Bonehead mistake

D

drob

New Member
Sep 24, 2007
141
Buzzards Bay
Boat Info
310 Sundancer
Engines
350 Mercruiser
Just left the marina after trying to fill up the water tank. Unfortunately, it wasn't the water tank but one of the fuel tanks. :smt021Ended up putting in about 40 gallons into a 100 gallon tank. I know i'm not the first and won't be the last (like that makes me feel better). What is the best way to solve the problem? I did shut off the fuel line. I had one person tell me to just put in about 4 cans of dry gas, that seems way to easy.
 
I don't think that you can find enough dry gas to soak up 40 gallons. Personally I would probably try to pump it myself out into gas containers then dispose of the containers. (Have no idea where). That's me, but I know of dozens of people who would blow themselves up doing this because the don't know what they are doing. By your signature photo it looks like you got a nice family nice boat maybe you should ask your Marina for help, I'm sure they have seen this happen before.
 
You are not the only bonehead. I did that about 8-9years ago when I was in the 1000 islands. Had to have the boat pulled. The tank had to be pumped out and the gasoline disposed of (according to Canadian enviromental rules). They put some more gas in it. Ran it and changed the water sep. filter twice. They probably put some dry gas in it - don't know, just paid :smt009
 
Let professionals handle this one. Don't mess with trying to pump that tank out. Yes, it will cost some $$$, but better that than blowing the boat up. I wouldn't touch it.
 
Extremely dangerous situation. Do not short-cut this (not saying you would). Have a pro handle it.
 
My buddy put 50 gallons of gas in a water tank so I know it can happen.




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Did this 12 years or so ago on a 270/290 Sundancer - lessons learned from what I did (sure there are better ways):
1) have someone pump out the gas tank.
2) Because of baffles in tank, will still have water trapped in tank - so do not fill tank (I made this mistake).
3) Go get 3-4 new fuel filters (fuel/water separators)
4) Put in some gas and run engine ... will die eventually due to water.
5) Pull fuel filter, dump water into clear glass container to see how much water, and put back on - run engine (more than idle needed in many cases - go run and slosh tank araound - be prepared for engine to die due to water)
Keep repeating 5 until gas is gone ... then repeat 4 & 5. and keep extra fuel filters in boat and check / dump water / replace after running until no water in fuel separators
Was not fun and ruined vacation ... just my 2 cents ... good luck.
 
I had a friend pump about 75 gallons of water into one of my gas tanks on my 330 'Dancer many years ago. I switched to the good tank while I figured out a way to get rid of the water.

Remembering that the gas would float to the top and the gas pickup is near the bottom of the tank, I hooked the pump I used to change the oil (it's powered by a rechargeable hand-held drill) to the fuel outlet hose and ran the outlet hose out the stern of the boat. It pumped water overboard for almost an hour before any signs of gas started showing up downstream from us. (Yeah, I know I was probably violating hundreds of EPA laws). When the first signs of gas started to show up we disconnected the drill/pump and reconnected the fuel line to the tank. I went through 3 water fuel separators before we got the last of the water out of the tank.

We didn't need to pull the tank or call in the experts or any of the many things mentioned above. A simple fix took care of the problem.

GFC
 
Water is heavier than gas so it will be in the bottom of the tank. If you can get a hose down into the tank to the bottom you should be able to siphon it out if the boat is on the hard or use a drill driven pump as GFC used if it's still in the water. Pump the water into 5 gal cans until you start to get fuel. Add some dry gas as per the instruction for proper ratio mix, install a new fiter and turn the engine over until it starts. You will need to replace the fuel filters a couple time but once the engine starts you should be good.

If you have the least bit of apprehension about this then let the pro's handle it. Even after a pro fix I would keep extra fuel filters on board for any water that may remain.
 
My old partner did this on our '89 340 a few years back.
We ran the boat to a Marina on the Calumet River her near Chicago.
Family friends.

They lifted the boat partially out of the water.
Ran a line into the tank after taking the sender unit off.
Pumped the tank as dry as they could into a couple of 55 gal barrels and put us back in the water.
We refilled that tank and just changed the filters once a week for the next month.

He never did put water in the holding tanks after that.

My advice, let the pros do the work.
A lot cheaper than replacing the boat if there is an accident.
Dan
 
I talked with the marina this morning and I am having them take care of the problem. It does have to be pulled because you can't do anything with fuel on the docks. I should be all set for next weekend. Going to love replacing the fuel fiters, nothing like the smell of gasoline. Guy next to me did this a few years ago. I think I'm going to get some big stickers saying "GASOLINE" next to the two inlet caps.
 
Some good and some bad advice on this thread. As always, if you don't know what you are doing, hire someone who does. And a corollary to that, if you think you know what you are doing, hire someone who really does.

Nearly all gasolines sold in the U.S. contain ethanol in concentrations of up to 10%. Ethanol is miscible in gasoline. It also has an affinity for water. Introduce water into ethanol containing gasoline and the water and alcohol will mix and settle out. Since a significant portion of the fuel's octane rating comes from ethanol, if one attempts to titrate off the water, one also removes the alcohol and a number of points of octane rating. If now ethanol-free fuel is burned, a significant detonation condition could exist within the cylinders causing severe piston, valve, and head damage.
 
Frank, very true unless you displace the water removed with fuel and add the proper ratio of additive. I did not state to add fuel once the water is removed as I took it for granted the fuel would be topped off. I will try to remember to no take any steps for granted in the future. I have stated in other posts that we require accurate advise on this site. Good catch on your part!

As always thanks for the input
 
My ex-wife would be considered a BONEHEAD too!!!! She pumped 30-40 gal of water into the starboard tank 5 days before crossing Lake Michigan!!! I hand pumped 30 gals or so of the mixture out until I finally had to go to a masterbaters anonymous session!!!! Finally called in dealer who drained ou the "fuel" from the line at the fuel filter until gas started coming out. This $150-200 cost plus having a few extra filters on board was well worth the sanity knowing we wouldn't have problems in the middle of the lake!! No, this did not CAUSE the divorce!!!
 
OldSkool said:
Water is heavier than gas so it will be in the bottom of the tank. If you can get a hose down into the tank to the bottom you should be able to siphon it out if the boat is on the hard or use a drill driven pump as GFC used if it's still in the water. Pump the water into 5 gal cans until you start to get fuel. Add some dry gas as per the instruction for proper ratio mix, install a new fiter and turn the engine over until it starts. You will need to replace the fuel filters a couple time but once the engine starts you should be good.

If you have the least bit of apprehension about this then let the pro's handle it. Even after a pro fix I would keep extra fuel filters on board for any water that may remain.
Click to expand...

Drill!!!! Most Drills produce a spark. I would not advice you use a drill. Thats just me.
 
ardeprint said:
Drill!!!! Most Drills produce a spark. I would not advice you use a drill. Thats just me.
Click to expand...

Please read my full post. I was agreeing with GFC as he stated "(it's powered by a rechargeable hand-held drill) to the fuel outlet hose and ran the outlet hose out the stern of the boat." Yet you decide to bust my chops?

I do believe I posted "Sounds like a wise decision on both the repair and the decal!" when he stated he would have a pro do it and add the decal but you must have missed it on your way to posting your comments.

I try to read all the posts from a person before I pick one statement and run with it. But that's just me.
 
This is one of my fears and why I always check which cap is open no matter who is fuelling the boat. I may appear a pedantic PITA when I ask them not to start puming until I check but I figure prevention is better than cure. When at a marina doing some maintenance on a friends boat I once had a fellow come up and ask if I knew how to fit the pump out adapter onto his boat - to find his son had the gas tank cap open and waiting.
 
Being at a dock with other boats, I did not want to and its against the marina's rules to do anything with fuel there as far as pumping out and filling. I do know some people that run over to a gas station nearby and do this. I would hate to see the fallout from that, saving $0.60 per gallon...
 
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