Bilge blower & hose set-up

TickledPinkTickledPink Member Posts: 110 ✭✭
in General Boating Discussions
When i bought my boat, on one side of the bilge blower was a hose that wasn't connected, the other end of which was sat on top of the water container. Nothing was attached to the other side of the blower. 
See photos.
Can you please tell me how this should all be set up? I've bought new hose.
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Comments

  • IanIan Member Posts: 2,998 ✭✭✭✭
    Ideally the bottom end (nothing on it) should have hose into the lowest part of the line and the to[ attached to the vent out. What you have now is no venting and a dangerous situation.

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

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  • GrahamuGrahamu Member Posts: 905 ✭✭✭
    edited January 11
    First turn on the blower motor and confirm it works, it should blow air towards the hose that is disconnected. Replace if not working or weak airflow. Connect the new hose to the  blower using a hose clamp. The other end connects to the vent on the side of the hull, again with a clamp. DO NOT OPERATE THE BOAT UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. IT SHOULD BE TURNED ON A FEW MINUTES BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE(S) TO EXHAUST ANY GAS FUMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PREVENT AN EXPLOSION.
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,946 mod
    edited January 11
    Personally, I would not use the boat in that condition. Like @Ian said - it's a dangerous situation.  

    If you have explosive fuel vapor in the engine bay, the vapor will collect in the lowest part of the bilge.  The intake side of the blower needs a hose that hangs all the way down to the lowest part of the bilge so it can grab that fuel vapor.  The output hose connects to a vent on the side of the boat to evacuate the fuel vapor.  

    Also check the automatic fire extinguisher in the engine room.  At the top of the fire extinguisher, there's a sensor with two wires.  With your blower running, disconnect one of those wires.  It should turn off the blower.  The reason is that if you have a fire, you don't want the blower feeding fresh air into the engine room.  
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  • GrahamuGrahamu Member Posts: 905 ✭✭✭
    Yes @LaRea, I should have mentioned connecting a hose to the blower intake.
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  • grouch0jrgrouch0jr Member Posts: 93 ✭✭
    FWIW I had bilge blower issues for a little bit, and continued to use the boat. Before starting the engines I would open the hatch to perform my engine checks. While down there I made sure i didn't smell any fumes, then I would leave the hatch open while starting the engines.
    2006 342EC
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