Running Blower when Sking

[AZBoatDreamer]

I'm not sure where to put this topic but anyway here it goes.

Do you all run your blower when you ski or do water sports. The boat sits Idle very often when people are unloading and loading from the water. I'm afraid the fumes are building up in the Engine compartment because the boat is not moving.

David

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I run mine about half the time. Its not for fumes when running, I run it to help move hot air out from the motor box.

 

[Icyharp]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I run mine about half the time. Its not for fumes when running, I run it to help move hot air out from the motor box.

I second that;

I will have the blower on when I am putting around the lake....sometimes ya just got to go slow. But when I am pulling a tube, skier, or cruing on plane I let the vents do there thing and not worry about it.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I second that;

I will have the blower on when I am putting around the lake....sometimes ya just got to go slow. But when I am pulling a tube, skier, or cruing on plane I let the vents do there thing and not worry about it.

Its when the boat is seating Idle for several minutes while unload and loading people from the water. I'm concerned that I should be running the blower.

 

[Icyharp]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Not for those few mins, you are fine, but it does not hurt to run it anyway as an added insurance and peace of mind.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Thank you Icy.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I turn the boat off if I'm changing skiers and put the blower on. If I'm just looping around to pick up a downed skier for another try i just leave it off as I'm seldom stationary.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

OK I was waiting for someone to mention turn the motor off. Dont want to stop and start the motor everytime switching out Skiers or Tubers.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

What kind of fumes are going to build up in the engine compartment when the boat is idling unless you have an exhaust leak?

 

[Icyharp]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

What kind of fumes are going to build up in the engine compartment when the boat is idling unless you have an exhaust leak?

If you are refering to why I trun it on? It is to rid the heat out of the compartment, since mine is from the 80's the manufactures thought that by adding so much foam, (insulation) and padded seats they were quieting down the noise of the engine. Well they did do that along with introducing warmer air temps in the engine bay which leads to vapor lock of the carb. Since then newer I/O's have added ways to cool the fuel, injection etc... to prevent this. Hope that helps answer your question.

Otherwise you are right, the engine will suck down any fumes emitted while running.

 

[convergent]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I would never load and unload skiers with the motor running on a stern drive or outboard... just my opinion.

 

[Icyharp]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I would never load and unload skiers with the motor running on a stern drive or outboard... just my opinion.

Who is suggesting that they do?

Well after reading this I see what you see, and ya I shut mine off every time I am picking up or tossing out peeps. Sorry for being complacent as I assume since I shut mine off everyone else does as well, it is "Boating Safety 101"

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

OK I read in my boating manual that I should run the blower when setting Idle for long periods of times or 4 minutes prior to starting the engine. I thought this would include setting Idle when switching people for sking.

This is going to get off topic. Yes I never turn of the motor when swapping people out. I have a large swim platform and people are no where near the prop or stern. Anyway I grew up around boating when I was little and I remember the motor was never turned off when getting in and out of the water for sking.

 

[the vision]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I run my blower before start-up, I also run it through idle zones on the river. And always shut down the inboard when swapping the kids on the tube. That,s just me. I also run the blower if we just sit idle for a few miutes, which doesn't happen often.But I don't see any reason to run it while running on plain while pulling the tube.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Looked at the manual again. It also says run blower at slow speeds. I think I will continue doing what Im doing and run the blower when setting Idle at all times.
Like someone said. It aint hurting anything.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I don't believe the design of my boat creates enough air flow so I run the blower to add it.

Think of how much money some people pay to get a dedicated cold air to their engines with cold air intakes, and then open your engine compartment and see how warm the air is your engine is mixing with your fuel. Why not get more colder air in there?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Regarding turning mine on and off when I pick up skier, I turn it off. I have kids, beer, etc on board, people can slip, stuff can happen, etc. Why not turn it on and off?

 

[Augoose]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Running the blower is a great idea at any speed below wake. Not only does it vent hot air, but it is designed to vent fuel vapors to prevent ignition. Blowers are a $30 item so why not run it. I imagine that if you read just about any operators manual it will advise you to run the blow prior to and after running the engine, as well as at any speed below cruising speed.

 

[Ithica DB]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

PLEASE TURN OFF MOTOR WHEN PICKING UP SKIERS. That is my psa for the day. As for the blower I was having problems with the motor not wanting to shut off or chuging they told me to run the blower more and use a cooler plug it works, shuts off fine now.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Not to sound like a jerk but unless you have an inboard you should always shut down when picking up people out of the water doesn't matter what kind of platform you have. Seems like a roll of the dice that you really dont need to make. Just my opinion though