Fuel smell puzzle

[Capt Jerry]

I took out my Carver 355 aft cabin this past weekend. Things were going so well I told my wife, hey- I don't want to jinx anything but everything is going great! You know what happened. We got back to the pier, tied up, went into town for dinner and returned about an hour later. The cabin reeked of gasoline. There was no smell whatsoever when we left. I opened the hatches, checked the bilge - no fuel present, and more puzzling, little or no smell in the engine compartment.

We closed the cabin up, went home, and came back the next morning. No smell at all. I called my regular boat mechanic who put a pressure test on the fuel tanks to try to find a leak. No smell at all when he checked and no leaks. Anyone have any ideas?

[svHyLyte]

Perhaps someone moored close by may have had a fuel leak that allowed vapors into you boat. We had a diesel stench at one point that proved to be from a boat directly across the fairway from us. He had a fuel leak into his bilge that resulted in fuel contaminated water to be discharged off his transom. With an easterly wind blowing our way, the stench came right through our companionway. Discovered the source the follow AM.

FWIW...

[Keelcooler]

How did your mechanic preform the test?
If he detached the vent at the tank and plugged same he missed the vent connection thru hull fitting and hose.
Heavy gas fumes in cabin after running and none in bilge might suggest splash out leakage fill or vent hoses or fittings.
Some or all may have not been subjected to pressure during the testing.

[Capt Jerry]

Thanks for the suggestion. I can check with the mechanic and find out.