Anthony. We boat out of Lake Erie. Thanks so much ! My email at tlorenzo880@gmail.com
 
Last edited:
TN370 said:
bec5ccf3ba54e22c13075c305654ce59.jpg


Going back in! Will post some of the finished work tomorrow.



1995 370 Sundancer
Click to expand...

This upholstery project took some time but I feel like it's made the biggest impact of everything I've done so far to improving the look and feel.

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1995 370 Sundancer
 
370Dancer said:
Mine was not that access, but the hole where all the electrical wiring on the Starboard side goes from the engine room to the cabin. This is behind the sub woofer at the helm down through the floor, into a cavity over the top of the mid cabin closet. Remove the ceiling in the closet and you will see what I am talking about. Sea Ray "sealed" it with a giant glob of silicone caulk which over time comes loose from the coaming floor, and if you are running any additional wires, or replacing, you are going to open it up. Mercury and Marine Max helped find this issue in my 1998 back in 2003. because of the quantity and diversity of wire types, there really isn't any other way to plug this hole except gooping the hell out of it. What really causes the issue, is after running the engines, you come to the dock, and run the air conditioners with maybe leaving the bilge blowers on but probably not. The a/c's create a vacuum, which pulls all of the engine room funk right into the cabin. I have left the boat on one afternoon, and come back the next day to a cabin full of engine room (gas, exhaust, bilge, you name it). It was always attributed to leaving the A/C's on during the summer.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Did some investigating today. Seems the previous owner had already thought of the foam tape to seal up the two hatches in the aft beadroom.
Also it seems on my 95 model that there's really noting to access on top of the tank from that hatch. The sending unit is towards the back of the tank. But it's clear both of those hatches need a good seal because air can flow directly from the engine room along the top of that fuel tank.
Not seeing much else to improve there, I think I'll place some caulk around the seams inside the closet that are other than the hatches.

The marina was busy today with temps in the 70s. While messing around with this issue a neighboring boat owner gave me some advice. Not sure how to take it. He put what I would call an "exhaust fan" in his bilge. It consists of a flat 4" square fan like I've seen on the back of computer towers or other electronics to cool them. He put the fan in the air opening that's opening opposite of the one that the bilge blowers are connected to. The opening that draws air in when the blowers are running. The fan runs off AC power and is very quiet. So quiet I couldn't hear it till I leaned my ear down to it. The fan sits about 3" away from the fiberglass opening, I suppose so not to block air intake when the blowers run. The owners claim is that the constant air drawn from the bilge while docked keeps any smells away that might otherwise seep into the cabin.

Thoughts from my fellow 370 owners??? He said he didn't come up with this idea. Got it from another boat owner...

Fan looked something like this
cb90ba2ce30d182c811087318adaa2eb.jpg



1995 370 Sundancer
 
TN370 said:
Did some investigating today. Seems the previous owner had already thought of the foam tape to seal up the two hatches in the aft beadroom.
Also it seems on my 95 model that there's really noting to access on top of the tank from that hatch. The sending unit is towards the back of the tank. But it's clear both of those hatches need a good seal because air can flow directly from the engine room along the top of that fuel tank.
Not seeing much else to improve there, I think I'll place some caulk around the seams inside the closet that are other than the hatches.

The marina was busy today with temps in the 70s. While messing around with this issue a neighboring boat owner gave me some advice. Not sure how to take it. He put what I would call an "exhaust fan" in his bilge. It consists of a flat 4" square fan like I've seen on the back of computer towers or other electronics to cool them. He put the fan in the air opening that's opening opposite of the one that the bilge blowers are connected to. The opening that draws air in when the blowers are running. The fan runs off AC power and is very quiet. So quiet I couldn't hear it till I leaned my ear down to it. The fan sits about 3" away from the fiberglass opening, I suppose so not to block air intake when the blowers run. The owners claim is that the constant air drawn from the bilge while docked keeps any smells away that might otherwise seep into the cabin.

Thoughts from my fellow 370 owners??? He said he didn't come up with this idea. Got it from another boat owner...

Fan looked something like this
cb90ba2ce30d182c811087318adaa2eb.jpg



1995 370 Sundancer
Click to expand...

Hope he has that installed in a boat with Diesel engines. That is definitely not something I would run around ignitable vapors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Prosideus said:
Hope he has that installed in a boat with Diesel engines. That is definitely not something I would run around ignitable vapors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thought about that. Not sure if his was, but I've seen that they can be purchased with sealed motors / ignition protected. Like standard blowers. 19 bucks on Amazon.


1995 370 Sundancer
 
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