I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

[Expidia]

It's still dangerous out there no matter what you do . . . Yesterday we tied the boat up to a town dock and my wife waits with the boat while I get the trailer to pull the boat out. As I was walking up the ramp an 18 or 20 foot boat was just sliding off the trailer on the side of the ramp. I could hear the guy holding the lines an tying the boat off (boat owners friend) talking to my Wife about the weather since she was standing in the middle of the dock, right next to his boat in the middle of the dock as the other boat was tied up directly opposite our boat.

As I and the other boat's owner I walked down the ramp together to our boats . . . his boat was already running with his friend sitting in it?

I got a quick sickening feeling in my stomach when I heard the boat's owner say to his friend . . . "did you turn my blowers on"?

The friend says back to him . . . "whats a blower"?

All I could picture was his boat blowing up into smithereens along with my Wife standing right next to it

It's like I don't have enough to remember already when launching and retrieving . . . now I can add another one to my list . . . don't be around anyone starting his "inboard" while at the dock

 

[seaboo]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

I have an inboard and it is AMAZING watching guys fuel up too. Even at the "fueling spot" I use, the "attendant" (who is really NORMALLY pretty knowledgeable about boats) will fill me up and almost immediately push me off (so I have to check for fumes and run the blower for a while while drifting toward the shore uncontrollably). I've also seen alot of folks that leave the blower on while refueling and NEVER think about it.

 

[45Auto]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Better keep her away from outboards too. Only boat fire/explosion I've ever seen was when a guy went to hook up his battery on a small flatboat with about a 50HP outboard and the whole boat burst into flames. He went overboard, got some bad burns on his arms and face.

Any gasoline powered boat is dangerous, the fumes settle to the bottom of the boat and any kind of spark will set them off. No way to tell the dangerous people apart, they don't have signs on their head .....

 

[Expidia]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Better keep her away from outboards too. Only boat fire/explosion I've ever seen was when a guy went to hook up his battery on a small flatboat with about a 50HP outboard and the whole boat burst into flames. He went overboard, got some bad burns on his arms and face.

Any gasoline powered boat is dangerous, the fumes settle to the bottom of the boat and any kind of spark will set them off. No way to tell the dangerous people apart, they don't have signs on their head .....

So what you are saying is you don't feel a need for blowers being required on all inboards and if you have one no need to turn the blower on for a few minutues before starting or re-fueling

 

[lncoop]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

I think he's just saying inboard or outboard, doctor, lawyer or indian chief, you can't fix stupid.

 

[Expidia]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

I think he's just saying inboard or outboard, doctor, lawyer or indian chief, you can't fix stupid.

Yes, I understood that but the way the OP's comments read is that since he never personally saw an inboard catch on fire by a spark in the engine compartment due to built up fumes . . .

It's just saying to other boaters that read this thread that maybe there really is no need to ventilate before starting

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

had a boat blow here at the local marina due to not running blowers after refueling... blast was bout 60 feet up, took out windows, a door and part of the shops roof. pieces of the doghouse are imbeded in the metal siding of the pumps dock and buildings. i havent paid attention myself of who is running or not running the blowers at the ramp, but i will now. cant fix stupid

 

[j_martin]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Out here in the counry I have taught my children about gasoline fumes this way.

An inverted 55 gallon drum, with about an ounce of gasoline sprayed into it and a spark supplied, will go about 200 feet straight up.

Disclaimer: The engineering and safety precautions are important, and up to you.

 

[Doernuth]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Out here in the counry I have taught my children about gasoline fumes this way.

An inverted 55 gallon drum, with about an ounce of gasoline sprayed into it and a spark supplied, will go about 200 feet straight up.

Disclaimer: The engineering and safety precautions are important, and up to you.

I want to see the video of that!!

 

[jtmarten]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

I've also seen alot of folks that leave the blower on while refueling and NEVER think about it.

I think I've only fuelled at a marina once, but why not leave it on? If you're worried about the blower causing a big boom if vapors are present, better not turn it on EVER. It's what they're designed for.

 

[45Auto]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

The blower causing a boom is not the reason for leaving it off while fueling. The purpose of a blower is to pull clean outside air into the bilge. If you run it while fueling you are possibly pulling gas fumes INTO the bilge instead of clean air.

See the warning by the red arrow on the Attwood blower instructions below:

That's why all the blower manufacturer's, safety courses, Coast Gaurd, etc, all say to not turn on the blower till AFTER fueling for at least 4 minutes.

So what you are saying is you don't feel a need for blowers being required on all inboards and if you have one no need to turn the blower on for a few minutues before starting or re-fueling

Yes, I understood that but the way the OP's comments read is that since he never personally saw an inboard catch on fire by a spark in the engine compartment due to built up fumes

Sorry, didn't mean to if I did, and don't remember posting anything about inboards in my original post. As Incoop said, and J-Martin showed with his oil drum demonstration, I was just trying to point out that gasoline fumes in ANY type of boat or container are dangerous. They're heavier then air and there's no where for them to go if you're not using a blower, no matter what kind of motor is on your boat.

This Iboat thread was by a poster with an outboard. He discovered that the bilge of his boat was full of gas when he turned on his bilge pump and it started pumping out gas!!! Luckily nothing sparked on him, he ended up replacing the tank in his boat:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=47848http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=47848&page=2

 

[Thad]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Funny thing about fuel vapors and spark. They react violently with each other. Hence "combustible engines". People don't think about it the way they should. Turnung the blower on should be, and is on my boat, the first thing that is done. Regardless of who is the first one in the boat.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

I was just talking to someone about this yesterday, seems to be all my friends with BIG boats and 100% inboards never run their blowers ever......

Always wondered about that.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

friend of mine always opens both engine covers as well as running the blowers before he thinks about starting it. and even then he is down in the engine sniffing for fumes

 

[jtmarten]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

The blower causing a boom is not the reason for leaving it off while fueling. The purpose of a blower is to pull clean outside air into the bilge. If you run it while fueling you are possibly pulling gas fumes INTO the bilge instead of clean air.

Gotcha, makes good sense. I'll remember that if I ever have to fuel dockside again.

 

[Fishing56]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Always pull my boat to the lake, about 20 minutes at about 50 mph. Think this provides a lot of ventilation. I still run blower for at least 2 minutes before starting. By the way, my boat is a 4.3lx I/O 18". However if boat has been sitting at dock all night I can see more need for longer blower.

My question is how necessary is it to run blower at below cruising speeds?

Thanks,
Fishing56

 

[45Auto]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

Every owner's manual and instruction sheet I've ever seen recommends running the blower anytime you're operating at idle speeds. It definitely won't hurt anything. I usually leave mine running through the no-wake zone leaving the dock, but have never turned it on when I turn around to pick up a skier, etc.

 

[seaboo]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

However if boat has been sitting at dock all night I can see more need for longer blower.

My question is how necessary is it to run blower at below cruising speeds?

Thanks,
Fishing56

At the slip I normally check the oil and do a "sniff" test (I'm right there anyway and I have to breathe), crank up the blower while getting ready and then go. I've gotten in the habit of just leaving the blower on no matter what speed I'm at (doesn't draw much power and I have a spare battery just in case...plus it saves trying to remember to turn it back on). I do not know HOW important it is to run it below cruising speed (but I know my manual says to) and I know if I'm idling around or sitting I can smell exhaust fumes in the boat without the blower on so I assume it serves dual purposes (at least in my case).

 

[gonefishie]

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

So gas fume is a big concern with inboard. I'm curious why they don't put vent holes to eliminate the problem? or vent holes alone aren't enough? I'm thinking intake vents high above the water line at the bow that piped into the bilge and discharge vents at the stern?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: I try and get away from ramps ASAP but . . .

I'll save those plans for building my next submarine.