Ok im stupid

[67searaysrv180]

OK just a quick question,<br />I am new to owning a boat, have ridden in quite a few with outboards but my experience with an I/O is nill, I have a 67 searay I/O do I leave the engine compartment vent blower running once the engine is started or do I shut it off? sorry if this is a stupid question but I just want to know.<br /><br />Thanks for any help<br /> Norm

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Ok im stupid

Hmmmm....good question. I used to start it and let it run for about 10 minutes before starting the boat (I don't have that boat any more). Once the engine was started, I recall turning it off after we were underway believing that the engine compartment was being vented by the moving boat.

 

[67searaysrv180]

Re: Ok im stupid

thanks for the quick response I was not sure so I left it running LOL

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Ok im stupid

Purpose of a bilge blower is to extract gas fumes, which are heavier than air and sink to the bottom of a stationary boat. Big bang preventer when first firing up the motor!<br /><br />Run for several minutes before firing up.<br /><br />Once under way, the motor compartment is vented and cooled by the moving boat, so bilge blower can be turned off.

 

[ALAG3]

Re: Ok im stupid

warning on my SeaRay says run for 4 minutes before startup and also run when operating boat at idle speeds.

 

[OperativeK]

Re: Ok im stupid

Would like to see pictures of your Sea Ray if you got em. I got a old 65 800.<br /><br /> http://home.1asphost.com/biw3/boatingdays/index.html

 

[Kopasetic]

Re: Ok im stupid

I always think it's a good idea to leave the blower on all the time, like a prev post says "run blower before starting and when operating engine below cruising speed" If boat is moving slowly or not at all, the vents wont push any fumes out of the bilge. Leaving it on all the time means one less thing to have to think about.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ok im stupid

The amount of air being sucked from the bilge by the engine is far greater than that provided by the blower. It can be turned off when underway as the engine will suck the fumes out.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Ok im stupid

The engine sucks fumes from the top of the engine compartment. As gas fumes are heavier, any fumes would sink to the bottom. Only way to expel them is to run the properly installed blower with the intake down in the bilge. The engine is indeed a huge airpump, but won't get the fumes outta the bilge. At high speeds, the air from wind is stirred up in there real good and purges it out, but at idle speeds or before starting, I feel the blower should be running. To prevent thinking about it, I just leave mine on all the time.