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What's the difference between a blower and a bilge fan?

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by csalkows, Mar 28, 2012.

  1. csalkows, Mar 28, 2012
    #1
    csalkows

    csalkows New Member

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    I mean I know I turn the blower on before starting the engines to purge (potential) fumes. Is a bilge fan intended to dehumidify the engine room and reduce odors? Should it be on always at the slip? Or is a bilge fan just another name for a blower?

    Hope this isn't a dumb question.

    Charles
  2. Ormond Bert54, Mar 28, 2012
    #2
    Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

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    I have two "blowers" that I think could also be called bilge fans in my engine room. They are operated by either switch or temperature. My engine room is not the source of odors on my boat or I might leave the blowers on more often. I would like to have a blower or bilge fan in my forward bilge where the holding tank and macerators are located to flow air and keep the odors to a minimum.
  3. Capt J, Mar 29, 2012
    #3
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    A bilge fan just moves air around inside the engine room and is more for working in the engine room and might help keep temperatures even in the engine room

    A bilge blower evacuates bilge air and therefore pulls fresh air from outside of the boat into the engine room.
  4. csalkows, Mar 29, 2012
    #4
    csalkows

    csalkows New Member

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    Thanks. So is it common to keep a small bilge fan or blower running while in the slip?

    I seem to get a persistent engine smell that appears to be migrating through the floor into the salon on my 4207.
  5. RT46, Mar 29, 2012
    #5
    RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

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    csal,

    "persistent engine smell" is not good.

    you may have an exhaust or fuel leak that needs to be addressed. Both are very serious conditions that could result in death....

    A clean, properly running and vented engine (gas or diesel) wont smell at all......
  6. csalkows, Mar 29, 2012
    #6
    csalkows

    csalkows New Member

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    It's definitely not a fuel or exhaust smell. More like ... an old machine shop.
  7. AMG, Mar 29, 2012
    #7
    AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    Could be from your battery charging..? Many boats have a fan for evacuating this too..
  8. YachtForums, Mar 29, 2012
    #8
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    That's the not-so-sweet stench of an older vessel. Be proud of your aroma. You're in good company. It can be found on everything from Feadships to Burgers, and everything in between.
  9. csalkows, Mar 29, 2012
    #9
    csalkows

    csalkows New Member

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    So.... is it common, in larger yachts, to keep a bilge/engine room fan running for ventilation? Or are you all saying if I need active ventilation, I must have some other problem?


    (1987 Carver 4207)
  10. Capt J, Mar 29, 2012
    #10
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Try thoroughly washing your engine room with bilge soap first. What material is on the engine room ceiling and walls. For example, do you have a type of insulation that could have ingested smells over the years? It is usually not normal to have a fan or engine room blowers on in the engine room unless you have a generator or engines running, or trying to cool down the engine room after running the boat.
  11. K1W1, Mar 30, 2012
    #11
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    In larger yachts it is common if the vessel is in commission as there are a lot of things in the ER that benefit from some airflow.