Blowers and Gas Fumes

[dmarkvid2]

I read in a thread awhile ago that hatches, doors and windows should be shut, and all electricl devices turned off,and no smoking, which I totaly agree with. But the questions was, "should the blower be on or off when refueling". And most all of the answers were NO. I guess "My" question is, what difference does it make if the blower is on during refueling or right after? I mean, "how long after the fueling process is done do I wait before I turn My blower on"? I know to do a sniff test. A spark is a spark weather before, during, or after you fuel up. Do I wait a certain amount of time to turn the blower on after the sniff test?

 

[KRS]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

Are you referring to an on-the-water refueling or on-the-trailer?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

Good questions, Mark. I don't know the definitive answer to them, though. This is what the coast guard says to do:<br /><br />Before Casting Off<br /><br />Get in the habit of performing these brief steps:<br /><br /> * "Sniff" your bilges. Usually your nose is the best fuel/vapor detector. It will mean getting down on your hands and knees, but it's the best way to do it.<br /> * Operate the bilge blower for AT LEAST FOUR MINUTES before starting an inboard engine. If you still smell fumes, try to locate the source and make repairs before starting the engine.<br /> * Make sure the location of your fire extinguishers is known to all passengers and they know how to operate them.<br /> * When refueling, close all hatches, ports and other openings; shut off all engines and motors; and refrain from smoking. Fill all portable tanks on the dock.<br /> * After refueling, wipe up or wash off any excess or spilled fuel; open all hatches and ports; and let the boat air out. "Sniff" your bilges. Operate the bilge blower for at least four minutes before starting an inboard engine.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

Mark<br />The idea is to keep fuel fumes out of the boat. So you close everything and turn the blower off. As you add fuel to the tank the fumes above the fuel in the tank are forced out the vent. You do not want to draw any fumes into the boat while fuel fumes are going out the vent. Once fueling is complete and no more fumes are comeing out the fuel vent you want to open everything. Turn the blower on just in case the fumes were blown into the boat. By the way Bildge blower should be sucking air out of the lowest part of the bildge, under the engine but of course above any water in the bildge. I see a lot of boats with the bildge blower mounted up on the transom and no input hose installed to the lowest part of the bildge.<br /><br />Always fill any portable tanks on the dock. If filled in the boat all the fumes forced out of the tank by incoming fuel would end up in the bottom of the boat.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

I agree with Boatist. While you are refueling, there is gas vapor all around your boat, the last thing you want to do is suck it into your engine room. Leave the blowers off while refueling. After you have replaced your gas caps, paid the fuel attendant and are ready to leave the gas dock, do your usual pre-ignition sequence with blowers, etc.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

An active blower after fueling will remove any build up of fumes; an active blower during fueling will prevent any build up of fumes.<br /><br />You are correct, it doesn’t matter. Well, it shouldn’t matter. If you have the blower on during fueling and it sucks enough fumes from the surrounding area into the boat to make a difference, you have other problems, serious problems that have nothing to do with your boat or the blower.<br /><br />As far as closing everything up, if your fueling spout and blower exhaust are downwind, you shouldn't have to close everything up. It all depends on where you are at, what the conditions are, which way the wind is blowing, etc. This is one of those things were an little bit of common sense goes a real long way.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

10-4 on the common sense. Vapors are explosive (in the right mix) and heavier than air so (you should) act accordingly.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Always Broke]

Re: Blowers and Gas Fumes

I know this was pretty much all said already but just in case some one left anything out here's a link for ya from my home state but it holds true every where http://boat-ed.com/fl/course/p2-2_fuelyourboat.htm