Inboard engine - Ventilation

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Any boat with an enclosed engine should have a blower to vent the engine room or bilge of gas fumes before startup. It's very cheap insurance. Around here, blowers are about $30 for a good 3 or 4 inch model, and another couple bucks for the plastic ducting.

 

[MESS147415]

Inboard engine - Ventilation

Hi guys - i hope im in the right area. Ive just bought a 16 foot ski boat fitted with an inboard engine. Ive read some correspondence about this type of boat being fitted with"blowers" presumably to vent the bilge? Is this a legal requirement for the UK .This boat is about 15 years old so has obviously survived so far, but as its my kids ill be taking out, i would appreciate some advice on the subject!! thanks steve

 

[tfjrc2]

Re: Inboard engine - Ventilation

Steve:<br />In the interest of learning from someone else's mistake, I/we do the following after seeing a boat blow up at a fueling dock.<br />1. Check the oil every time. This opens the engine compartment, and I can visually check the other fluid levels. It also lets gas fumes out!<br />2. Start and run blower for 1-2 minutes (at least) after closing engine cover. Really not much of a delay, as most often there are skis, jackets, cooler, etc., to also load.<br />Only then does the motor get started!

 

[MESS147415]

Re: Inboard engine - Ventilation

Thanks guys. 2 questions then - where is best place to exhaust? - i know im going to have to make a hole somewhere! anyone know of a suitable blower supplier in uk? thanks steve

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Inboard engine - Ventilation

Exhaust for the blower? You can get shell shaped vent plates almost anywhere, different styles and materials to suit your taste (or more importantly your partners taste ) Usually they are mounted up high on the horizontal part of the transom. Its common to have 2 vents, one facing out and one facing in, the blower connects to the one facing out.<br /><br />Little tip: When I turn my blower on I stick my ample snooz in front of the vent (only takes half a second) that way I know immediately if I have a fuel leak. Its a simple first line of defence.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[ziggy]

Re: Inboard engine - Ventilation

steve. i have no idea what the laws is uk are. however your on the right track. for your and everybody else's safety, DO put a blower in it if it don't have one, even if there's no law that says ya have too. i'm a power squadron memeber here in nebraska and i can't tell you how adimate they are about useing your blower. 4 minute min. before every start. open the engine cover and sniff for fumes. fuel vapors in the bilge is a very serios situation. look in these fourms and your sure to find pics of boats burned to the waterline for one little mistake. not ventalteing the engine compartment. fuel vapors and any spark equal one big explosion. <br />dune is right about the vents being one faceing forward, one back. the one faceing forward is the ram air for when your moving, the one faceing back is the one the blower mounts too and blowes out that vent. mine and most I/O's are mounted on the top of the back deck. i don't know where you put them on a inboard as the engine compartment is in the middle of the boat. but there has to be a good answer, perhaps looking around at some newer inboards can give you some ideas.... jim

 

[djvan]

Re: Inboard engine - Ventilation

I always flip the blower switch on while taking off the tie downs waiting for my turn at the ramp. This usually allows it to run a minimum of 5 minutes.<br /><br />DougV>

 

[MESS147415]

Re: Inboard engine - Ventilation

Thanks guys - i'm convinced and it will be part of the refurb over the winter - cant wait for the spring already!!