Gas in water line - need advice!

Freshwatermer · Jul 3, 2018

A few days ago the stupid gas dock attendant put gas in our water tank!!

After solvents and multiple flushes, it still stinks horribly like gas when the tap is opened and our skin burns when we touch it.

The manager of the marina says it's no big deal and a good flush should fix it, only it hasn't and it's not. We've gotten to full flush #8, and 3 times with a water conditioner the marina owner pulled out.

Many others at the marina and the insurance company say our water system is ruined and every single part needs to be replaced for it to be made safe.

Has anyone had to deal with this? What should we do?

love2speed · Jul 3, 2018

Your marina manager is a liar. This happened to someone at my marina and the whole system had to be replaced. Sorry dont have better news for you. I would get on them right away to make this right for you. Also call your insurance.

Pascal · Jul 4, 2018

Never ever let a fuel dock attendant pump fuel on his own. Never. I have them pass me the nozzle and I do it unless I know the guy and he is familiar with the boat.

The tank is probably what you need to replace. Assuming it s poly tank and significant amount has ended up inside it won’t clean up. Also, since gas is lighter whatever gas was put in contaminated the top of the tank which is impossible to flush.

The hoses and fixture should be fine assuming the gas was pumped out and not ran thru the pump and lines

olderboater · Jul 4, 2018

If it's my boat, everything is being replaced. Right now I'd take the dockmaster on board and offer him a glass of water. Question answered when he either refuses it or ends up in hospital. Seriously, I wouldn't let him actually drink it. I would not accept anything short of total replacement.

We have a fueling and water ritual. It requires walking to the pump and identifying out loud what is about to be pumped and at the boat identifying out loud again what is in the hose and what is written on the opening it's about to be inserted in. We also will in many places do a quick test of the fuel. Good habits and even going over the top with the procedures help avoid mistakes. We would never allow a dock hand to just grab a hose and start pumping but we don't do it that way ourselves, either. All fills are clearly labeled on both the fill and right above or beside it.

ranger58sb · Jul 5, 2018

If this had "happened" to us... I'd consider it to have been my fault.

-Chris

Freshwatermer · Jul 5, 2018

Pascal said: ↑

Never ever let a fuel dock attendant pump fuel on his own. Never. I have them pass me the nozzle and I do it unless I know the guy and he is familiar with the boat.

The tank is probably what you need to replace. Assuming it s poly tank and significant amount has ended up inside it won’t clean up. Also, since gas is lighter whatever gas was put in contaminated the top of the tank which is impossible to flush.

The hoses and fixture should be fine assuming the gas was pumped out and not ran thru the pump and lines
Click to expand...

Thanks! That's a great point you made about the top of the tank!! I started to fill up the tank at the dock after we were out for a couple of days, and I'm sure it got chemically scorched again in the process. It's now been "flushed" by marina management 3x and it still stinks like fuel. All he is doing is adding detergent and bleach....so far it's been a wasted effort.

As for the suggestion to pump our own - I wish!! It's actually illegal here in Ontario, Canada, however, since the incident the marina manager changed the rules so that patrons will now open their own gas caps for filling.

Freshwatermer · Jul 5, 2018

olderboater said: ↑

If it's my boat, everything is being replaced. Right now I'd take the dockmaster on board and offer him a glass of water. Question answered when he either refuses it or ends up in hospital. Seriously, I wouldn't let him actually drink it. I would not accept anything short of total replacement.

We have a fueling and water ritual. It requires walking to the pump and identifying out loud what is about to be pumped and at the boat identifying out loud again what is in the hose and what is written on the opening it's about to be inserted in. We also will in many places do a quick test of the fuel. Good habits and even going over the top with the procedures help avoid mistakes. We would never allow a dock hand to just grab a hose and start pumping but we don't do it that way ourselves, either. All fills are clearly labeled on both the fill and right above or beside it.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your input! It's becoming clear now that a full water system replacement is our only option. As I mentioned in another reply, the marina manager has now "flushed" the system 3x with detergent and bleach and it's been useless.

olderboater · Jul 5, 2018

I would insist on the marina's insurance information and also give it to my insurer. Since the marina manager has shown himself to not be receptive to doing the right thing, I would now toss in one other thing for his consideration and that is the loss of use of your boat. While it's not something your own insurer would cover, in a liability case versus the marina it is absolutely something they are liable for so they'd be very smart to have you get estimates and then get the work started. This is a critical time of year for your usage but also a difficult time to get work done quickly. The marina manager has already wasted too much time.

Freshwatermer · Jul 5, 2018

An update: yesterday the marina manager and our insurance guy showed up. The marina manager is mostly in denial about the extensive damage but remains committed to bleaching the crap out of our system until it smells ok.

I did some reading the night before about how gasoline reacts with various plastics. Apparently because they are so molecularly similar, gasoline acts like a solvent with many plastics and completely penetrates the material and permanently becomes a part of it - if it doesn't completely destroy it! Then there's the issue of the material weakening and cracking at an as yet undetermined future date. Every washer, seal, membrane, hose, connection in the system is now likely compromised. It is plastic-gasoline soup in there.

The insurance guy had some great advice though, so hopefully everything will work out.

Beau · Jul 5, 2018

olderboater said: ↑

I would insist on the marina's insurance information and also give it to my insurer. Since the marina manager has shown himself to not be receptive to doing the right thing, I would now toss in one other thing for his consideration and that is the loss of use of your boat. While it's not something your own insurer would cover, in a liability case versus the marina it is absolutely something they are liable for so they'd be very smart to have you get estimates and then get the work started. This is a critical time of year for your usage but also a difficult time to get work done quickly. The marina manager has already wasted too much time.
Click to expand...

Ditto this position, I've heard of other similar experiences and the marina stepped up to the plate.

Freshwatermer · Jul 5, 2018

olderboater said: ↑

I would insist on the marina's insurance information and also give it to my insurer. Since the marina manager has shown himself to not be receptive to doing the right thing, I would now toss in one other thing for his consideration and that is the loss of use of your boat. While it's not something your own insurer would cover, in a liability case versus the marina it is absolutely something they are liable for so they'd be very smart to have you get estimates and then get the work started. This is a critical time of year for your usage but also a difficult time to get work done quickly. The marina manager has already wasted too much time.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much! We're already on it. Unfortunately this couldn't happen at a worse time. We plan our yearly vacation to coincide with the biggest boater party on Lake Erie. The strategy is that we will pack jugs of potable water and go out anyway... the water will sit and marinate, and by next week the next steps will solidify. I will try to get back on here to offer an update.

olderboater · Jul 5, 2018

It's not just potable water. Do not shower in the water in the tanks. Perhaps inform them they're responsible for renting or chartering you a boat....lol. Be careful.

Beau · Jul 5, 2018

Freshwatermer said: ↑

Thanks so much! We're already on it. Unfortunately this couldn't happen at a worse time. We plan our yearly vacation to coincide with the biggest boater party on Lake Erie. The strategy is that we will pack jugs of potable water and go out anyway... the water will sit and marinate, and by next week the next steps will solidify. I will try to get back on here to offer an update.
Click to expand...

In the meantime you might try dawn detergent in a full tank of water and then take it out for a run on some nice bumpy water to agitate the soap in the tank. Probably will take several rinses to get the soap out. Still won't be potable water though, imo. What is the capacity of the tank?

GhostriderIII · Aug 2, 2018

Dawn Platnium works when nothing else will.

Beau · Aug 2, 2018

I would hope by now the marina stepped up and corrected its error with no cost to you.

rpontual · Aug 3, 2018

This is a terrible event, I had some ideas and I am listing them here just in case:

1) remove the water pump
2) find a away to connect a hose to the water line (at the pump location) that connects with the various faucets.
3) open the faucets and and the hose water and let it flush the system. make sure to open the hot water as well to flush everything.

If this works, your problem becomes limited to tank and the hose that connects tank to water pump.

1) connect hose to the water line (at pump location) that connects with tank.
2) open the tank fill cap
3) open hose water
4) let the water run
5) this might overflow the tank and as gas is lighter than water expels some of the gas.

Naturally this needs to be done at the marina in dry area as you cannot flush gas in the marina water.

Anyway, just a thought. If cleaning the lines as in part 1 above, the issue becomes confine to tank and a small piece of water hose.

Beau · Aug 4, 2018

I wouldn't take half measures. Replace the system. Does your insurance cover the repairs? I certainly would demand that the marina to cover that cost, and I certainly would not let them do the work. Just my opinion.

ScrumpyVixen · Aug 5, 2018

Beau said: ↑

I wouldn't take half measures. Replace the system. Does your insurance cover the repairs? I certainly would demand that the marina to cover that cost, and I certainly would not let them do the work. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

I'm with Beau on this - you are going to spend forever flushing the system, and then still tasting gas and or the cleaning agents.

If your insurance covers it - great. If the offending marina is not stepping up, open a beer. Drink it. Open another beer. Drink it. Then call the people who work on your boat and ask them just to fix it all. The have the third beer.

When the bill comes in, pay it and start the campaign against the offending marina - while enjoying the boat.

Scrumpy

Log in or Sign up

Gas in water line - need advice!

Freshwatermer New Member

love2speed New Member

Pascal Senior Member

olderboater Senior Member

ranger58sb Senior member

Freshwatermer New Member

Freshwatermer New Member

olderboater Senior Member

Freshwatermer New Member

Beau Senior Member

Freshwatermer New Member

olderboater Senior Member

Beau Senior Member

GhostriderIII Senior Member

Beau Senior Member

rpontual Member

Beau Senior Member

ScrumpyVixen Member