Running engine blower.
- Thread starter Wdmcp
- Start date
I never run mine. Some have reported running it all the time to remove heat, others at the end of the day to remove heat and/or fumes (which should be tracked down and removed anyway).
Your boat, your choice, no right answer.
Your boat, your choice, no right answer.
When you consider how many CFM a diesel engine sucks in just to run at idle, most blowers are puny by comparison. I'm sure there are some hefty blowers around but lots of them are intentionally too small by comparison to the engine air input because blowers are noisy and owners complained.
No. It's an artifact of the old gas engine days and some consider it useful for venting heat.
Gas engine. Run the blower at least 5 minutes before starting the engine to ensure any gas fumes are removed. Gas is heavier than air and the vapors can accumulate in low places in the boat. Add a spark and it may burn with vigor - hence the term fuel-air explosive.
As noted in the other responses, not an issue with Diesel as the fumes are lighter than air and go out of the boat as soon as it is opened up.
As noted in the other responses, not an issue with Diesel as the fumes are lighter than air and go out of the boat as soon as it is opened up.
The rule of thumb is to ALWAYS run the blower for AT least 4-5minutes before starting the engine. Best practice is to open all hatches and SNIFF prior to that, if gas fumes are present (by smell), check for any fuel leaks, if any found... fix. Otherwise, next run blower for 4-6 minutes, checking that air is being sucked out by holding your hand near the outlet vent (blower can sound like it is working yet not be moving air), after the 4-5 minutes, sniff again, then start engine. Once running, blower can be shut off, but some people will run the blower while idling and/or if wind is light (less air being forced into vents by wind over the deck).
Periodically you should visually inspect the vent hose connecting the blower to the exhaust vent (air exhaust, not engine) and also check the intake vent hosing. Intake hose (duct) should reach down at least to level of carburator air intake, Exhaust vent hose should reach deep into bilge, but not so deep as to risk bilge water blocking it.
It is also not a bad idea to run the blower before using the galley stove, in case any gas fumes are present (engine fuel fumes is what I'm referring to, but if LPG is stove fuel, the sniff-test for those fumes is prudent before using stove.)
Advice gained during 25 years as an USCGAUX Vessel Examiner and Boating course Instructor.
Periodically you should visually inspect the vent hose connecting the blower to the exhaust vent (air exhaust, not engine) and also check the intake vent hosing. Intake hose (duct) should reach down at least to level of carburator air intake, Exhaust vent hose should reach deep into bilge, but not so deep as to risk bilge water blocking it.
It is also not a bad idea to run the blower before using the galley stove, in case any gas fumes are present (engine fuel fumes is what I'm referring to, but if LPG is stove fuel, the sniff-test for those fumes is prudent before using stove.)
Advice gained during 25 years as an USCGAUX Vessel Examiner and Boating course Instructor.