Bilge vents / collector box questions

[Dancer Dave]

Hello,
The bilge vents on my 88' 300DA have seen better days, luckily when I found a set of four new under the dinette seat from the previous owner. I've started replacing them but have come to a road block finding replacement collector boxes. They are brittle, thin plastic and took a beating when I was removing the broken vents due to the amount of sealant used on them. On each side I have a box/vent with 2- 4" hoses for fresh air intake and the other is a single 4" hose connected to bilge blower. Anyone have a source for direct replacement collector boxes?
The forward vent which provides fresh air to the engine room faces the stern of the boat, should it face the bow? I can only assume my bilge venting is still factory but both vents on each side face the stern and they are a mere 2" apart from one another. Would they both face rearward to reduce water ingress while underway in heavy seas? Would it make more sense to have the forward vent facing the bow for fresh air intake?

What's your thoughts oh wise captains?

 

[Sundancer]

Mine face the stern on both sides. I know mine were replaced at one point because they are chrome or stainless and the holes from the prior vents are still visible. My big issue with them is that rainwater runs off the bow, down the side and right into the bilge through the vents! I haven't found another 300 DA to see if they have different vents, but would love a picture. I would hope it didn't do that from the factory!

 

[268 Frakenboat]

Check out this thread, it may help.




http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/70680-268-Sea-Ray-Sundancer-bilge-vents


Or measure the opening size and go to the Attwood website look under collector boxes, and poke around there. Get the part number and do a google search to find a suitable price/vendor that works for you.

 

[268 Frakenboat]

Mine face the stern on both sides. I know mine were replaced at one point because they are chrome or stainless and the holes from the prior vents are still visible. My big issue with them is that rainwater runs off the bow, down the side and right into the bilge through the vents! I haven't found another 300 DA to see if they have different vents, but would love a picture. I would hope it didn't do that from the factory!

That’s a issue with my 87 268 also, I was reading before that when you replace the collector boxes or install new vent hose, run the hose up into the boxes about a inch. With the hose sticking up it will hopefully prevent the rain water running down the hose. Next time I replace mine I am going to try it and see if it helps.

 

[electricaldoctor]

IN faces forward

OUT faces aft

 

[Dancer Dave]

I did not find replacement collector boxes to my liking. The vent hoses go in the top of the collector box and I couldn't find replacements of the same configuration so I repaired the existing boxes and reused them. I wanted to go to stainless vents but the new plastic ones came with the boat, so they will do for now. I also turned the forward vent that feeds fresh air to the engine room forward as they are on the Weekenders and larger Searays. (as opposed to facing aft as they were from the factory)



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