[Public-List] Blower

[Gordon Laco]

We don’t run the blower either, once the air is proven safe coming up from the engine compartment.  The engine itself is a pretty powerful air pump drawing in fresh air and blowing it out the exhaust.

So… on another topic, the professional marine electrician I engaged last January at the Toronto Boat Show started work on SURPRISE yesterday.  His booth was near mine and over the ten day slog we had plenty of time to chat.    

My boat has the usual ‘classic-plastic of the late 1960’s rats nest of wire down around the engine and up behind the switch panel.   When I bought her I marvelled that the previous owner tolerated having to throw the ‘Windshield Wiper’ switch on the panel to turn on the steaming light and so on.  Well after 22 years of ownership I’m finally dealing with all that.  Or rather I’ve hired a pro to deal with it for me.

The first Big Surprise in the project came early when the electrician discovered that nearly ALL the wiring is red.  He laughed saying the week my boat was built,  red might have been all they had in the electrical shop.  So he’s adding sorting that out and replacing it all with red for positive and black for negative to the project.    He commented that he understands why I didn’t want to attempt dealing with it myself.   But the truth is that I didn’t know about the all-red issue… the whole thing looked intimidating to me so that’s why I’ve got a pro on the job.  

Oh what fun.  



Gordon Laco
426 Surprise
705-527-9612


> On Jul 19, 2023, at 1:49 AM, Stephen Gwyn via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> I generally turn the blower off while the engine is running.
> 
> I usually only run the blower at the first start-up of the day, and mostly
> so I can get an olfactory sample of the bilge air. I start by putting my
> head in engine compartment to open the gas valve. If I don't smell gas
> then, I run the blower. If I don't smell gas after a minute or two, I start
> the engine.
> 
> While there are many horror stories of gas explosions, there has to be a
> LOT of fumes before they will burn. Many other parts of sailing are far
> more dangerous.
> 
> God may protect you if you are a fool or a drunkard.
> Science will protect you if the fuel/air ratio is less than 5%.
> 
> SG
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