Water and fuel don't Mix

John S · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:52 pm Post subject:

I was never looking for something that would allow me to walk away from an unattended fueling.

I just needed a venting system that doesn't admit water into the fuel system. I chose the above vent because it claimed to not dribble fuel out of the vent when the tank was full as a bonus.

Instead, fuel shoots out around the nozzle even while hand fueling fast or slow speed with this particular Attwood vent.

Still looking for the best vent system to install in my current vent location, which is in a splash zone.

tsturm · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject:

John S · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject:

CAVU · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject:

I don't know how the tank on a tomcat is positioned but on the 22, the plastic tanks and their shape create a problem for filling. The top of the tank is not flat. At least on my boat it is slightly warped and bulged in places. When filling I stand on the side being filled and the boat lists toward that side. As the tank approaches full any slight movement or wake can cause the fuel to slosh over toward the fill and vent lines which are close together and you get the familiar burp of fuel out either the vent line or fill opening. The only reliable solution I have found is to move ice chests or crewmembers to the opposite side and attempt to create a slight list away from the filler. This seems to insure a good fill unless you get a little wake at the fuel dock.

rogerbum · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject:

John S · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

Problem Resolved:

Just wanted to update this situation. We finally resolved it, I think. Last week I replaced the entire intake assembly on my BF-90 that had drank all the salt water. This include four brand new carbs, intake manifold, etc., etc. $1300. You wouldn't believe all the crap that salty water inside of carbs can make. We started the season off with floats sticking multiple times. A carb main jet plugging. Our Honda shop attempted to clean up one of the carbs before giving up and recommending full replacement.

To stop the water from coming in I've moved the tank vents to the same place as EVERY OTHER Tomcat I've ever seen and I went thru ALL the photos I could find. Some Dumba** at the factory decided to drill the holes for mine below the rubrail instead of above it like EVERY other Tomcat I've seen. I changed out C-Dory's straight vent hose for a longer piece of looped hose and the problem seems to be solved.

(Interesting note, I stopped to talk with a C-Dory rep at the Seattle Boat Show about my water problem and VERY soon after he escorted me off to a booth selling tackle to show me his favorite flasher and see me off)

I should have know something was going on when I bought the boat from the previous owner and there were 4 bottles of STP Water Treatment on board the boat that came with it.

By the way I got rid of the fancy vents with a P-trap built into them that caused fuel to literally shoot out from around the nozzle and went back to the standard chrome vent with the two holes directed downward.

I'm happy to have this issue behind us.

Chester · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

You can use the fuel line to siphon the tank. Find a piece of plastic to hold the check valve ball open on the motor end of the fuel line. The red straw that comes with WD-40 will work. Prime the line with the squeeze bulb and let it trickle into a container, it is a slow process. You prolly already know this, keep the engine end of the bulb up when you squeeze it.
After you empty the tank pour a couple gallons of clean fuel into the tank and siphon it out again, repeat untill no more water comes out.
Good luck.