Osprey Help

Ian M · 09 December 2016, 18:10

Went out today to enjoy what might be the last of the warm weather. It really is great this time of year, no crowds, no hassle, and the bonus today was warm weather

Got back and cleaning the boat down I took out the hull drain plug and bugger, it was petrol that came out

Just a trickle mind

So, before I look at it, have any Osprey owners ever had any issues with the fuel tank?
Hopefully it is just a fuel line, but I thought it might be worth knowing if anyone has experienced what for me would be the worst possible outcome.
I guess this is one instance where I will be happy if no-one replies.

beerbelly · 09 December 2016, 19:05

nothing ever comes out of mine .you didn't maybe have a little spillage last time you re fuelled her ??

Ian M · 09 December 2016, 19:47

With the way that most Vipermax are laid out, it would be difficult for a fuel spillage to get into the hull void. But thanks for the reply (even if I was hoping for a nil response

)

willk · 09 December 2016, 19:56

I seem to recall that Mollers and a few of his disciples had problems with weepy gaskets on inspection hatches? I've experienced breakdown in old filler hoses too - so worth pouring in a few litres and inspecting the hose immediately after.

tubby8306 · 09 December 2016, 22:43

I have the same issue with my viper , i found that in a bit of a swell and the fuel tank is full the fuel leaks out of the sender unit on the fuel tank and ends up coming out the drain plug when i open it.
Its maybe worth a look.

Erin · 10 December 2016, 22:24

Never had an issue with mine. All the connections are above deck level in the console so if any gaskets or joints leaked the resultant fuel would end up in the console not the bilge. Is yours different?

Ian M · 10 December 2016, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Never had an issue with mine. All the connections are above deck level in the console so if any gaskets or joints leaked the resultant fuel would end up in the console not the bilge. Is yours different?

No, mine is as yours, all connections are within the sealed in lower section of the console, itself above deck. So, I think it must be either a fuel line issue within the below deck trunking (which has a drain hole into the hull void) or a serious structural failure of the tank itself. It was this last that I wanted to see if anyone has experienced such a thing. Knowing how well the rest of the boat has been made, I would be seriously shocked at a tank failure.

matt h · 11 December 2016, 16:58

Hmmmm, can you turn off the fuel feed isolator tap in the consol in case its the fuel line?

Erin · 11 December 2016, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

No, mine is as yours, all connections are within the sealed in lower section of the console, itself above deck. So, I think it must be either a fuel line issue within the below deck trunking (which has a drain hole into the hull void) or a serious structural failure of the tank itself.

Hopefully Occam's Razor will apply and it will be something simple like a perished or damaged fuel hose in the underdeck ducts.

gotchiguy · 12 December 2016, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

So, I think it must be either a fuel line issue within the below deck trunking (which has a drain hole into the hull void) .

I think this is probably the most likely. We had a leaky oil line a few years ago and there was always a bit of oil in the void.

If you have an access hatch looking down into the hull at the stern it might be an idea to see if there are any fuel stains where it has been running. There are a number of different points which drain into the central void, and establishing which one the fuel is coming from might allow you to eliminate the tank as the source.

bedajim · 12 December 2016, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

I seem to recall that Mollers and a few of his disciples had problems with weepy gaskets on inspection hatches? I've experienced breakdown in old filler hoses too - so worth pouring in a few litres and inspecting the hose immediately after.

Our glorious leader had his technician fix mine for me

It was a poor gasket as above

Ian if you need some I've got some gasket material

willk · 12 December 2016, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

Our glorious leader had his technician fix mine for me

Groomy?

bedajim · 12 December 2016, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Groomy?

No no no 😳

Ian M · 12 December 2016, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

Ian if you need some I've got some gasket material

Thanks Jim. I will let you know.

ViperAndy · 19 June 2020, 10:57

Sorry to dig this up, but I'm interested to hear what the outcome was.

I've just acquired a Viper 5.25 in pretty nice condition (for a freebie). It had been sat doing nothing, with fuel in the tank, for 8years. When I opened the bilge drain plug, a LOT of rain water came out, followed by one or two gallons of petrol.

It appears to be a fibreglass tank, although I can't be sure. Could this be osmosis? It was far too much to be leaky gaskets or filling issues. I think it is probably worth removing the under-deck fuel line and replacing it as it may have been sat there with fuel in it this whole time, but once I've done this I'm committed to a possible nightmare trying to get new fuel line in there.

Interested in people thoughts... Could a perished fuel line under the deck be responsible for siphoning fuel into the bilge?

Andy

Erin · 19 June 2020, 19:46

My 2008 Osprey certainly has a fibreglass fuel tank. I would imagine there is a good chance a perished fuel line would allow fuel to syphon out into the bilges. Perhaps before pulling a new fuel line through you could disconnect both ends of the existing line and pressure test it.

ViperAndy · 19 June 2020, 22:42

That's Good idea, think I'll do that. The end of the fuel line that I can see don't appear perished but they are very rigid. Not sure if that's normal.

pilotwillie · 19 June 2020, 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViperAndy

Sorry to dig this up, but I'm interested to hear what the outcome was.

I've just acquired a Viper 5.25 in pretty nice condition (for a freebie). It had been sat doing nothing, with fuel in the tank, for 8years. When I opened the bilge drain plug, a LOT of rain water came out, followed by one or two gallons of petrol.

It appears to be a fibreglass tank, although I can't be sure. Could this be osmosis? It was far too much to be leaky gaskets or filling issues. I think it is probably worth removing the under-deck fuel line and replacing it as it may have been sat there with fuel in it this whole time, but once I've done this I'm committed to a possible nightmare trying to get new fuel line in there.

Interested in people thoughts... Could a perished fuel line under the deck be responsible for siphoning fuel into the bilge?

Andy

Welcome, nice wee RIB u got yourself there [emoji6][emoji1303]
Sorry to hear about your current issue. Mine has a stainless tank with the fittings sitting slightly above the deck inside the console, but appreciate that doesn’t help you out.
Fuel hoses should be fairly flexible so certainly sounds like yours is past it’s sell by date. Best to replace whether it’s leaky now or not. Before you pull anything (fuel line, cable, wiring) out of the underdeck trunking it’s good practice to attach a draw wire/rope to the other end to allow you to pull a new line back through. The trunking may already have one pre-rigged by previous owner.