It’s simple; anyone with a boat that has an enclosed engine compartment or room needs a blower. In gas-powered boats blowers may save your life. In diesel-powered boats blowers may save your engine. Let’s see how this works.
In gas-powered boats, there should be one blower for each engine. The blower’s primary job is to remove any gasoline vapors in the engine room. These vapors are highly explosive and if ignited by a spark can destroy the boat and anyone on or beside the boat. The highest risk is when the fuel tanks are being filled at the dock. As the tank fills, the vapors in the tank are vented to the outside, but some of the vapors can drift back into the engine compartment.
In diesel-powered boats, safety is not the reason to have an engine room blower. Diesel fumes are not dangerous and are unlikely to burn. However, diesel engines need enormous amounts of air. If the engine is starved for air, its life may be shortened. Blowers are installed to bring air in either directly or indirectly when mounted as exhaust blowers. In both cases, the blowers increase the amount of air entering the engine room to feed the engine.
Keeping your engine room blowers in good working condition can save your life, save your engine and will keep your Boat Insurance Company happy.
“Who Needs Engine Room Blowers? | Boating Blog – United Marine Underwriters” ended up being
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If you ever replace blower motors make absolutely sure that the motor is spark proof. I know of at least one incident where a replaced blower caused an explosion and death.
Treat your boat like pre flight checklist before taking off. Bilge pumps, exhaust blowers, marine radio,SOS equipment, etc. Summertime, if your boat sits a lot… “Dirt Dobbers” love those tiny holes. When I bought my boat, the exhaust blower had a large dirt dobber clump around the propeller. Couldn’t spin.
Here are some tips
Before starting the engine follow these suggestions:
1. Always lift the hatch. If you smell gas, get everyone off the boat and run the blower.
2. Turn on the blower and check that air is coming out the blower exhaust on the deck to ensure the blower is working.
3. Check the input hose to the blower and make sure it is connected to the blower, is in good condition with no holes, and goes down at least ½ ways to the bilge.
Dan emailed a greate comment
Should caution all boaters to check vents to make sure not blocked by bird nest or any other debris