Engine Blower Vent Cover

[jaysweet]

I'm trying to replace the vent cover for my engine blower, because the plastic louvers have grown weak from UV exposure and are breaking off. Here's what it looked like originally (with a thin scraper trying to pry it off):

After prying at it for a while, I realized that it has a built in collar that goes through the hole in the topsides, and seems to be attached to the "dryer hose" that goes to the engine compartment with a hidden hose clamp (probably):

So it's not coming off, at least from the outside. And since it's located under one of the stern rail seats, right up against the propane locker and above the fuel tank, there's absolutely no way I'm gong to be able to come close to even touching the hose clamp from the inside, unless I cut a hole in the inside wall of the propane locker. I can't even _see_ the hose clamp.

Before trying to get the old one off, I had been pretty pleased with myself that I found a really nice replacement in stainless steel, with the same form factor and hole patterns:

It's the same, except without the collar that the dryer hose clamps to. The only thing I can think of to do (other than cutting a hole in the propane locker, or removing the fuel tank, which isn't happening) is to use a hacksaw to cut off the collar just behind the face of the old plastic vent cover. Then I could perhaps used some small L brackets to keep the collar from falling through into the interior, goop it up with sealant, and put the stainless plate on top.

Any other ideas?

 

[sailcapt340]

no way I'm gong to be able to come close to even touching the hose clamp from the inside, unless I cut a hole in the inside wall of the propane locker. I can't even _see_ the hose clamp.

Would it be possible to use the existing “dryer vent hose” that is in place and snake a smaller diameter hose through it and exit out the opening on your deck and the opening in the engine compartment?
Since it worked as designed prior to you removing the vanes, a newer smaller diameter hose through it should be all you need.
Somewhat like when relining a chimney flue made of bricks with a stainless steel liner, from the top of the chimney to the top of the fireplace hearth. I speak from experience on that one after a chimney fire in my home.
Now you can’t go very much smaller in diameter, as you still need the air flow to be able to vent the engine space.
But if it is a dryer vent hose, it “should” have a wire wrapping which would hold it in place as you feed new hose through and not be worried about piercing though the side walls as it bends through the boat.
If you can do this then you could attach a reducer on your stainless cover and be done.
Might be a way out to try.

 

[dLj]

Or maybe you can just cover that plastic cover with that stainless piece and let it live behind the stainless front. Might need some Dremel work on the plastic piece to get a good fit.

dj

 

[jaysweet]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm not sure what problem a smaller hose would solve. There's also no way that the new stainless cover would fit on over the old broken plastic cover, since they both have a significant thickness. I think problem #1 was "how do I get the old cover off?", and problem #2 was "if I get it off, how do I secure the dryer hose on the inside, and not have it fall off where I can't reach it?".

I ended up cutting the plastic cover off the cylindrical tube using a coping saw, flush with where the cover would meet the hull. It could be pulled out maybe 1/2" or 3/4":

But of course, if I just screwed the new cover on, the hose would fall off inside, so I secured it with some plastic L-brackets I jury rigged from some old cable clamps:

Like most thing on a boat, it just barely worked. I had to put the L-brackets on the outside of the plastic pipe, and drill out slots in the fiberglass topsides to have clearance for the screw heads. But I'm pretty sure the brackets will prevent the pipe (with attached dryer hose) from pulling loose. I might put a 4th bracket on before I attach the new metal cover, but It started to pour rain this afternoon, so I just taped over the hole and left it for another day;.