When do you use your bilge blower?

[mrtopknight]

I'm glad I posted this poll; I was only using mine 2-4 min. prior to starting.

 

[SwampNut]

How many of you have fume detectors? They're pretty cheap too, easy to install.

 

[SearayPaul]

My blowers run most of the time so if anyone knows the manufacturer that makes a quiet blower I would appreciate the information. Thanks for the tip Sea Ray 300 I thought all blowers were created the same.

 

[mrtopknight]

Were can you find fume detectors? Not to replace the blower, but it would be a good additional safety item to have.

 

[SwampNut]

http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/gasoline_detectors.html

I have the one that automatically turns on the blower. I think I paid $110. You install the sensor module in the bilge, run a wire, and install the "gauge" anywhere you can hear/see it.

 

[mrtopknight]

Those are pretty sweet, especially the one with the relay to automatically start the blower, but at over $200 a piece I think I'll just run my blower all the time :smt021 .

 

[SwampNut]

My receipt says $126.00, but unfortunately it doesn't show the name of the online store.

 

[mikestein]

I've had a really good fume detector for years and it was free. It is attached to my face right above my mouth. It is a universal model that can also detect steak and beer. :smt043

 

[SwampNut]

Agreed, there is no better. I put the detector in as an additional feature, but there's nothing like opening the engine hatch before every trip for a visual inspection and a sniff. Even just sticking your face by the vents is going to detect fumes before they reach the danger point.

 

[Four Suns]

On my ski boat (gas) I run the blowers before start and also always poke my head in the engine room. The think gets slopped around so much on the water I'm always checking to see if the motor or tank has broken off.

On the dinghy, there isn't much room in the center console but we still run the blowers.

The blowers on the 480 are "engine room coolers". I run those when I'm idling and also for about 30-60 minutes after a run to cool the engine room down. There's not gas down there that I'm aware of and the blowers draw air from the top of the engine room and not the bottom like a gas boat. So who ever wrote this poll didn't ask the question right for diesel boats... "after running the engine" should be in the poll.

 

[Charlie L]

According to my Sea Ray manual -

"To prevent buildup of gasoline fumes to the explosve level in the engine compartment, the bilge blower must be run for at least four minutes before starting the engine and kept runnin at all times when the engine is running to ensure that there will be adequate ventilation when you are moving slowly. "

I am sure that lawyers and risk management department had some input on this but I seem to forget to turn it off and would rather keep it on than forget to turn it back on. If the blower goes tomorrow, I will happily replace it; just as if my fire extingisher went tomorrow, I would go buy another one and put it on the boat. Small price to pay for safety.

Not to get into a peeing contest, but I'll say we are both right on this one.

Copied from the manual: page 44 of the 2006 185 sport manual downloaded from searay.

Run bilge blowers for at least 4 minutes before attempting to start engine
Unlike your automobile engine which is naturally ventilated even when it is not moving, your boat engine compartment (the bilge) does not have sufficient natural ventilation when the boat is not moving or moving slowly. That is why the engine compartment must have forced ventilation, using the bilge blower, to remove potentially explosive gasoline vapors, before the engine is started and when the boat is moving slowly.
Because it may be difficult to remember to turn on the bilge blower every time you slow down the boat, it is recommended that the bilge blower run all the time when the engines are running.

........End manual copy........

So it's supposed to be run before start and at slow speeds, and can be turned off running on plane as long as you remember to turn it back on when at slow speed again.

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy and dreaming up things :wink:

 

[fragmag]

i run it before starting the boat and whenever im in a no wake zone

 

[lorenbennett]

Seen to many " I forgot to turn it on" stories. Turn it on with batteries. :thumbsup:

 

[Sea Ray 300]

don't the air scoops do the job when you are cruising?

Yes, the air scoops work while you are cruising, but the danger in using that practice, is forgetting to turn them back on when you slow down.

The safest method is to start the blowers 5 minutes before staring the engine(s), and leave them on, until a couple of minutes after you shut down. This extra couple of minutes will help cool the bilge.

If your blower(s) are too noisy, replace them for about $30 each, and mount rubber feet under them, to isolate the blower from telegraphing vibration to the fiberglass.

After I replaced them in my 26, they ran fine for the 9 seasons until I traded up.

I actually forget, but I think that these are the ones that I bought.
http://www.jmsonline.net/IN-LINE-EXHAUST-BLOWER-3-.htm