reduce CO levels in cabin....

[CliffA]

our boat has a 4.5kw Westerbeke gas generator installed....

this is the first year we have been using the generator while cruising and while anchored and swimming behind the boat....last summer was our first summer with this boat but multiple family issues kept us away from the boat that entire summer....

the original CO detector in the cabin does not work....I have a battery powered CO detector I bought from Home Depot beside the bed in the cabin....

each time we anchor and swim while the genny is running to keep the AC running the CO level builds inside of the cabin and sets the detector off....the CO level climbs to well over 200 ppm if we stay there for a few hours....of course we do not go into the cabin when the level is this high for any length of time....I will shut off the genny and let the cabin air out when the CO level approaches a dangerously high level....and we are careful not to swim near the back of the boat where the genny exhaust is located...

i assume this is not normal so my question is what all can I do to lower the CO level in the cabin while anchored out and the genny is running?...

the genny starts easily and runs fine so I assume it is in reasonably good tune.....i will do a tune-up on the genny soon just to be sure....I have insured the small wire air filter screen on the genny is clean...I have checked all the hose clamps on the genny exhaust.....I do not run the bilge blower while the genny is running....not sure if this would make a difference or not but i really don't like the noise from the blower........we keep the cabin entry door closed while not in use and we keep all the hatches and windows closed...

I assume the CO is entering the cabin either through the bulkhead wall that separates the ER from the cabin or around the cabin entry door....

what other things can i do to minimize the CO levels from building in the cabin?....

and please no suggestions to use a Honda portable generator instead of the Westerbeke...:grin:.....

thanks....

cliff

 

[Ididntdoit]

Is your boat anchored off the bow only or do you use a stern anchor too?

 

[CliffA]

Is your boat anchored off the bow only or do you use a stern anchor too?

bow only.....

cliff

 

[gsmallwood]

We always run the blower when running the genny. This keep the fumes out of the bilge. This could help your problem.

 

[Dieseljeff]

The blower should be on when the genny is running...and damn...I wish I could hear the blower over the genny:grin:
Also need to seal any opening no matter how small between the bilge area and the cabin area.

Jeff

 

[CliffA]

We always run the blower when running the genny. This keep the fumes out of the bilge. This could help your problem.

thanks.....i'll have to try running the blower next time....

cliff

 

[CliffA]

The blower should be on when the genny is running...and damn...I wish I could hear the blower over the genny:grin:
Also need to seal any opening no matter how small between the bilge area and the cabin area.

Jeff

seems like running the blower is the #1 suggestion.....I may look into installing a explosion proof squirrel cage blower that is designed for continuous use in the ER to run with the genny....the squirrel cage blowers are much quieter than the in-line style blowers.....

yes, the Westerbeke is pretty quiet...I have a couple friends with very nice boats and both have Kohler genny's.....my Westerbeke is noticeably quieter than their Kohler's.....the Koehler's do a fine job....just a little louder....

cliff

 

[trflgrl]

We used the blowers when using the genny, but never had the issue you described, even with a much older boat. I second Jeff about chasing the possibility of a leak from the ER to the cabin.

 

[Dieseljeff]

seems like running the blower is the #1 suggestion.....I may look into installing a explosion proof squirrel cage blower that is designed for continuous use in the ER to run with the genny....the squirrel cage blowers are much quieter than the in-line style blowers.....

yes, the Westerbeke is pretty quiet...I have a couple friends with very nice boats and both have Kohler genny's.....my Westerbeke is noticeably quieter than their Kohler's.....the Koehler's do a fine job....just a little louder....

cliff

...And that is why I love my Honda generator!
Whoops!!! did I just say that?:grin: :smt021

Jeff

 

[CliffA]

We used the blowers when using the genny, but never had the issue you described, even with a much older boat. I second Jeff about chasing the possibility of a leak from the ER to the cabin.

yeah, I'll have to grab a flashlight and take a look around that bulkhead wall to see if can find a path the CO is taking into the cabin....but I'm not sure why there would be any CO in the ER if the genny exhaust is in good condition.....thanks...

cliff

 

[BillK2632]

Cliff - Like other's have said, I always ran the blower on my 290 when the generator was running never had an issue - I ran it plenty of days anchored out and occasionally overnight. I bet running the blower would solve your problem. Interesting that your generator exhaust is under the swim platform - my 290 and my friends 310 and 300 all had the exhaust on the side. Wondering if that is not the root of it, I would think CO builds up under the swim platform and around the back of the boat on a still / hot day - how it is getting into the ER and then the cabin is a mystery, I would check and re-check all of the exhaust connections on the generator. Next time it happens can you check the CO in the ER?

 

[skolbe]

I always run the blower and never have an issue. We have rafted overnight with no generators running. But in the AM I have fired up my generator and my neighbor has his as well. The CO detector has gone off within 5 minutes. If we raft with some friends and my exhaust is not next to another boat. Never have an issue. My boat has a Kohler 5ECD. I assume it was my friends boat that set my detector off, he had a Kohler 5e at the time.

 

[Tonka Boater]

As others have said, check for leaks into the cabin. A young girl died from CO poisoning in the cabin of her parents boat on our lake last summer. In this situation, there was a small hole in the exhaust -- authorities suspect from a critter -- and it was leaking CO into the cabin. Check the genny's exhaust thoroughly too.

 

[aerobat77]

when you anchor bow only its a natural thing the stern will be put downwind and any exhaust fumes blown away from the boat . assuming your genny exhaust is tight so no gases are blown into the engine room i guess your co detector is faulty - really !

 

[sbw1]

A/C can draw fumes in from the outside. Our genny exhaust is on the opposite side of the boat from where the A/C draws air in from the outside. That vent is on the radar arch and the genny exhaust is at or slightly below the water line. Still, we get an ocassional beep from the detector if the boat swings around on the anchor and the air is still. I know people living in the south need A/C to sleep sometimes, but we do not feel safe running the genny while sleeping. Our climate is more conducive to leaving the hatch open when on the hook.

 

[trflgrl]

when you anchor bow only its a natural thing the stern will be put downwind and any exhaust fumes blown away from the boat . assuming your genny exhaust is tight so no gases are blown into the engine room i guess your co detector is faulty - really !

Easily (and fairly cheaply) diagnosed by using one or two additional CO detectors. We got a portable monitor as backup to our hardwired one, and they've always been in synch. Would really be nice if that's the answer!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Without the blower running, the genny, itself, could be drawing the fumes back into the engine compartment through the vents as there would be a slight vacuum in the engine room from the genny's intake. Granted, the blower will do the same thing, but it will also evacuate the ER, too. Now, does the genny's air intake also effectively evacuate the ER, given the small amount of air and (possible) CO fumes being drawn in? I dunno. But it's at least a possible explanation for how CO fumes could get into the ER. I would also "guess" that the genny's exhaust system may not be 100% perfectly sealed to the outside.

I would double check the findings you're getting in the cabin with a second CO monitor - even if you just borrow it from your house. I also like the idea of putting one in the bilge as a way to test the theory.

Another thing that might be happening is the "station wagon" effect (remember that one from many years ago!)... possibly even happening with the cabin door closed. Try this next time - leave the cabin door open AND open at least one deck hatch. With the bow pointing into the wind, the air coming into the cabin will negate the station wagon effect.

 

[bbwhitejr]

I too have the Kohler 5ECD. We run it on the hook every night and have for the past 2 years we have owned the boat and have never run the blowers. We have the built in and a digital battery one from HD.

Never had a problem.

Bennett

 

[skibum]

Another thing that might be happening is the "station wagon" effect (remember that one from many years ago!)... possibly even happening with the cabin door closed. Try this next time - leave the cabin door open AND open at least one deck hatch. With the bow pointing into the wind, the air coming into the cabin will negate the station wagon effect.

This is my first guess, Dennis. If there is a breeze, the bow points into it and the wind flows past the boat just the same as it would if the boat were moving.

Cliff - do you keep all of your canvases on?

 

[Lazy Daze]

This is my first guess, Dennis. If there is a breeze, the bow points into it and the wind flows past the boat just the same as it would if the boat were moving.

Cliff - do you keep all of your canvases on?

It never really dawned on me that the station wagon effect could affect a boat until about 13 or 14 years ago. I had a 215EC and we were in Maine with it so we had the camper canvas up most of the time. On a nice day, I removed the aft curtain ONLY. After a little bit, I looked behind me and saw that the aft bench seat was wet - it had a "mist" of water on it. I didn't think anything of it and just dried it off. Well, it happened again and again and I (eventually) started to think about what was going on. I went and opened the cabin deck hatch and it stopped happening! What d'ya know - the station wagon effect was drawing the minute mist/splash from the hull back into the boat! I remember thinking "Wow, if it can do that to something as heavy as water, it certainly could be bringing exhaust fumes in". Or, at least that's how I remember it - the memory is a little foggy...

Cliff - you could open the center eisenglass, too. Or, do you have the powered vent in your center glass window? Open that, too.