Ballast Help... 21V for surfing

[pconnealy]

Fuel fumes and exhaust after adding new sac

Again, thank you everyone for your help. So we went out this weekend and added the new 900# sac and my wife and her little brother where a little learrry of the lean it produced. But, the result was better wave which was crisper and taller. But it was still not very long. So we will have to add some more weight to the front I think. We did have one issue though-

So after we added the new 900 V-Sac to the back right locker we started to bet some pretty heavy wafts of fuel fumes in the boat and exhaust while riding. Could the V-sac have caused this? Prevously, we had a little issue with exhaust fumes coming back into the boat but no real cause for alarm as we are not in a confined space. But, this weekend I could even smell gas fumes in the drivers seat and exhust while surfing. My brother-in-law who is 16, became tired and got a headace almost emediatly. I know about the FAE but, it never seems to be an issue while we are skiing only surfing. THOUGHTS?

[chpthril]

Are you smelling fuel (gasoline) or exhaust? Different paths will need to be fallowed.

[pconnealy]

So I think we are smelling both… I there was definitely a difference in the smell I was smelling in the boat and the smell everyone was complaining about while surfing. The fuel smell just made me worried that we causing the fuel to leak out because we had put some much pressure in the rear right compartment form the ballast bag. But, the exhaust fumes make everyone cranky and tired it seems…. Or could that just be the 103 degree heat we have here in Kansas.

[chpthril]

Raw fuel/gasoline vapor smells quite different then exhaust fumes. The heat of the day can and will cause excess evaporative emission from the fuel tank vent.Pop the fuel cap and take a sniff. This is raw fuel. if you are smelling this, you need to isolate the source. If its a leak, you need to address it. Fuel vapors are highly flammable. You can a leak creating vapor without leaving actual liquid fuel trace.

Exhaust fumes can stink depending on the types and amount of additives. But the one thing to remember is that CO (Carbon Monoxide) is odorless, tasteless and colorless and it the one that is dangerous. CO is what causes headaches and nausea, but you will never smell the levels of CO in the exhaust. A Fresh Air Exhaust (FAE) will help to divert the exhaust fumes and dangerous CO away from the rider, but its no substitute for a properly running engine. Excessive fumes can be a non-scientific indicator that the engine is not in proper tune.

[laserfish]

We put an FAE on ours. They are great, as the exhaust only gets to the surface long after the surfer has passed by so no more fume effects. Also much quieter. You can talk to your surfer. While I loved the deep rumble without it, the FAE is very practical for surfing and we wouldn't be without it.

[pconnealy]

Ok... So let me make this clear I'm from Kansas and grew up brush hogging my way through a cloud of dust. So yes i do know the difference between Fuel (unleaded/desael) and exhuast.

Still my question is why would the addition of weight to the port side of hte boat have an effect of the exhaust and what are the possible solutions.

[TigeTrojan]

The speed could have a lot to do with it too. You said you don't smell it while skiing, but that doesn't mean it's not leaking just the same. The difference is that at 28mph you are blowing those fumes out of the boat. The slow speed and added list could mean that one of your exhaust ports is above the waterline and at 10mph the fumes are swirling back into the boat.

Definitely follow what chpthril said. The gas fumes and the CO can be very, very dangerous.

[Ptown]

When you are sac'd out, you are typically making the engine work harder and that could have something to do with it too.

[pconnealy]

The speed could have a lot to do with it too. You said you don't smell it while skiing, but that doesn't mean it's not leaking just the same. The difference is that at 28mph you are blowing those fumes out of the boat. The slow speed and added list could mean that one of your exhaust ports is above the waterline and at 10mph the fumes are swirling back into the boat.

Definitely follow what chpthril said. The gas fumes and the CO can be very, very dangerous.

Has anyone else had issue? So to counter act that should I add some wieght to the none surf side to drop the exhaust.

[chpthril]

Ok... So let me make this clear I'm from Kansas and grew up brush hogging my way through a cloud of dust. So yes i do know the difference between Fuel (unleaded/desael) and exhuast.

Still my question is why would the addition of weight to the port side of hte boat have an effect of the exhaust and what are the possible solutions.

My apologies. I was not trying to insinuate that you did not know the difference between the two. I was just sharing some info for others that may have been fallowing along.

I do not see adding weight to surf directly causing a fuel leak. I would maybe suggest checking the hose clamps on the filler and vent lines. It may also be worth pulling the floor up and inspect the top of the tank for trace of a fuel leak. They tend to leave a dirt ring or stain after the liquid fuel evaporates

At slow speeds, the "station wagon" effect can be quite noticeable. The exhaust fumes will swirl around behind the boat. In some cases, they can be quite strong for the rear seated passengers.

[pconnealy]

Raw fuel/gasoline vapor smells quite different then exhaust fumes. The heat of the day can and will cause excess evaporative emission from the fuel tank vent.Pop the fuel cap and take a sniff. This is raw fuel. if you are smelling this, you need to isolate the source. If its a leak, you need to address it. Fuel vapors are highly flammable. You can a leak creating vapor without leaving actual liquid fuel trace.

Exhaust fumes can stink depending on the types and amount of additives. But the one thing to remember is that CO (Carbon Monoxide) is odorless, tasteless and colorless and it the one that is dangerous. CO is what causes headaches and nausea, but you will never smell the levels of CO in the exhaust. A Fresh Air Exhaust (FAE) will help to divert the exhaust fumes and dangerous CO away from the rider, but its no substitute for a properly running engine. Excessive fumes can be a non-scientific indicator that the engine is not in proper tune.

So what course of action would you advice I take this weekend?... I'm all ears.

1. (Boat out of tune)... We just took the boat into a local dealer that specializes in tow boats and had the entire boat services including a tune up. Could the dealer forgotten to put something back on or messed something up????
1. (Fuel smell)... Where should I start to look given that it only started after we started surfing? (FYI - I just found out that when my bother-in-law filled the boat up it overflowed on him... could that caused the raw fuel smell?)
2. (Exhaust)... aside from buying an FAE (which sound pretty cool)... what are my options?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts...thanks

[pconnealy]

My apologies. I was not trying to insinuate that you did not know the difference between the two. I was just sharing some info for others that may have been fallowing along.

I do not see adding weight to surf directly causing a fuel leak. I would maybe suggest checking the hose clamps on the filler and vent lines. It may also be worth pulling the floor up and inspect the top of the tank for trace of a fuel leak. They tend to leave a dirt ring or stain after the liquid fuel evaporates

At slow speeds, the "station wagon" effect can be quite noticeable. The exhaust fumes will swirl around behind the boat. In some cases, they can be quite strong for the rear seated passengers.

Chpthril... don't worry about it (i hate computers for this very reason)... Tone and Inflection. Thanks again for all your help.

[lfh]

So what course of action would you advice I take this weekend?... I'm all ears.

1. (Boat out of tune)... We just took the boat into a local dealer that specializes in tow boats and had the entire boat services including a tune up. Could the dealer forgotten to put something back on or messed something up????
1. (Fuel smell)... Where should I start to look given that it only started after we started surfing? (FYI - I just found out that when my bother-in-law filled the boat up it overflowed on him... could that caused the raw fuel smell?)
2. (Exhaust)... aside from buying an FAE (which sound pretty cool)... what are my options?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts...thanks

As far as the fuel smell, make sure you do not over fill the gas tank especially during hot days. The gas will expand and it has to go somewhere. This happened to a family member with a car after she over filled the tank. Gas was gushing out even though the gas cap was tight. Just make sure all your clamps are tight and don't over fill.