[C320-list] Bilge blower

[Jack Brennan]

Blowers originally came into use for gasoline engines, the idea being that you remove potentially explosive gases from the bilge before causing a spark by starting the engine. It has never been clear to me why Catalina installed the blowers in boats using diesel, which is not explosive. 

If you have an extremely tight engine compartment, the diesel can run short of air. But I’ve never found that to be the case with my 320. The housings at front and rear are not air tight by any means. You can tell when an air shortage  happens because the engine will not run properly.

I don’t think they’re necessary, and I’ve never used mine. They wouldn’t even remove much stink from the bilge because there is only a couple of small holes connecting the engine compartment to the main bilge.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.


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