Bilge Blowers Review

Summary

Bilge blowers or other mechanical ventilation systems have been required by United States Coast Guard regulations on non-open boats that are powered by gasoline since 1980. Older boats may also need bilge blowers to meet the United States Coast Guard regulations for proper ventilation. Besides fulfilling a requirement, boat bilge blowers perform an important safety function by ventilating the boat and protecting you from hazardous gas fumes.

Be sure to invest in a quality bilge blower and have it properly installed. The type of blower you will need varies according to where it has to be placed and on the space available for it on the boat. There is usually an intake vent on one side of the boat and an exhaust vent on the other side of the boat. Fresh air is moved through the engine compartment and the exhaust and fumes are blown out. There are two main-types of bilge blowers—a squirrel-cage design and a tunnel-type design, but regardless of type, the unit should be ignition-protected to protect against sparks and must be corrosion-resistant.

Bilge blowers come in different sizes corresponding with the volume of the engine compartment of the boat. Their capacity is measured in how much air they can move in cubic feet per minute (c.f.m.). Common boat bilge blower sizes run from 100 c.f.m. to 250 c.f.m. for engine compartments from 70 cubic feet to 300 cubic feet. Large boats may need more than one bilge blower. The blower should be run for at least 4 minutes to clear the exhaust.

Pros

• Bilge blowers are required by the United States Coast Guard on many gasoline-powered boats built since 1980.
• Bilge blowers protect boaters from hazardous gasoline fumes and exhaust.
• Bilge blowers perform an important safety function for boats with gasoline engines.

Cons

• Bilge blowers can break down.
• Bilge blowers must be properly installed.

Featured Manufacturers

Attwood and Rule.

Conclusion

The United States Coast Guard has recognized the important safety function that bilge blowers perform in ridding boat engine compartments of hazardous gasoline fumes and has required bilge blowers on most gasoline-powered boats built since 1980. Older boats may also fall under ventilation requirements that include bilge blowers. Even if there was not a legal requirement for the blowers, bilge blowers would still be highly recommended for safety. These devices have intakes for fresh air and exhaust vents for blowing out the fumes of the engine compartment. Bilge blowers are manufactured in two major types to suit the placement and space requirements of different boats, a squirrel-cage type and a tunnel type. Boat owners must know the volume of their engine compartments to choose the correct size of blowers, which are measured in how much cubic air is moved per minute.