Bilge Blower

TyeeMan

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
849
So I've had 3 I/Os over the years, all of them aluminum FWIW. One of the 3 boats had a nice quiet bilge blower. The other two including my current boat, it sounds like the blower is going to vibrate apart.

Is there anything like a higher quality bilge blower? If so could someone recommend one?

I appreciate any info.
 

JASinIL2006

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
5,524
I was in the same position about a year and half ago, and I never found a 'top of the line' blower. Most of them look like what I bought (a 'Seaflo'), down to identical plastic housings and identical specs for CFM, motor, etc. I assume there are one or two companies that make most of them and the units just get rebranded.

Anyway, the Seaflo unit I bought isn't whisper quiet, but it is substantially better than the one it replaced. I'd give it a qualified recommendation.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
47,297
I cant hear my blower over the "Potato Potato Potato" of my exhaust. my last batch of blowers came from Worst Marine as I needed them on a sunday. same as the attwood I replaced.
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
40,581
Not sure you can find one real quite, they need to move a lot of air. My Formula also has Seaflow

I run them till the motor is running, then I turn it off
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,199
How is it mounted? Might be turning the fiberglass into a resonator if it is solid mounted. Try some rubber isolator bushings when you mount it.
 

TyeeMan

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
849
The transom of my boat is aluminum outside with a big thick piece of marine ply on the inside. The blower is mounted to the plywood, but I'm sure the aluminum of the boat resonates the sound.

On a different boat I could here the air blowing noise, no vibration. I was totally fine with that. This boat, I can hardly hear the air blowing but boy oh boy that sucker has a vibration to it, , or something.

I thought about finding some vibration isolating mounts, but there's got to be some blower somewhere that is just quiet all by itself.
 

muc

"Retired" Association of Marine Technicians...
Joined
Jul 7, 2004
Messages
2,064
https://www.iboats.com/shop/blowers-jabsco-legacy-imf-3183.html

Most high quality boats use a squirrel cage blower because they last longer and are quite a bit quieter.
I have converted a few boats for customers that feel safer running the blower at all times and don’t like the limited life span and noise of an in-line blower that most smaller boats come with.
If you search a little, they can be found that accepts a hose on both ends.
 

TyeeMan

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
849
Say now, I like those squirrel cage fans!! I'll have to give one of those some serious thought.

I don't run the fan 100% of the time, especially when on plane. At idle speeds I cycle it on and off, but man it's still annoying.

Thanks for all the tips!
 
Top