Trojan Boat Forum

Due to high fuel costs, I expect to do more crusing at hull speed (about 8 knots) this season.....my concern is the amount of engine compartment ventilation I will get at this speed.......enough?? or should I run the blower continuously??...Thanks!!!

Its a good idea. I turn them on a couple of minutes before fire'n the boys up and let'em run. After I shut the engines down, I let'em run another 2-3 minutes. For the piece of mind knowing that fumes are not building up in the bildge, its worth the cost of replacing them some day when you wear them out.

I run mine continuously while the engine is running. The boat is 35 years old and I belive it's the original blower. I never had a problem with the blower. They last a long time. My guess is that in a salt water envirnonment, corrosion is more likely to cause an issue than running it longer.

I run mine 3-5 minutes before starting and up to 1200 rpm (about 6 mph). At anything above I turn em off. Coming back into dock I turn em back on at 1200 and below and leave em on until I'm safely docked and the engine is shut down.

I run blowers only at slow speeds too. I also run them when on the hook with the generator running. When coming back to port, as soon as I hit the no-wake, they get turned on and sometimes I'll let them run for 10 minutes or so after shut down to help cool things down in the engine room and expell any possible fuel vapors.

When up on plane, there should be plenty of fresh air through the bilge via the vents to circulate and expell any possible fumes.

Also remember to turn them OFF while fueling up at the gas dock and shut all windows, hatches etc. Don't let folks stay on the boat either while fueling up. Running blowers while fueling up is dangerous as they may draw vapors from the nozzel and inlet into the bilge. As will any open windows or hatches. Do the sniff test, run blowers 4-5 minutes and resume your boating. Many people think they are suppose to run while fueling...could end in a big BANG!

Thanks for the responses....at 8 knots I'm at about 1800-2000 RPM and NOT on plane........i don't think I get enough ventilation at that slow speed. I thnk I'll run the blowers most of the time at that speed. Anywhere above 12 knots I'll shut them down. I also run then coming and going from the marina. Thanks for the reminder Striperman about running the blower while fueling, I do exactly as you suggested..............John