Head scratcher...

[jasoutside]

There was a conversation on one of the other threads that got me thinking...

What in the heck are these for (one on the other side too)...

 

[Casey G]

Re: Head scratcher...

I thought they were fresh air intakes for the motor to get rid of the fumes

 

[sasto]

Re: Head scratcher...

I'll play ........my guess, engine air intake.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

OK more info might be helpful, sorry...

I have two more just like them at the stern for air intake and exhaust.

More...

When I got the beat up ol girl there was vent hose attached to those. The hose came down and ran along the shelf there for just about a foot or two...

 

[djpeters]

Re: Head scratcher...

Fresh air if she was all covered up, or a camper top and sides up?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Head scratcher...

Did it look like the hoses had been cut off, or did they look factory?

Maybe to keep a breeze thru the interior to keep fumes minimized?

 

[sasto]

Re: Head scratcher...

I would guess the ones on the stern is for your bilge blower, one intake and one exhaust. I don't know that boat, so why am I posting?

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Head scratcher...

Posibly side mounted gas tanks and they are vents for fumes. To far forward for the engine I think

 

[Ross72]

Re: Head scratcher...

Were the fuel tanks originally up towards the cabin? It is possible that they could be air vents for the fuel tanks. I had an old Dorsett that had a tank in the bow and there was a vent hose connected to it. The hose ran to the top of the deck to one of those "thingies".

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Head scratcher...

Fresh air if she was all covered up, or a camper top and sides up?

Best guess I've read.

 

[airshot]

Re: Head scratcher...

Probably went back and down to the floor or under it. I think those came with fuel tanks under the floor or in the side walls and those were vents for the tank or tanks. Possible that longer hose ran to the back engine area but more likely under the floor area. Hose has probably been cut off or broke off from age but it is definetly an air intake and probably two in the rear that face the rear of the boat. Supposed to have two forward and two rearward ( intake and exhaust) my islander has both sets in the rear, two intakes on the outside with hoses down under the floor and two closer to center with very short hoses to exhaust. Fresh air forced down, exhaust sucked from near the top.
Hope this makes some sense.......

Airshot

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

Man, you guys are a stinking sharp group! Good lookin too!

Well all along I have assumed that they were most likely used for one of three things...

1. Ventilation for the engine.

2. Ventilation for the fuel tanks.

3. Since this was originally an OMC Stringer drive, access holes to stuff piles and piles of money never to be seen again. Two access holes just in case I couldn't stuff cash fast enough into just one.:facepalm:

I know huron was asking the question and the rest of you guys were thinking factory ventilation setup for engine or fuel tanks. I have probably thought it over a hundred times but just couldn't settle it in my mellon as there was no place for those vent lines to go. No holes going sub deck and no holes in the doghouse to receive any vent lines. The fuel tanks were above deck in the seat boxes and there were no tanks below deck. Deck was original to the boat and I am almost sure the doghouse was too. I still just wrote it off as me being a big dumb head and figured it had to be ventilation for fuel tanks or engine somehow.

But this got me thinking...

Check out what starcraftkid says over here at post #16...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=460090

....and I really think dj is on to something too....

Fresh air if she was all covered up, or a camper top and sides up?

I can imagine it being pretty stuffy/humid with a full wrap around canvas set up.

Maybe either one (or both) of those ideas are making a whole lot of sense to me now.

I know, pretty meaningless, huh. Sorry! Just got me scratching my head is all

But, what else are we going to do?

Squabble over pour in foam, noodles, motor oil, marine grade plywood, IO/OB?

We can if ya want to

Rock on doods!

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Head scratcher...

They are air intakes to remove gas fumes from the bilge on I/O's. My Starcraft has them also. Gas fumes are heavier than air so they collect in the lowest part of the hull, the bilge. If you hit the starter without first removing the fumes, kaboom goes your engine cover. The two front ones are intake, the two rear are the exhaust. Directly underneith one of your rear exhaust covers should be your bilge blower. Run it for a while before hitting the starter. The longer you have been sitting still with no wind and on hotter days, run it longer.

 

[djpeters]

Re: Head scratcher...

They are air intakes to remove gas fumes from the bilge on I/O's. My Starcraft has them also. Gas fumes are heavier than air so they collect in the lowest part of the hull, the bilge. If you hit the starter without first removing the fumes, kaboom goes your engine cover. The two front ones are intake, the two rear are the exhaust. Directly underneith one of your rear exhaust covers should be your bilge blower. Run it for a while before hitting the starter. The longer you have been sitting still with no wind and on hotter days, run it longer.

Ding, ding, ding, I think you have a winning answer.

Has anyone mentioned the fume issue to KellyC? He wants to add a heater and I wonder if fumes from that could do the same thing. I'll go see......

 

[TheWrks]

Re: Head scratcher...

I have 2 intake port and starboard and 2 exhaust Aft

 

[KellyC]

Re: Head scratcher...

On my 22 Islander I have one intake and one exhaust and both are on the back of the boat. So I will through a monkey wrench in the thinking just cause I can.:facepalm:

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

The two front ones are intake

Do your vent lines run all the way to the stern and then into your doghouse?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Head scratcher...

I think DJ and Starcraftkid nailed it on the scupes on the gunwales. Have you ever had the rear sliding window of your truck open while under way? If so you'd notice a wicked draft entering the cabin. Do you have a snow drift in the front half of the truck bed right now like me The same aerodynamic should occure with these cuddies (I've never ridden in one of these tin cuddies!). Fumes from the stern should be pulled forward and trapped in a high pressure bubble right where your sitting. You might notice it more during a decarb. Forced air from these scupes might be enough at certain speeds to equalize the pressure bubble and prevent trapped fumes. Also these air scupes would give much needed fresh air if you have a full enclosure. Do your windows fog up?
Before this thread I was thinking about covering them up, now I may just install some kind of valve for cold weather use. Thanks Jas!!!

Jas - you didn't say noodle did you?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

Before this thread I was thinking about covering them up, now I may just install some kind of valve for cold weather use.

Yah I was too. I was thinking that I would cover those front ones with an antenna plate on one side and rod holder/net holder deal on the other.

Now, not so much?????

I'll need to stew on it a little, eh!

 

[FJ_Russo]

Re: Head scratcher...

JAS I think you already had it figured out.. being an IO your going to need lots f holes to stuff money in for when she breaks down I'm surprised EZ didnt jump on that one earlier...