Blower Not Working

[JimKW]

OK about ready to start doing my first DIY repair. The blower is not working. When I turned it on the next to the last time I was out it made a pretty bad sound and now it does not come on at all. Where do I look to find it and how hard will it be to replace? Where is a good place to buy a replacement. I am good mechanically, but have not really worked on a boat at all.

Also the sun deck tht is over the engine came up when I was towing it home that same time and tore up where it screws into the side. I can figure out how to fix that. Forgot to snap the cover down cause I had been driving with the bimini top strapped down over the sun deck, but stowed it before coming home that time out.

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: Blower Not Working

I would check the connections to make sure they didn't come loose. If the connections check good, replace it. They are cheap and very essential to safety.

 

[QC]

Re: Blower Not Working

In line fuse? Breaker? When they howl they are probably near dead, I've shot some WD into the intake of mine before and got another couple of seasons. But they are cheap and it's a good time to check the hose routing.

 

[Thad]

Re: Blower Not Working

Do yourself a favor and replace it. It should be screwed to the transom on the port side. Just find the vent hose at the vent and follow it back. The blower is white and is most likely a 3" dia. Cut the two wires and when crimping the new wires, BE SURE TO USE HEAT SHRINK.

My boat is 6 yrs old and I am on my third blower, think it was about $25. I have a "habit" of leaving mine on at any time the boat is running and when I am pulling tubes or skis and stop/start the boat often.

As far as the sun deck/engine hatch, you're lucky it is still on the boat. Very important to ensure you have a post trip routine as well as your pre trip.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Blower Not Working

I'm going to look for it in the boat tonight and stop at Delaware Marine on the way home tomorrow and buy a new one. Sounds easy enough to fix, and dangerous to not have working.

 

[DavidInWilmNC]

Re: Blower Not Working

I'd recommend a real blower (as opposed to a fan in a tube). My old I/O had that type and it seemed to be a lot more durable. I ran it whenever the engine was running as well as before starting it. It was a bit more expensive, but I'd choose it again. Here's a link to one I'm refering to: www.wholesalemarine.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/MAY-54124_med.jpg

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Blower Not Working

Fan in a tube works fine (if it's a marine blower unit). Cut the old wires. Remove old blower unit. Use zip-ties to clamp hoses to new unit. Mount new unit (caulking screws as you go!). Connect wires using marine grade crimp on connectors (they look like little tubes). Shrink wrap. Done.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Blower Not Working

OK Where do I look to find it and how hard will it be to replace?

Do yourself a favor and replace it. It should be screwed to the transom on the port side. Just find the vent hose at the vent and follow it back. The blower is white and is most likely a 3" dia.

Thad's is on the port, Mine is on the starb side, Here are a couple of pics so you know what to look for. Yes it is easy to fix, not hard at all.

 

[Thad]

Re: Blower Not Working

Thad's is on the port, Mine is on the starb side, Here are a couple of pics so you know what to look for. Yes it is easy to fix, not hard at all.

And black too. This is way too weird.

Goes to show there is little "standard" in the boating industry. I guess "just put it where it fits" is the norm.

Anyhoo, easy as mud pie after you find it.

Wavenbye, looks like you have a lot of open room in there. You could probably lay down and get cozy replacing that.
I have to stand outside the boat on a step ladder, lean over and in to get to mine.

 

[DavidInWilmNC]

Re: Blower Not Working

Fan in a tube works fine (if it's a marine blower unit). Cut the old wires. Remove old blower unit. Use zip-ties to clamp hoses to new unit. Mount new unit (caulking screws as you go!). Connect wires using marine grade crimp on connectors (they look like little tubes). Shrink wrap. Done.

From several of these posts, it sounds like these blowers get replaced fairly often. My centrifugal blower was replaced in 2002 and was original, according to the previous lowner. That means it lasted from '74 to '02 and was just starting to get rumbly (bearings). Centrifugal blowers are genarally more powerful and quieter (and more expensive).

 

[Thad]

Re: Blower Not Working

From several of these posts, it sounds like these blowers get replaced fairly often. My centrifugal blower was replaced in 2002 and was original, according to the previous lowner. That means it lasted from '74 to '02 and was just starting to get rumbly (bearings). Centrifugal blowers are genarally more powerful and quieter (and more expensive).

Like I said earlier, I run mine almost non-stop when on the water. The only time I turn it off is if I am at anchor or the sand bar. So I expect to have mine go out.
My last boat had the original from '87 and I traded it in in '03 with the same blower still in it.
I think the quality has gone down and as with many other things made now-a-days, I think they are made to fail. Not much future money to be made in selling a product that never needs to be replaced
I looked at the other style of blower this time, and decided against it due only to the fact that they are more costly and I was unsure of the longevity of them.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Blower Not Working

Got it off and bought a new one for $25. I asked about a better one and he said about $250. As easy as it is to change, there is no way I'm paying 10 times as much. Easy to do, but heck of a long reach leaning over the back of the seat and reaching, and not quite enough room to get down in there. Will be putting new one on after work tomorrow.

The place where the sun deck came loose is pretty messed up. The wood is kind of rotted and the screws just pulled out. Going to take the carpet off and make a new piiece of wood the same size out of pressure treated 2x2, then drill the holes in the right place then put the capet back on the new board. Probably check the other side too and see if needs replaced.

Where it is I can see water getting that capet wet pretty easily. I see no other signs of rotted wood anywhere though. This piece is right where you come into the boat from the ladder though.

 

[DavidInWilmNC]

Re: Blower Not Working

Got it off and bought a new one for $25. I asked about a better one and he said about $250. As easy as it is to change, there is no way I'm paying 10 times as much.

$250? I bet he didn't have the better one in stock and wanted to sell what he had in stock. They're $60. The link that I provided above is where I got that price and pic.

 

[powderhombre]

Re: Blower Not Working

Bought my replacement on Ebay, $20.00, plus a few bucks for shipping. looked identical to the failed original.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Blower Not Working

Got it all done. Hooked up the wiring, but not the hoses and not mounted. Turned it on and it would not run. Had a blown fuse. Oh well now I have a new blower and it works fine. Like I said I heard it making noises the last time it worked so something had to wrong. Fuses don't blow for no reason.

I also repaired the strut under the sun deck by replacing the rotted wood with a new piece. Learned a good bit about the boat while working on it. Also found a netted bag hanging right near the blower. Had all the original manuals and paperwork in it. I was just getting ready to buy an owner's manual online too.

Discovered that the whole back seat is on hinges and folds forward so you can get down in that area rather easily. Wish I would have known that before I spent two days leaning way over and down into the area. I was getting ready to take the back off the seat because I could not get the hose back on the blower while leaning like that. Damn tight little spot to crawl into, then almost gut stuck trying to get back out, but got it done.

Sure have a lot to learn though about working on it.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Blower Not Working

Turned it on and it would not run. Had a blown fuse.
Learned a good bit about the boat while working on it. Had all the original manuals and paperwork in it. I was just getting ready to buy an owner's manual online too.

Wish I would have known that before I spent two days leaning way over and down into the area.

Sure have a lot to learn though about working on it.

You can get the maunual in the "Mercruiser,OMC,Volvo, & Other I/O & Inboard Engine & Outdrives" Click on the "ADULTS ONLY"
Some times thats how we learn what not to do too, We live and learn

 

[JimKW]

Re: Blower Not Working

That manual was in the bag in the back also.