boat fire, how often do you use your blower?

[zad0030]

You should turn it on regardless whether you filled up or not. It has less to do with fumes created when fueling and just fumes in general. We run ours for sure at every launch and then my dad has a habit of turning it on 5 seconds before he starts the engine...at least its something.

[Moki]

I always turn my on on the ramp and usually off when we we are cruising. I am not always consistent, but I usually turn it on a few minutes before starting it and about 50/50 when we are surfing.

[talltigeguy]

Reminds me that I really should use the blower. I think I have used it 3 times and every time I forgot and left it on after I started the boat. I worry that I will notice it is on the next time I take the boat out and have dead batteries.

I guess if I make it a habit, it will be easier to remember.

[Razzman]

My wife reminds everytime we go to start or launch by announcing "BLOWER!" so i can't forget.

[larryueckert]

My wife reminds everytime we go to start or launch by announcing "BLOWER!" so i can't forget.

thats a good wife razz

[Grant]

Did any of you guys see the picture of the fuel dock fire in Powell years ago?
It was pinned to the wall in the office at the Halls Crossing fuel dock. I dont remember what year it was and I believe it was the Bullfrog fuel dock that burned.It was knarly to say the least.
They took the picture down I have not seen it in a couple of years.

[jwanck11]

Put ours on always before starting and then forget to turn it off till were done

[tsnowflake72]

Turn mine on from the time we start to the time we leave.

[balair]

What's this Blower you speak of?

WE never use ours, Blowers were more for carbureted engines. Fuel injectors don't release fumes into the bilge like carburetors do....plus the gas tank doesn't vent into the bilge anyway.

[bfrank]

I have it on before I start the boat untill after I shut it down. Bottom line it cant hurt to get the fumes out and suck some fresh air in!

[SPBFAN]

What's this Blower you speak of?

WE never use ours, Blowers were more for carbureted engines. Fuel injectors don't release fumes into the bilge like carburetors do....plus the gas tank doesn't vent into the bilge anyway.

You are seriously in danger thinking like this. The fumes do get into that compartment just not as bad as with a carburetor engine.

[dogbert]

I use mine when we initially launch or start for the day and then only when it's been sitting off for a while. My blower causes electrical noise, so when I'm picking up a rider and I know I'm going to restart within a few minutes, I don't bother turning it on.

I have blower issues because of the brilliant blower vent design that forces water through my blower vent into the bilge whenever I stop. I'm on my 5th blower.

[dogbert]

You are seriously in danger thinking like this. The fumes do get into that compartment just not as bad as with a carburetor engine.

I'm going to second this opinion. Unless you have a fire extinguishing system in your bilge, I would use the blower.

As for fuel injection systems, I have one of these and I can tell you that a simple O-Ring failure can cause your fuel system to pump fuel into your bilge.

I fared better than chpthril, for which I am thankful, but entire ride back to the dock knowing fuel was spewing into the bilge was like waiting for a time bomb to go off. Very scary.

[mneal]

Way false,
Carb vs. FI makes zero difference. Most of the gas fumes in the bilge results from fuel leaks and a FI engine actually has higher fuel system pressure then a carb engine. You can go 100 life times and never have fumes in your bilge and never have a problem, but gasoline fumes are heavier then air and if you ever have fumes and the right ratio everyone might die. Gas tanks never ever vented into the bilge, it is and always was about fumes accumulating where they were not meant too.

Blower threads are like automotive starters threads, just because you have gotten away with it does not mean you will ALWAYS get away with it. The forgetting to turn it off so I never use it is weak excuse, worst thing happens is you wear it out every couple years, they cost like 30 bucks.

Everyone should always use the blower when the boat has sat for any length of time.

What's this Blower you speak of?

WE never use ours, Blowers were more for carbureted engines. Fuel injectors don't release fumes into the bilge like carburetors do....plus the gas tank doesn't vent into the bilge anyway.