Side vents on a '69 Sea Ray - how are they supposed to work?

[RH1]

The SRV 185 I picked up a couple of weeks ago has the stainless louvered vents on the side of the hull. From what I can gather from looking at photos, the port side is supposed to be an air intake, and the starboard side the exhaust for the blower. There is also a small round stainless "vent" in the transom - with an open hole right through the transom.

On my boat, all of the blower system is long gone - each of the side vents has a metal box behind them (maybe 3" tall, 4" deep) with an open 4" hole pointing down - inside the boat. The box appears to be factory installed, but everything else has been removed.

According to the brochure I found online for the 1969 Sea Ray models, there is a brief description of these "Custom Louvered Ventilators" - explaining that the "ducting adapters behind these louvered vents are self-bailing and no water can be taken through them".

Obviously, my boat is missing some critical pieces, as the current arrangement would create water scoops that would easily direct water into the boxes behind the vents, down the 4" holes , and straight into any blowers or piping I add.

So, before I start re-engineering something, does anybody have a description, or better yet, a drawing or photo of how they are supposed to work?

 

[LiquidWrench]

AFAIK from working on my boats, the side vents are the fresh air intakes and should have the flexible 4" tubing running down to the bilge on both sides of the engine. The blower should have a tube that picks up air from the bottom of the bilge and blow it out the vent on the transom.

 

[RH1]

Thanks - I expected something like that. I'll see what I can do to return it to how it's supposed to be. Was wondering what the fittings on the side intakes for the 4" tubing is supposed to look like. Mine just has a 4" hole in the bottom of the intake box - I'm assuming there should be some kind of baffle or something to stop water?

 

[Jack380AC]

You can also call Sea Ray. They will have the original parts drawings and can be very helpful.

 

[LiquidWrench]

I know on other non Sea Ray boats I've had the hose just sticks up through the hole. I haven't ventured that far into the Sea Rays yet but on my 260 replacing all the venting lines is on the list so I will end up finding out.