How often do you run your bilge blower?

[ahhudgins]

My blower is on just about any time the boat is under 25 MPH, just for that little bit of air circulation. When my wife is driving, the blower is on 100% of the time because she can't reach down to flip the switch and drive at the same time.

[houtexX30]

rd s u x....

[carlsonwa]

I run mine whenever the motor is running.


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[Do It]

I run the blower for a couple minutes before ignition every time I'm out on the water. I don't leave the blower running, but I do run it before we start if we're sitting for a while.

About 25 years ago I witnessed the aftermath of a family getting blown out of a boat due to an explosion during ignition. I was a kid, so I don't remember the exact details. All I know is the guy borrowed his buddy's boat, somehow got gas in the hull (Supposedly by over-filling the gas tank, but I have no idea how that could happen), started the engine without knowing about the blower, and kaboom. It blew all of them out of the boat, started the marina on fire, and at least one family member was sent off to the hospital. Pretty sure the use of the blower would've helped prevent this. Maybe not, but ever since seeing such a terrible situation I've been adamant about implementing the blower before ignition rule. Watching something like that'll make it pretty easy to remember.

[BrooksfamX2]

Sometimes I'll go as far as popping the engine hatch open before starting if we have been sitting a while.........

[barefoot]

I turn mine on and leave it on.

[bjames]

Whats a bildge blower? kidding of course. I understand the purpose, but at the same time the intent confuses me a little. Given there was enough vapour accumilation to ignite an explosion when attempting to start an engine, would that risk still exist with turning on any potential ignition source... say like turning on a powered fan? unless the fan is hermetically sealed like what is used in a class 1 div 2 (explosive) environment. just saying... But I still use mine before starting

[Sodar]

Originally Posted by carlsonwa

I run mine whenever the motor is running.


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I've gotten in the habit of doing the same thing. It started that I just forgot to turn it off while we were idling, but now turned into normal practice.

I've actually even noticed I get a few more RPMs out of the motor with the blower on... especially if it is hot out.

[gatorguy]

You should run the blower for 5min prior to starting the engine per the instructions. So my question to all of you who claim to run it prior to every start is this: are you running it for 5min then starting, or just turning it on then starting seconds later. It stands to reason that in order to reduce the risk of an explosive environment you need to give the blower enough time to actually do its job.

I answered that I only run it before the first start. But I actually forget to turn it off most of the time until we are coming back to pick up the first fallen skier and I hear it still running. I then don't turn it on again unless we have sat with the engine off for a significant amount of time. What exact is significant? I don't have a good answer. Probably a few minutes less than however long I will have been sitting there when I go to start and my boat blows-up.

[JDJ_205]

I agree with Brooks. I typically open the engine hatch at the begining of each weekend. It's too easy to run the blower. Who wants to risk it?