Blige Blowers
 

I am replacing both bilge blowers in my 47 Fountain. One of the blowers sucks fresh air in as the other blows it out. I get the theory there but being the 47 Fountain has large fresh air vents on both sides would the I get more fresh air in bilge having both blow out with fresh air coming in through vents?

I believe the idea is that the blowers are meant to remove any possible fumes while the boat is NOT in motion and before the engines (two or three in your case - wow!) are fired. Also many use the blowers at idle speeds. This setup insures clean "fresh air" into your bilge while motionless or at low speeds rather than the mixture of fresh air and possible fumes you might have if you set up your blowers as two pushers.

You own my dream boat. I'm curious if you tow it and if you do with what? I have a few additional questions if you don't mind a PM. Good luck.

Sure the one wasn't installed backwards? Seems the vents are more than enough to pass air with 2 blowers pulling fumes from the bottom of the bilge, as they are meant to do
I see no benefit having the one pulling air in and just 1 pushing it out. If anything, it's cutting the circulation in half

This is what I was thinking. It looks as if both blowers are original. They both will now be exhaust blowers.

PM away WES

I too thought they were supposed to both blow out. The blowers are not intended to provided a CAI effect.

I will have to check my 47 never thought one might be backwards

Tow Vechicle: Ford F450 4x4 V8 6.4 liter diesel

My blowers both blow out. I tow my 47 Fountain with an F450 also.

How many people on here actually use their bilge blowers?

My blowers are the 1st thing that get turned on, and they stay on till the key goes to off. No exceptions.

Bilge Blowers
 

The bilge blowers are designed to blow air outward. On 27,29,32 foot Fountains they were prone to get water logged when pulling back the thottles to fast. The water woud rush down the plastic tube washing out the bearings. The bearings would lock up on the fan , causing the fans to over heat and burn up.

Not on this 32. :whistle:

I don't even run mine. I figure with as much air flows through the vents, it should be good.

Might want to rethink your nonuse of them. They aren't for when you are running around on the water.
Air doesn't flow thru your bilge when your boat is sitting, or after you just filled up at the gas dock. That's when you use them.

I think the lines are to run your blowers at all speeds below plaining speeds???? I'd forget to turn mine back on after coming off plain, so I just leave them running all the time the motors are running.

Where did u buy those?

Do the blowers produce enough of a volume of air to open those flappers?

Yep. Work like a champ with zero problems. The internal flappers are an 1/8" poly material. Light weight, plus the pivot point is just high enough above center, very little flow is needed to open them do to the almost equal weight balance and pivot freely, yet the slightly higher amount of weight of the flapper below the pivot makes them close with no flow. Any water hitting them from the back just closes them even tighter.
All about ratio of surface area/weight, above/below the pivot pin and the fact they move with zero effort that makes them work just from the air flow.

Cool! I think I'll start running my blower this year.

Gasoline vapors sink and fill up the boat from the bottom up, both blowers should be sucking air from under your motors just above the bilge water - read lowest point in the bilge. The engine stringers divide the boat and make pockets on each side that need to be evacuated. They should be run before you start your motors every time. A loose battery cable or failing connection at the starter could create a spark and ignite any fumes. Gas could come from a loose fitting or hose or failing carb - whatever - it is not worth the risk not of not running them. I also have a fume detector in place under each motor too. If you have a diesel boat then the issue goes away.

So did u build them urself?

Sorry, forgot to answer, Yes i made them.

These are words of wisdom...

I am with US1 on this as well....blower fan motors are CHEAP compared to blowing up your boat. Mine run anytime the engines are running. I also open my hatch when I launch the boat and start it after it has been sitting in storage.

Two new blowers installed & both are being used as discharge blowers. The original set up was starboard blower set up for fresh air in @ port was air out. I knew they were both working but I never thought to check the direction of flow.
I too run my blowers all the time. I have never seen a boat blow up in person but I have talked to people that have & they say it is not pretty. Blowers are cheap not worth the risk.

I agree. Didn't see the actual boat blow up, but saw the carcus later on in the day tied up to the shore. Boat just filled up with gas at marina, hit key, boom. Burned down to the waterline.

Some times just seeing the aftermath and then realizing that not only can it happen, but it does happen, makes you more aware and more likely to flip that switch.

I'd put money on the blower being installled backwards from day 1. Not hard to do.

I personally know two people that spent weeks in ICU from burns to 75 % of their body for not running their blowers. To make things worse, the hatch was open a bit. The boat was coming out for the first time that year. Fumes form in the very bottom of your bilge. I turn my blowers on first thing when I get in the boat and when I dock for a few minutes. Sure beats the alternative.

Kaboom
 

30 yrs ago-half asleep at 3:30 am -i forgot to hit my blowers before the ign. On my inboard cc lobster boat
after a short involuntery rocket flight over the rail and a trip 8' underwater until i kicked my boots off - i surfaced to a 30' mushroom cloud of flame and a permanent life lesson.
Aways hit the blowers

hell i've considered putting them in my living room recliner , in case of a bad burrito!

Use 'em!

http://www.kgw.com/news/Three-rescue...-89273632.html

that would be a good test to try,one boat with one blower blowing air in,and one blower used as exhaust,another boat with two exhaust blowers:nhl_fight:

While we are on the subject. My brother had a small ski boat and the float must have stuck or something.. Anyway . when she blew, the motor cover hit him in the back of the head and he and his faimly swam in the water and watched it burn to nothing. He didn't have halon but still even w that . It's not good !!!. Always use when off plane !! Smell your vents before you start and always make sure your Aircrafft fittings are not dripping fuel . Or open the hatch and smell before you start

All of mine have always had one going in and one going out.

Now that is funny:lolhit:

An ex employee of mines father spent his entire retirement savings on a new to him boat and the second time out didn't run the blowers, and guess what happened true story..boating 101 always run the blowers. I'm w us1, mine in my 32 are always on....