Bilge venting on newer 23' CC

Sleeto · #1 10-30-2004, 08:29 AM

My 23 CC is an '89 built by Tracker. They have eliminated the 4 rectangular vents in the hull. How is the bilge vented without these vents? I just had a fuel spill into the bilge and realized that venting is an important issue with internal gas tanks.

Sleeto · #2 11-01-2004, 09:41 AM

OK, let me ask this differently. How can I vent the bilge on my 23 CC SC??

Capt Chuck · #3 11-01-2004, 10:21 AM

Paul

If I'm not mistaken the inner liner is still the same and has the raceway where the original venting took place from the outside? If so you could cut through outside as the old hulls or install a vent in the raceway inside under the gunnels.

I've shown you a possible area with black tape in the picture [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Sleeto · #4 11-01-2004, 07:06 PM

Capt. Chuck,

Thanks for the photo and response. I don't have any areas as wide as the one shown on your pic, but I think at least you have given me a place to start.

Anyone with a newer boat, or someone who has sealed the original vents should be concerned. I had a defective fuel guage which caused me to pump too much gasoline into the tank without getting anything out of the overflow. There was a leak at the sending unit at the top of the tank, and 5 gallons of gasoline went into the bilge over a 24 hour period. Fortunately this happened while the boat was out of the water and I could drain the bilge into a bucket.

But, this is still a very large problem if the bilge is not vented. I shut the batteries down, cut open the gas tank hatch and left everything open for 2 days.

Miles Offshore · #5 11-01-2004, 07:20 PM

blizzard- are there any vents in your console??? There are 4 in mine- 2 in the front in addition one port and starboard on the console itself. these in addition to the 4 on the hull. I cannot believe there are not any hull vents at alld. The way I read the cg requirements they are mandatory. (i know we went through this before). Anyways I'd be scared as hell, sounds like you have done the best you can- not even a bilge blower on that boat??? Thats unreal- anyone else have a boat that doesnt have a blower on it??? (another law that was effective around 1980 I think, for all i/o's and ib's) please be careful- craig [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

ocuyler · #6 11-01-2004, 07:53 PM

Blizzard,

I have the same model and year as you. I am 1/2 way through this restoration and at the point where I have replaced the fuel tank and have yet to replace the panal that covers it. The old tank was foamed in and soaked with gas. The fill hose was cracked and leaking, as was the sending unit, as you indicated. I see no means of venting it, as the tank was in compartment between the stringers with bulkheads on each end and only 1" open space on top.

There are the raceway accesses on either side, but that hardly would be considered a vent.

I installed the new tank via the Pascoe method so there is some air flow under the tank. I addition, I drilled 1" diameter holes in the front and back bulkheads as well as the bottom ply to encourage drainage (water or gas). All that was primarily an excersize to keep the wood dry.

There is still no means of positive air flow. I've never seen an outboard boat with a blower. My 2003 Whaler is basicaly the same design.

You bring up an interesting subject and I'm not sure what I'll do about it. The default, of course, is to do nothing and just be sure that all the fill and vent hoses are well connected, the tank is properly grounded, etc. I'm moving the batteries to the cooler space under the front space to keep weight forward and isolate them from the rest of the boat.

I would not like to cut holes in the boat to add vents, but will be following the thoughts that this thread will inevitably evoke.

Doghouse4x4 · #7 11-02-2004, 06:22 PM

Does anybody know the year they did away with the vents? My '87 has them still.

ocuyler · #8 11-02-2004, 09:05 PM

Well, it's either 88 or 89...

Sleeto · #9 11-18-2004, 07:12 AM

I have been thinking about this venting problem for a while and believe this is the best solution: Put a clamshell type vent on either side of the console, intake facing forward and exhaust facing aft. Put an electric blower on the exhaust side and run the ducts thru the top of the hatch over the fuel tank, inside the console. This puts the vents in the middle of the tank area and puts the clamshells in a place high enough to reach air (I do not have room on the aft deck).

My only concern is whether this will allow salt spray to get into the top of the tank and accelerate tank corrosion. The tank on my boat is ok, I guess because the boat was a fresh water boat that was trailered and kept inside.

Finster · #10 11-18-2004, 09:07 AM

I don'think I would be too concerned with a bilgde blower on an OB. They put them on i/o's and gas ib's to avoid back flash threw the carbs. It's has nothing to do with venting the fuel tank. The SC's have the vents in the hull to dry out condinsation. With the lack of foam in the hull condinsation will collect.

If your constintly finding fuel in your bildge venting should be the least of your worries.