CONTINUOUSWAVE

Q1: are there any [hidden] fittings that hold in place the fuel hose on a 2006 150 MONTAUK [in the rigging tunnel under the cockpit deck that would prevent the fuel hose from being removed by pulling on it]?

Q2: what tricks or methods can be used to remove [a fuel hose on a 2006 150 MONTAUK that appears to be held in place in the rigging tunnel]?

Give me suggestions on how to remove the fuel hose [from the rigging tunnel on a 2006 150 MONTAUK].

BACK STORY
In trying to replace a fuel hose on a 2006 150 MONTAUK boat, I cannot get the fuel hose to budge. The fuel holse appears to be free at the forward end under the helm seat and to be free at the aft engine at the stern. But I cannot pull out the fuel line [from the below deck rigging tunnel] in either direction. My inference is the fuel line as swelled-up [increased in diameter] with age.I think it is because it has swelled up with age. I am trying not to yank too hard as I am worried about breaking it off part way. On my next attempt I plan to drizzle soapy water down the line slick-up things.

dbtfree15 wrote:Q1: are there any [hidden] fittings that hold in place the fuel hose on a 2006 150 MONTAUK [in the rigging tunnel under the cockpit deck that would prevent the fuel hose from being removed by pulling on it]?

I suspect that other cables or wiring are also running in that rigging tunnel. The fuel hose may have become entwined or just stuck to the other cables and wires in the rigging tunnel. To assess if this has happened, you should try pulling on one or more of the other cables and see if they are similarly stuck or if they move freely.

If I am confused and if there is nothing else in the rigging tunnel other than the fuel hose, then it would be very unusual for the fuel hose to be restrained by some sort of hidden support or fastening to the hull of the boat that would prevent the fuel hose from being pulled out with nothing more than a moderate force.

Your idea to use soapy water is a good next step. I would flush the entire rigging tunnel with a generous amount of soapy water, and then see what happens. You may flush out a surprising accumulation of gunk.

Q3: is there any possibility that during storage or non-use some sort of animal crawled into the rigging tunnel and made a big nest inside?

Thanks Jim, I will try that. I have ran new transducer lines and pulled the other one and also moved the steering cables so they seem free but will check. A small animal is definitely a possibility.

I hadn’t considered flushing the rigging channel, not sure why I was worried about doing that. :D I will be more generous then a drizzle of soapy water.

Re my mention of a small animal: this Fall as the weather began to get colder at our cabin up North, I happened to open the engine hood before I was about to take a 270-mile drive back home; I did this to check the engine oil level and windshield washer coolant level. The car gets parked outdoors. The cabin is in a wooded area. I don't drive the car every day. I had driven the car within the last two days, but when I opened the hood I was really shocked to see some small animal had built an extensive nest on top of the engine, occupying an area of about two-feet by two-feet, filled with small twigs and other earthen materials. It took over an hour to get out the nest and clean up all the debris created.

You were lucky. I had a similar experience with a female squirrel. She had nested in the area between the heads of a V8 engine and had given birth to several pups. The family had been feasting on the insulation of the under-the-hood wiring. When I decided to take the truck out to buy some gardening supplies it started normally and even drove out from under the carport at idle speed. When I attempted to accelerate the engine would not respond. I opened the hood and was greeted by a very angry mother screeching and showing her teeth. I had the truck towed to a nearby dealer. The entire wiring harness forward of the firewall had to be replaced. The bill was over $900 which, happily, was paid by my auto insurance comprehensive coverage.