Water in fuel tank compartment

[Michael Guzzo]

So today I was cleaning my boat and realized that there were some leaves getting into the fuel tank compartment. I opened the hatches and took the lid off for the 1st time and did not like what I saw. There is about 6 inches of water in the compartment and turning the bilge on does not do anything. The bilge just shuts right off because it is not detecting any water.

Should this compartment ever have water in it and if so is this an area that the bilge should be emptying? So much to learn about this boat!

Thank you!

 

[haknslash]

Make sure you pulled your fuel compartment drain plug, otherwise the water won't run to the bilge area. When you wash the boat you should pull all plugs so that the water in each compartment will drain to the bilge. Most makes it to the scupper but some will make it into the compartments.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

I leave all the plugs out except the drain plug when boating Lol.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Might have to raise the trailer tongue to get the water to flow to the stern.

 

[buckbuck]

I am like @AZDANSX230HO
I never put any of the compartment plugs in. Let it all drain to the bilge is my motto.

 

[Scottintexas]

if you have leaves in there they might have clogged up your exit not allowing the water to flow thru

 

[Michael Guzzo]

Ah yes was not aware that there was a plug in there but it makes sense. So I havn't had a chance to uncover the boat and find it but I assume the plug is easy to find? Is it in the same spot as the plug in the ski locker (middle back)?

 

[Michael Guzzo]

Also, it was looking pretty grimey in there. Is it acceptable to hose that whole compartment down or are their some things that shouldn't be getting wet? I thought I may have saw some electronics now that I think about it.

 

[Scottintexas]

in mine, there is a plug in the ski locker that lets water drain to the fuel tank area and there is a plug on the forward wall of the engine compartment that lets water flow out of the fuel tank area,

You should be ok spraying it down, just don't go crazy and try to avoid your fuel pump/sender area, There shouldn't be any wiring or components on the bottom of that area, probably just a wiring loom running across the top of the fuel tank,

 

[Scottintexas]

maybe take some weed eater line/pipe cleaner or bottle brush and push it from the engine compartment forward to see if it's blocked,

 

[ncnmra]

There was debate a while back about plugs in or out. I guess the idea is to have separate compartments so that if one floods, it won't affect the others. However, I got fed up with constantly opening the plugs, and just leave them all open. On my boat, taking the fuel tank hatch off is a chore (there are 13 bolts, which I had to fight like hell with to remove initially), and I too was shocked as to how much water was in the fuel area this year because I forgot the plug in the back for this compartment. I suppose that this could be a huge problem if you forget about it for the winter!