[C320-list] Bilge blower

[Joe Luciano]

The point I was making was that the propane hazard is there 24/7 for a leak from a live tank system.  The hazard for a gasoline engine is when you press the button to start it.

Joe

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 15, 2021, at 9:41 PM, Ade Bateman <ade.bateman at outlook.com> wrote:
> 
> It's not supposed to protect you when you sleep, same as a blower on a gas-powered engine won't protect you while you sleep. Bilge blowers are intended to remove explosive gases before starting the engine, whether it is from a gasoline or propane. I'm not saying it necessarily does a good job of this, but just that this is the reasoning for installing them on diesel powered boats. Yes, you can install an explosive gas alarm (and I have on my boat) but you can also do that on a gas-powered powerboat and yet they still have blowers (because if you detect explosive gases then what do you do next?).
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Joe Luciano
> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 6:07 PM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge blower
> 
> Unless you run your blower 24/7, it won’t protect you from a propane leak that could make it to your bilge while sleeping or while relaxing at anchor.  Doesn’t seem like logical reasoning to me.  The propane tank locker has a low point vent overboard.  You can also place a propane alarm in your bilge.
> 
> Joe
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Dec 15, 2021, at 4:22 PM, Ade Bateman <ade.bateman at outlook.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Years ago, when I took boat safety classes, I was taught that bilge blowers were installed on diesel engine boats that had propane, because propane is heavier than air and will also sit in the bilge. 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Joe Luciano
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 1:35 PM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge blower
>> 
>> Agree with Jack.  I never use mine either with a Diesel engine.  Just isn’t necessary unless you like extra noise.  Different story altogether with a gasoline engine.  I’ve seen a gasoline power boat blow up at the dock due to a buildup of fumes in the bilge.
>> 
>> Joe Luciano 
>> #1044
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>>> On Dec 15, 2021, at 12:19 PM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 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.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from Mail for Windows
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>