Ahoy, Recently purchased a Bristol 24 so still getting to know her but one thing bothers me about her & that is the fumes coming from the engine. When I purchased her, the previous owner told me that if the hatch isn't left up or in the open position, that the engine would die soooooooooo have been keeping it open. Motoring out to the harbor from dry dock was awful. The fumes were almost overwhelming. I did see a picture or another Bristol 24 where a solar vent was installed so I'm assuming that it was done to be able to keep the hatch closed and yet get air in. SO the questions are "Is this the nature of the boat?" "Has anyone solved this problem?" "Will a solar vent work well enough to allow hatch to be left closed while motoring?" "Any other heads up about my Bristol?" Thanks for any replies
Fumes
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I have a B27 with a motor well like yours. I have a honda 15. When I first got the boat I found that if I close the lid, the motor would die.... I have learned that part of the problem is that on my outboard, there are two exhausts. I assume most outboards work the same. One exhaust is up high (above water level) and one is down by the prop. When motoring in or out of the slip, the RPMs are quite low.... and that is the problem. At low RPMS, the upper exhaust is where the engine vents. The motor must be operating at high RPMs for the lower exhaust to work. This is especially true when you have a long shaft outboard. The engine must be creating enough energy to push the exhause against the pressure the water depth has created. I guess one solution is the try to use higher RPMS. My solution was to buy a cheap plastic auto 12volt fan (NAPA) and I mounted it in a vent (cockpit side) to mechanically vent (blow fresh air into) the motor well. It plugs into my system via a cigarette lighter plug style of power point. My Honda charges the battery when it runs so it's a symbiotic relationship. It seems to work pretty well and has held up so far to the salt water environment. The bad news? you can still smell some fumes....just not nearly as bad. It depends a bit on the direction the breeze is blowing. Wait! there's a breeze? Shut that motor off and get those sails up!!!!! That motor is too noisy anyway.
I have a B27 with a motor well like yours. I have a honda 15. When I first got the boat I found that if I close the lid, the motor would die.... I have learned that part of the problem is that on my outboard, there are two exhausts. I assume most outboards work the same. One exhaust is up high (above water level) and one is down by the prop. When motoring in or out of the slip, the RPMs are quite low.... and that is the problem. At low RPMS, the upper exhaust is where the engine vents. The motor must be operating at high RPMs for the lower exhaust to work. This is especially true when you have a long shaft outboard. The engine must be creating enough energy to push the exhause against the pressure the water depth has created. I guess one solution is the try to use higher RPMS. My solution was to buy a cheap plastic auto 12volt fan (NAPA) and I mounted it in a vent (cockpit side) to mechanically vent (blow fresh air into) the motor well. It plugs into my system via a cigarette lighter plug style of power point. My Honda charges the battery when it runs so it's a symbiotic relationship. It seems to work pretty well and has held up so far to the salt water environment. The bad news? you can still smell some fumes....just not nearly as bad. It depends a bit on the direction the breeze is blowing. Wait! there's a breeze? Shut that motor off and get those sails up!!!!! That motor is too noisy anyway.
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