Fuel spitting up

[CTsalt12]

Okay so I filled her up for the first time since buying from PO this weekend.  It was just about on empty.

The fuel was shooting up towards the fuel fill cap and taking what seemed to me to be an abnormal amount of time to settle and flow downwards.  It's a 30 gallon tank and this was happening after only putting a few gallons in.  What could be the source of this? The fuel vent is not clogged on the exterior of the hull at least, and the tank itself was replaced somewhat recently.  

Also, I took a break from filling at one point, and someone moved to the other side of the boat and fuel shot right out of the fill.

Any ideas?

[gran398]

She ain't venting.

We've dealt with this before. Check for a constriction/kink in the vent line. Also make sure the line is a straight, direct run....not up and then down.

[GoneFission]

Push a wire down the vent - sometimes spiders or wasps get in there and clog it up.     Of course, if it's clogged, now you will have some dirt in the tank...   :x   Did you change the filter yet?  

[CTsalt12]

The filter is the screen-like object at the end of the fuel vent outside of the hull, correct?  I will check that today but I think it's kosher.

As for a kink in the fuel vent...Uh oh.  Not sure how I can check that other than peeking inside the access plate...Or taking out my fuel tank floor cover...I really do not want to do that.  The only way to check the whole vent line would be to  take it out and take the floor cover off, correct?

I'm going to try and put more fuel in today..  As always, thanks for the advice guys.

[CTsalt12]

Well. You were right. Kink in the fuel vent tubing right where it meets the fuel tank.

What can I do here?  I really don't want to take off the console and seat. Althouh it's probably gonna have to happen.

Any tips on getting the kink out?

[gran398]

Welcome to the world of boat ownership

Yep, you will need to deal with it...now.

That boat spitting raw gas is a health hazard, not to mention a serious liability at a redneck Blo-N-Go.

The fuel filters referred to are the spin off types, they look like oil filters. Most of the time they are located near the stern. Sometimes covered in a box, sometimes not. You are referring to the screen on the outside vent line. It keeps insects out, as CJ mentioned.

If you can reach the kink...take a longer, larger diameter piece of hose/ rigid tubing, split longitudinally, and snap it over the kinked hose, forming a splint of sorts. Then ty-wrap it (not too tight) and you should be good to go.

[John Jones]

If you can reach the kink...take a longer, larger diameter piece of hose/rigid tubing, split longitudinally, and snap it over the kinked hose, forming a splint of sorts. Then ty-wrap it (not too tight) and you should be good to go.

My kind of engineering.  

[gran398]

Sound good on paper anyhow JJ

While we are on the subject of fuel vent lines....mistakenly gave some wrong info earlier.

Advised  not to turn the vent line up, then down, within the side hull.

Boatbuilder/rebuilder says exactly the opposite. Proper boat building calls for the vent line to rise up to near the gunnel....then curve downward...then fall back to the vent. Minimizing water intrusion into the tank while banging in a seaway. Gravity hopefully will remove the upward-forced water before it enters the tank.