Posted by Bri on 06/06/07 - 11:53 AM
#1
I am a new owner of a 86 Outrage with a 115 EFI Merc on it. The boat came with a full tank of gas and the fuel gauge was at the extreme full mark. The boat vented some gas as the air temp heated up so I new the full mark was correct. I took the boat out for a couple of times and the needle stayed pegged on full after six to eight hours of running around. I tried to fuel the boat but after a couple of gallons, fuel came out the vent fitting. I thought the fill hose might be constricted at the elbow but all looked ok. Checking the elbow I noticed the fuel vent line going thru the hull but didn't like the method used to get the thru hull fitting thru the hull. It appears that three aprox. 3" holes were cut thru the interior hull fiberglass and foam in a horizontal line to allow for the thru hull fitting to fit thru the external hull fiberglass. The hole were not glassed up and bare foam is exposed. Is this how BW did the install ? Should I be conncerned about H2o intrusion here? Any info on the fuel guage and how it works? Should I remove it to see if it is stuck in the full position? Any tips on rate of fueling the Outrage?
Posted by Joe Kriz on 06/06/07 - 12:29 PM
#2
Brian,
The holes in the sides are the way Boston Whaler did it. I have seen many like this...
Here is a photo of Jeff's Outrage 22 and you can see the three 3" holes you mentioned....
[img]http://www.whalercentral.com/IMAGES/22%20outrage%20Floor%20repair%20small_files/image042.jpg[/img]
You need to fill the tank slowly... The first notch on the fuel pump handle usually works fine.
If the fuel does not want to go in at a slow rate, then you might want to replace your fuel fill hose and the vent hose. It is not that hard to do and you only have to remove the side panel and the small floor panel cover along with popping out 2 deck plates....
The fuel gauge runs magnetically. The arm that the magnet is on may be stuck inside the tank or the gauge needle itself is stuck... Rochester makes the fuel gauge.
Edited by Joe Kriz on 06/06/07 - 12:37 PM
Posted by Buckda on 06/06/07 - 6:31 PM
#3
The 18' Outrage fuel tank gauge shows full with about 12 gallons yet to pump....so if you did some slow running, it is possible that you haven't yet burned enough fuel to show on the gauge.
E-Components.net sells the gauge from Rochester at a pretty good price.
You may also want to check the fill and vent hoses, as Joe suggested to figure out the burp-back problem. For mine, it was a crimp in the fuel vent hose. Fix that and no more blow-back when filling her up!
Good luck! You have a great hull!
Dave