good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area..

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centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
It seems to me that have a venting/blower system for the bilge area would be advantageous for a few reasons....
1.... keeping fresh air throughout the boat for obvious reasons...
2....helping to cool the inside of the cabin on hot days. (on hot days my bilge area gets extremely warm due to a double dose of sun hitting the hull).....
3....with ventilation thru the area, it would help to carry out any moisture that may be introduced due to leakage and generally make it a drier, healthier place (i know moisture shouldnt be in there, but we gotta be realistic. sometimes it happens.)
...feel free to add other reasons

has anyone had any experience with this? have you any ideas on how to move a decent amount of air without too much battery drain? dorade vents? strong solar vents? (it would really only need to run in the daytime)........
 
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Deadline

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Jun 7, 2007
515
Hunter 320 Williamsburg
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

Nahhhhh. It would only be advantageous (and required) if you had a gasoline engine because the fumes sink the lowest level. Your best alternative is to keep the bilge dry.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Deadline said:
Nahhhhh. It would only be advantageous (and required) if you had a gasoline engine because the fumes sink the lowest level. Your best alternative is to keep the bilge dry.
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did you even read what I posted or just the title? there are more reasons for venting than just getting rid of gas fumes.... and keeping it clean, fresh and dry is my goal
 
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Rag Bagger

Rag Bagger

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Aug 25, 2010
62
Catalina 30 Seabrook, TX
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

Comment. I keep reading about the benefit to a dry bilge; however, with my Catalina 30, 1984, I get a drip from the shaft seal and my AC drains into the bilge. I don't see how I could ever have a dry bilge as the bilge pump can not phisically remove all of the water. What am I missing?
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Rag Bagger said:
Comment. I keep reading about the benefit to a dry bilge; however, with my Catalina 30, 1984, I get a drip from the shaft seal and my AC drains into the bilge. I don't see how I could ever have a dry bilge as the bilge pump can not phisically remove all of the water. What am I missing?
Click to expand
it would seem like your missing a good shaft seal and proper A/C drain.... I guess some of us without inboard engines dont have all the options on our boats that keeps the bilge washed clean with water flushing thru from time to time:D, so i over looked those of you that do when i posted....

and you may be correct that if you have it coming in faster than it can evaporate, then whats the point in even trying.... but i just cant grasp the concept of "not trying to make it better".....of all the things I pick up on quickly, that one eludes me. but even so, the warm damp air in the bilge area could be drier and cooler than it is now with thru ventilation. I think all boats no matter what the latitude or temperature, could benefit from better bilge ventilation during most of the year, providing the "ventilation" is more fresh air running thru it rather than more fresh water running thru it....:D
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,505
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

Ventilating the boat is a good idea, everything from the cushions to the bedding to the galley equipment and electronics will benefit. We have solar powered vents and folks in the marina use a variety of methods, including dehydrating heaters, leaving a light bulb burning etc.

If you can find a way to keep the bugs out that will be all to the good.
 
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Dubo

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Oct 26, 2010
86
Hunter 340 Deltaville Va
Venturi vent for AC

Rag Bagger;949465 my AC drains into the bilge. I don't see how I could ever have a dry bilge as the bilge pump can not phisically remove all of the water. What am I missing?[/quote said:
You need to look into a venturi vent for that AC. My ACc dumped gallons into the bilge, now it is dry. For the $10 I spent on the vent, I no longer have a wet bilge. Priceless!
Click to expand
 
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shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
8,008
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

There are solar vents with a rehargeable batteries that do run at night
 
Rag Bagger

Rag Bagger

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Aug 25, 2010
62
Catalina 30 Seabrook, TX
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

Dubo,,,, Venturi vent? Did a Google search and could not identify what this is. Where do you drain to? What is it?
 
Paul Brinkley

Paul Brinkley

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Oct 18, 2007
707
Macgregor 26S Lucama, NC
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

I don't worry aboput the bilges when I am sailing, but when the boat is on the trailer at home I run an extension cord to it and put a box fan in it to circulate air. Since the companionway hatch is a long way from airtight, there is some exchange with outside air. I open doors and panels so air can circulate through underseat compartments and the bilges, too. Seems to eliminate mold and odors too. -Paul
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Rag Bagger said:
Dubo,,,, Venturi vent? Did a Google search and could not identify what this is. Where do you drain to? What is it?
Click to expand
Mermaid Condensator

A good bit more expensive than $10...they work nicely and require no power, keep AC condensate out of your bilge. Do a proper installation, venturi extractors are plumbed to a hole in your hull, and an inline water pump.
 
finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
I am installing 2 small muffin fans. One will exhaust the laz of gas fumes etc. and one just moving air in the starboard bilge area. They hardly use any power.(.10a) Allot less that what my solar panel puts in every perfect day.
Cheap too!
 

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Merlin Clark

Merlin Clark

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Oct 26, 2005
2,057
- - Satellite Beach, FL.
Centerline,
I agree 100% that good ventiolation is required for a "healthy" boat.
I think that trying to seal up a boat like a tupperware creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew and other nasty critters. Keeping the air moving through the bilge would help a lot. I've seen some nasty bilges on un-attended boats.
I think a low profile passive vent, a section of blower hose and a pancake fan could move a good amount of air. Pancake fans are available in sizes larger than the PC case size and move a good bit of air for the power they consume.
If you have room on deck and reliable winds you could install a (swiveling) cowl vent pointed away from the wind to pull air out of the boat.
I tried one of those little "dehumidifier"s like below and took it back the next day. Worthless down here. A real dehumidifier does a good job but take up a lot of room and generate a good amount of heat.
 

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redhead78

redhead78

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Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

A fan in the engine/bilge area usually one and the same, is win win all around considering u can get one really inexpensive, I think mine 4" duct was around 60$. reasons,diesel engine runs better with more air, it removes, odors,& heat from eng bay,helps with cooldown after u shut down diesel, and if it acts as a drier for small drips its a bonus. Mine is very quiet, it exhausts port rear side of cockpit and is nice in cool weather. ...Red
 
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gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
I installed a dripless shaft seal to keep the salt water out of the bilge. Big help in stopping smells.

I installed a venturi like the mermaid condensator to keep the A/C condensate out of the bilge. Keeps things drier. Search out salt water fish tank venturi. Inexpensive and easy to install. i added a shut off valve at the hull and only use the A/C and venturi at the dock.

Sealed off small mast leaks to keep the rain out too.

Still thinking of a muffin fan to keep air moving and eliminate must, mold, mildew.
 
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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,215
CC 30 South Florida
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

Plenty of information on the archives about maintaining a dry bilge.
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

Why do boats with an OB engine and deck stepped mast have wet bilges. OK, you have an icebox but you can mop up that every time out.

Personally I don't k ow why it is such an issue unless it has other waste products in there.
 
syoun10

syoun10

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Jan 28, 2012
101
2006 Hunter 33 Santa Barbara
Re: good reasons for introducing fresh air to the bilge area

I tried to keep by bilge ventilated by having the bilge blower fan working 100% of the time while in the slip & power connected.

Quite honestly, I didn't notice a big difference, but convinced myself that it must be better! Sucking the wettest, grungiest air out of the boat, to be replaced by fresh air from the dorade box, or leaks round the companionway had to be good - didn't it?

Then after 3 months, the fan got noisier and noisier and eventually quit.

I bought a new fan from West Marine that had "continuous duty" on it's box. (think it was called "yellow tail", or something like it). It too failed after 2 -3 months. So I gave up. I now only use the bilge blower to vent the bilge before starting (but since I have a diesel, this probably isn't necessary either).
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,968
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Be careful in cool damp weather. In the presence of cold water, adding excess ventilation can actually INCREASE condensation. If the hull temperature is below the dew point, you are just pumping water into the bilge. We see this in the Chesapeake in the winter.
 
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