Grady208CT said:
Thanks Bob P.
I think the problem is my topping off. I checked everthing again today and no drips. When I opened access plate and stuck my nose as close to tank fittings as I could the gas smell is nominal if anything. You know you are smelling a gas tank but it is really more of a grimy smell than anything.
I will do the touch test on all fittings and then sleep well.
Stupid question (but here goes anyway): When I fill up, I turn off all electonics and kill the batteries so there is no chance of spark, but my gas gauge is electronic. Outside of hearing the gas gurgle as it comes up the fill line, how do you guys know when you are reasonably short of topping off? Do you count gallons?
That's a good question. It's tough to 'fill' up without overfilling. It is possible to estimate the amount of fuel that you will take and before you get to that amount, slow the fill and listen. You should be able to hear that point when the fuel hose start to fill and stop there. I don't think that I can estimate my fuel level to better than within 15 gallons of the 208's 80 gallon capacity. For what its worth, the Yami gauge blinks the lower bar as a low fuel warning. That happens with about 20 gallons still in the tank ( 1/4 full!)
If I add 10 gal of fuel, on average the gauge will display 1 additional bar when I stand at the helm. Note that this is not an exact science and is based om my boat, fuel sender , gear, etc.
Make sure everybody is out of the vessel.
With regard to shutting all electronics and the batteries, I know that is the usual approach for inboards but here is my problem with that practice. There is no bilge ventilator and therefore a much higher probability that a spark will be generated when you switch the batteries on. If there are fumes, an explosion is more likely.
So I open the rear battery covers , let the bilge air out and smell around before switching the batteries on.
Opening the fuel tank access cover every now and then and taking a good sniff is a good practice also