Running Blower when Sking

[kailec00]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I second the turn your motor off when people are getting in and out of the boat. I have a really big swim platform, but still turn the motor off. My kids and passengers will not get out or on the boat from the water if the motor is not off.
I do not run the blower unless I have been sitting for awhile or after filling up with fuel.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Just out of curiosity, those of you who only run your blowers at certain times....why?

Mine gets turned on before I start and turned off after I shut down. If the engine is running the blower is running; vents the hot air, potential fumes, etc. Never really though I needed to shut it off. Am I missing something here?

 

[Icyharp]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Elmilsr,

I shut mine off while on plane because the vents are going to draw in way more air than the blower will ever do. Not a big deal if you want to run yours all the time, but for me that is just the way I do it. Otherwise it is on, as I have said before.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

When people are swiming around the boat the motor goes off. When changing People out for Sking and tubing I do not. The motor is of course in neutral and the prop is not spinning. I cannot be the only the one doing this. Ok preparing to get chastised for this.

On topic at hand I think I will turn the blower off only on plane.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

To stick with the prop safety for a minute, I'd recommend killing the motor. It's easier to communicate with rider, NO chance of a spinning prop when there is no spinning motor. Leave your blower on the whole time until on plane. Personally, I am more concerned about prop injury than the boat going up in flames.

To get way off topic, If I was going to chastise you it would be for not getting out there and skiing yet.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

what i do is run my blower when i put the boat in the water and keep it on till i shoot out into the channel then i will turn it off while i putt putt threw once i am 15 feet from the channel exit i turn them on again. for water sports i will keep them on if people keep falling off but if i am cruising and there good i will turn them off. i just put the carb back on the engine and i know there is no gas leaks so i dont worry about that as for fumes, even after putting $150.00 of gas into it i didnt smell any still let the blowers run extra long in case. safty first if people are jumping off ship or trying to get on the engine even if its in neutral should be off because whats the off chance that you bump it or it is still spinning.

 

[2000fourwinns]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Unless you have some kind of starting problem or low battery, why in the world is it a problem to turn off the motor while people are around the back of the boat? I do not get it. As far as the blowers go, my old boat (1984 Sportcraft) had vents on each side of the boat at the rear that would "push" air into the engine compartment at speed but I don't have them on my new boat (2000 Four Winns Horizon 200). There are 4 vents in the rear just under the sun deck. So far I can not figure out how the engine compartment would breath without the blower on. It doesnt matter anyway because I don't see a reason for turning it off. If it can't run for an hour or two at a time, then something is wrong with it.

Will

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

So far I can not figure out how the engine compartment would breath without the blower on.

The carb draws all the air it needs through the vents, the blower is to evacute air, not bring it in (although air will come in to fill the stuff you are blowing out)

 

[sswheeler]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I just leave the blower on all the time. I'll forget if I don't. Engine is off anytime anyone is in the water. For safety and its too loud to talk. (through hull exhaust)

 

[Navigator_Victory]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

people in water engine off.....why take a chance of something mechanical failing or a wave bumping someone into the shifter etc....

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

OK engine off when People in the water. I get it Folks. I just think I really don't need to shut if off and on for about a couple of minutes pulling people in and out of the boat.

Swimming around the boat for long periods of time I do shut off the Motor.

 

[specmkr]

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.

Don't run mine very much either. Do always cut the engine while loading or unloading. I however have been having this same problem shutting off sometimes. Haven't thought about the blower helping that situation.

 

[crablegs]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I just use my boat for bowfishing, its a work boat and I never pull anyone around, and if I did I would shut the motor off! I have a story that reaffirms this.
We were moving around the bank a bit with the outboard while bowfishing, I had the motor in neutral for about a minute while we were doing something, when a boat wake that neither of us noticed rocked my jon boat really good, I was going down to the floor and grabbed for whatever I could...which was the throttle lever. The motor was thrown into full reverse which knocked my friend off the deck (he was fine, but I got a good slap haha). All I could think was that that could have happened while someone was back by the motor, and I could have just killed them. And personally as someone getting in a boat, I refuse to get in a boat with the motor running.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Thanks for the replies and the stories.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Here's a test: With the motor off and some water shoes on your feet, hang onto your swim platform and see if you can touch the prop with your toes. If so, the motor needs to be off.

A couple of years ago I saw some guys doing some construction on the front of my neighbor's house. I wandered over to ask what they were building. "A wheelchair ramp" the guy replied. "Oh" I asked "Is their grandmother moving in with them?" "No", he replied. "It's for Hank. His foot hit my prop when he slipped off my swim deck while he was getting back into my boat." Hank was in that wheelchair 6 months....

Dave

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Just switch the engine off when anyone is in the water or near that nasty prop.
In or out of the boat.
No matter if its neutral.

Please switch it off.
At least if the engine is off you will hopefully carry out your safety routine before starting again, ie, check no one is in the water, hanging off the end of the swim deck etc. If the engine is already on it's too easy to forget this and bang it ito gear.

Boating is dangerous enough without relying on mechanical things to work properly.

Please switch it off.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Ok OK I will turn off the motor and leave the blower on.

Thank you very much.

Good DAy.

 

[brian_mcwhirter]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

What I find curious, is that in this entire thread, nobody has mentioned the exhaust fumes that build up around the stern of the boat when the motor is idling. We've heard numerous reports of people who "Teak Surf" just off the stern of the boat, being overcome by CO2 fumes, and dropping dead. In California, we're required to install a (DMV provided) sticker on the stern of the craft warning of the dangers of CO2 fumes. Obviously this is more than just a prop safety issue. Please shut the motor down if people are anywhere in the water around the back of the boat. Just my PSA for the day. . .

 

[specmkr]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

Good point as well Brian. This is my first boat, and I have definitely noticed that as well. I have made it a habit to cut the engine anytime I am stopped for anything, and this is one of the reasons.

 

[Ronald harms]

Re: Running Blower when Sking

I tend to agree with emilsr, seemsto me an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I've owned IOs and inboards for years , turned the blower on "minutes"B4 starting, and shut it off when done for the day. Maybe not necessary but one less thing to have to "deal" with. (OFF WHEN FUELING, back on MINUTES B4 restart.)