Run Bilge Blowers continuously?

Todd320

Todd320

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2016
1,508
St. Petersburg, FL
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 320DA
Engines
Twin V-drive 5.7L 350 Horizon
I’ve always run the bilge blowers prior to cranking (gas engines), but once I’m underway, even at idle, I turn them off. Sea Ray recommends (per owners manual) that since it is hard to remember to turn them on each time you slow down, to simply run the blowers constantly. At speed, the manual indicates the engine vents plus moving air provide enough ventilation. I’ve never done this, never had an issue with engine performance or overheat at slow speeds.
Does every one else run them constantly, or just initially?

Bilge is obviously hot, but I don’t think pulling air out of the engine room is going to help much in FL.
 
The OEM blowers are not rated for continuous duty; they should be turned off after engine start. A lot of us have changed to continuous duty blowers so options are on the table.
 
Is there any advantage to running continuously, other than you get better airflow at idle/slow speeds? Does not seem to affect my temps or other performance at slow/idle.
 
Todd320 said:
Is there any advantage to running continuously, other than you get better airflow at idle/slow speeds? Does not seem to affect my temps or other performance at slow/idle.
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There is no advantage to running the blowers when you are cruising above idle speed. I changed out my blowers to squirrel cage blowers that are rated for continuous. They are very quiet so I run them whenever the engines are on.
 
juggernaut1 said:
I run mine continuously and there still the original blowers.
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No one said you could not run them continuously, just they were not rated to run continuously and will probably fail prematurely. When mine got noisy I upgraded them to continuous duty.
 
Gofirstclass said:
I run mine all the time. Helps keep the Honda generator on the swim platform cool.
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I actually saw one yesterday sitting next to a guy’s boat 5 slips down from me. I just facepalmed, kept walking, and thought of CSR.

So far as blowers, I usually turn them off when leaving the slip. Sometimes I forget and they run till I get to where I’m going.
 
Gofirstclass said:
I run mine all the time. Helps keep the Honda generator on the swim platform cool.
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Stop venting the exhaust from the generator into the bilge, and you can cut that out..... :=)
Electronics, blower, genset, engines. Reverse order when we are done. only caveat, temporary anchorage (daytime, don't get excited): engines, Electronics. All else stays on, turn up the radio, enjoy the air conditioning when needed.
 
MonacoMike said:
No one said you could not run them continuously, just they were not rated to run continuously and will probably fail prematurely. When mine got noisy I upgraded them to continuous duty.
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Yep I know no one said I could not run them continuously. The point I was making is that they don't necessarily fail prematurely. My boat is 14 years old with 700+ hours and are still going strong and in a salt water environment.

I actually wish they would fail so I can install the quieter squirrell cage blowers.....but they just won't die :cool:
 
MonacoMike said:
No one said you could not run them continuously, just they were not rated to run continuously and will probably fail prematurely. When mine got noisy I upgraded them to continuous duty.
Click to expand...
If I forget and leave them on they will get hot a blow a breaker. I think they draw more than the breaker they are hooked up to. I have put in New blowers and I still have the problem.
 
Which Squirrel cage continuous blowers are you guys using? I run mine continuous, but they are quite noisy. Would like to put replacing them on the off season list of projects.
 
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