petroleum smell

[neil]

I have a cutwater 24c since August and have this type of smell for the last 8 weeks. It’s definitely not a gas smell. I’ve tried opening up all the windows, baking soda, and an air filtration unit with no help.....any suggestions?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

I have a couple of questions/clarifications that would be helpful to know for i and or others to help out. Is your C24 and outboard engine? Is the odor occurring only when the engine is running? If you’ve been away from the boat for a while do you notice the odor upon your return? Have you checked your bilge to witness any oil contamination in that area? Does your boat have a diesel heater? If so check for fuel leaks. Is it possibly an odor from the holding tank?

Jim F

 

[neil]

It is an outboard. The smell occurs all the time. I may have isolated it to the port bilge area but not 100% sure. No diesel heater. If I take the boat out and open all the windows it smells fine. It’s when it’s closed up.

 

[Admiral S]

Check your shower sump and make sure you do not have a science project growing. That would align to your detecting the smell in the bilge.

 

[Rocky]

On a previous boat (not RT or CW) I had a smell similar to what you described - smells petroleum or chemical in nature, but not really like gas. Mine was a cracked fuel fill connecting hose at the fuel filler nozzle. It was a gas smell, just very faint.

I hope that helps.

Rocky

 

[BB marine]

You may have water trapped in the storage area. If the C24 is built similar to the R23 which I believe it is.


This photo was taken from Baz's photo album. He has a lot of good photos of the Ranger build process.
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=51467&g2_imageViewsIndex=1


You will see there are limber holes, PVC pipe glassed into the hulls grid (stringer) the drains are to allow water that leaks into the compartments to drain to the center bilge. If the limber holes are plugged the water will sit in the low spots and over time get stagnate and smell. If the wood used in the storage compartment stays wet because of water under it. Over a period of time it will start to rot this too can give off an odor. Find and check the limber holes through out the boat confirm they are not plugged. This may or may not be your issue but regardless it is a good idea to make sure they are clean.

 

[neil]

Thank you for all the good responses. Turns out even though I never used the head or shower, pumping out the waste cured the problem. Never knew you had to do this since the above was never used.....learn something new every day.

 

[BradOwens]

If you have air conditioning, I believe the condensation drains into the shower sump, but that should pump out automatically. If the head has never been used, I don't think there would be anything to pump out from the holding tank.