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  1. #1
    Member
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    Apr 2012
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    b'ham al
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    2010 Stratos 285XL fuel smell

    Looking at a Stratos 285XL in very good condition, only concern is strong gas smell in battery compartment. Is this normal for this boat. Don't smell it with lid closed, but pretty strong with lid open.

  2. Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Hendersonville TN
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    5,447
    #2
    Not like that on my 2004 285ProXL. Could be the vent line on the filler neck or bad gasket on the fuel sending unit plate.

  3. Natalie Gulbis tdt91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Abingdon, MD
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    6,595
    #3
    If you looked at it in a garage you would often smell fuel.
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  4. Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Murfreesboro
    Posts
    27
    #4
    Check the fuel tank select valve under the splash well. Your tank lines terminate there and continue to the motor out of the top of the valve. The valve is plastic and old if original and they all fail at some point. Also, that valve is no longer available so if/when it fails you'll have to go to a brass or similar 3-way (BassCat has nice/more expensive one). Check your fuel line terminations at the tank and your gaskets on the fuel sending units too. Lastly, check your tank vent lines beside your fuel fill caps for any clogs. Been there, good luck.

  5. Member
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    Sep 2012
    Location
    Suring,wi
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    910
    #5
    Temp change causes it,plus side keeps out the critters
    Outlaw Bass

  6. Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bridgewater, NS
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    9,054
    #6
    I've got a 2011 186XT; it smells so strong that I always think it must be leaking, but the tank passes pressure testing and I can't find a leak anywhere. "They" say the smell comes through the plastic tank.

  7. Member
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    Oct 2010
    Location
    Charleston, WV
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    2,890
    #7
    My 2008 285xl is the same way, I keep it in the garage and seems to be a little worse the hotter it gets, like said above it perforates through the tank. If the boat sits a few days I can open rod locker and smell it, I usually leave the bilge lid open some and always let it air out a few minutes before I plug in the battery chargers. It's been that way since new.

  8. Banned
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bridgewater, NS
    Posts
    9,054
    #8
    I leave the bilge open all the time in the garage, and can still smell it in the rod locker.

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    soddy daisy, tn
    Posts
    14
    #9
    MY 2007 IS THE SAME WAY. I READ THAT THE PLASTIC THAT THE TANK IS MADE OUT OF IS POROUS AND THE SMELL COMES FROM THAT. I LEAVE MY ROD LOCKERS AND REAR LID OPEN WHILE NOT IN USE. IM PRETTY SURE THERE IS NOT A FIX.

  10. Member Shakie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Louisville ky
    Posts
    21
    #10
    92 285 cl same smell

  11. Member AussieJoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    220
    #11
    Happens to a lot of boats, not just your 285.
    Joe Allan
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