Gas Fumes?

[Mikey no fish]

I recently bought a 1998 seaswirl striper dual console. I notice a slight smell of gas fumes in the forward compartments. It is a outboard so their is no blower. I pulled the floor up and checked all the fittings. No leaks in the tank, no fuel in the bilge. It really seems impossible that the smell could escape the tank.
Has anyone else had this problem. If so is their a fix or is this normal. Once I open the compartments for a few minutes the smell is gone but it is fairly strong when I first open them.
Thanks for any help

[AlK]

Check to make sure that you have a good seal around the fuel sender. It may need a new gasket or some of the screws may be loose . Also make sure that the fuel vent line is not blocked. Another possibility is a very slow leak around the fuel filter. Make sure you find out the source of the problem - or you could end up with a very serious situation.

[namu mac]

Check the vent hose.

[fishkisser]

Make sure an extra fuel hose for your outboard is not stowed somewhere ...

[Undertaker]

Originally Posted by AlK

Check to make sure that you have a good seal around the fuel sender...

Agreeed. On mine, I found that when the tank was full, there was one self-tap screw on the fuel sender that you could see gas slowly bubbling up on. Appears to have been stripped out at the factory.
Ended up making new rubber gaskets for all of them and went one size up on the self tap screws and my gas smell is gone.

[Mikey no fish]

Thanks guys.
I checked everything and cant find the source so I am going to take it to my mechanic.
Appreciate the help

[wheatie]

My alum. tank just sprung a leak from corrosion this summer, but when it really started to leak I had fuel in my bilge.