fueling

[torcano]

I just returned from sea trial for a boat that I am buying. The marine surveyor, who is in the active coast guard reserves, suggested that I leave the blower on whenever I fuel the boat. The service manual says to shut everything down including the blower during fueling. There was recent thread about blower use which was informative, but not definitive. What's the general concensus on blower on or off during fueling?
RK

 

[ziggy]

Re: fueling

i turn everything off. close all hatches. for me that's the engine cover and fuel up. after fueling, i use the blower 5 mins. + open my hatches, (engine cover) and have a sniff....

 

[Coors]

Re: fueling

On, blower is explosion-resistant.

 

[cbavier]

Re: fueling

I just returned from sea trial for a boat that I am buying. The marine surveyor, who is in the active coast guard reserves, suggested that I leave the blower on whenever I fuel the boat. The service manual says to shut everything down including the blower during fueling. There was recent thread about blower use which was informative, but not definitive. What's the general concensus on blower on or off during fueling?
RK

Always after fueling and when first starting and when running slower than on plane. It's a safety issue to vent any explosive fumes. It won't hurt to run it when fueling either but a Must for five min after fueling. To answer your question If in a Marina I would say on, at a gas station off simply because by your driving to the station you have already vented any fumes and to the lake or home you would have vented any fumes. But even then before Launching turn the blower on. I always turn the blower on at the boat launch the first time in the boat and before launching and leave it run all the time I'm preparing the outside to launch.

 

[Wotam]

Re: fueling

I always run the blower before starting the boat... but not during the fueling process itself.

 

[Shawn_floats]

Re: fueling

Since we're on this topic, what about fueling at a gas station with the boat on the trailer?
Are there any special precautions over and above what you would do when filling your vehicle?

 

[cbavier]

Re: fueling

Always after fueling and when first starting and when running slower than on plane. It's a safety issue to vent any explosive fumes. It won't hurt to run it when fueling either but a Must for five min after fueling. To answer your question If in a Marina I would say on, at a gas station off simply because by your driving to the station you have already vented any fumes and to the lake or home you would have vented any fumes. But even then before Launching turn the blower on. I always turn the blower on at the boat launch the first time in the boat and before launching and leave it run all the time I'm preparing the outside to launch.

Shawn_floats; This is my opinion and what I believe to be safe. My Owners manual covers these procedures all except fueling at a Gas Station.

 

[Coors]

Re: fueling

Since we're on this topic, what about fueling at a gas station with the boat on the trailer?
Are there any special precautions over and above what you would do when filling your vehicle?

You're not going to start the boat at the gas station.

 

[Shawn_floats]

Re: fueling

You're not going to start the boat at the gas station.

What?? How am I going to tow my truck to the lake then?

 

[CAVU V]

Re: fueling

That was a great reply.

 

[180shabah]

Re: fueling

Hey RK, your service manual is correct and your surveyor is wrong.

The purpose of the blower is to clear the bilge of fuel vapors before starting the engine. It sucks from the bilge and blows overboard, this draws fresh air into the bilge to take it's place. If you run the blower during fueling, you will be sucking fuel vapors INTO the bilge, which is exactly what you don't want.

As for fueling at the gas station, it is exactly the same as the fuel dock. Hatches and doors closed and blower off, which should be the same as while you are towing, so nothing to do but pop the cap and fill.

When you get to the ramp it is business as usual, turn on the blower, launch, lift the hatch, sniff and hit the starter.

Then you just enjoy your day on the water.

 

[cbavier]

Re: fueling

Hey RK, your service manual is correct and your surveyor is wrong.

The purpose of the blower is to clear the bilge of fuel vapors before starting the engine. It sucks from the bilge and blows overboard, this draws fresh air into the bilge to take it's place. If you run the blower during fueling, you will be sucking fuel vapors INTO the bilge, which is exactly what you don't want.

As for fueling at the gas station, it is exactly the same as the fuel dock. Hatches and doors closed and blower off, which should be the same as while you are towing, so nothing to do but pop the cap and fill.

When you get to the ramp it is business as usual, turn on the blower, launch, lift the hatch, sniff and hit the starter.

Then you just enjoy your day on the water.

Great and precise response!

 

[torcano]

Re: fueling

Thanks. I'll follow your advice (and the reference manual) and keep the blower off during fueling which is always at dockside for me. I'll turn it on at least 5 minutes after fueling and before starting the engine. I've never been good at jumping off burning boats.

 

[180shabah]

Re: fueling

Great and precise response!

Thanks Chuck

 

[Coors]

Re: fueling

I fail to see how a blower can search out, and suck in fumes from the wide open air.

 

[180shabah]

Re: fueling

I fail to see how a blower can search out, and suck in fumes from the wide open air.

Have you ever smelled gas fumes while fueling? Where you actively searching for them or did you just inhale and low and behold, there they were.

Blower works the same way - when it is running it draws in large amounts of fresh air and, if present, smaller quantities of fuel vapor. (remember the "perfect" ratio is about 14:1)

Also, you have those nice pretty intake vents, but they are not the only place that air will be drawn in. Depending on boat design air can also be drawn in through storage compartments, around seats, from under the deck etc.....

 

[Coors]

Re: fueling

And it blows the fumes right back out.

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: fueling

Again---we all have opinions---follow your service manual then if it blows up you can sue them---just kidding---it makes sense to do the same thing at the dock or the street---the idea of the blower is to clear the bildge of fumes before starting--not during fueling--fuel first and when you are going to start the boat (thats when you are making sparks), run the blower--Steve

 

[zach103]

Re: fueling

when he fuels at the gas station. could he open some vents on the way to the water to move the air. or would debri kick up into that?

 

[cbavier]

Re: fueling

I'm not trying to be sarcastic mind you but I wonder. Maybe this will help to answer some questions that are asked. Does anyone ever read the "Similar Threads" Box at the end of these new threads. The very bottom of this page. There are 44 similar posts found in five threads covering this same topic or close to it. Sometimes these are a real educational tool and will help to answer many questions or spurn new ones.