Power Boat Bilge/vent hoses

[John Edwards]

Has anyone replaced the cheapy bilge blower hose in their power boat?

I have installed new vent grids and collection boxes, so I thought I'd also replace that cheapy blower hoses (kinda similar to dryer vent hose)

I'm doing so, as I can only imagine alot of seawater must come into these vent collection boxes, and I'd like it to be swiftly delivered to the bottom of the bilge, rather than spilling clumsily down above the bilge.

Also it appears that the starboard aft vent only has one hose which is hooked upto a blower motor, so I'm assuming this one sucks the air out of the bilge and all of the others passively bring fresh air (and h20) into the boat.

Do folks w/ diesels use blowers? When we had an atomic 4 in our sailboat, we used the bl;ower religiously, whereas in the next sailboat (79 Pearson 35, didn't used it much) and w/ our last two boats, Tartan 3500 and Cal 33, they didn't even have blowers. Of course those were 27 hp, as opposed to 200...

Thanks in adavance

[Steve Laume]

I was a bit surprised when I discovered the quality of the original vent hose on our CD-30 last year. I went to replace it and all I could find was more of the same, although not quite as stiff from age. I figured I wasn't going to mess with it if that was the best I could do. I know from woodworking there is some very nice flexible hose available for dust collection systems. I have bought it in the past for my shop. I will try and search some suppliers and let you know what I find. One more thing on my list, Steve.

[mahalocd36]

That's something we are keeping our eye on too - let us know what you find. The "dryer" vent hoses on Mahalo need replacing and all we could find is similar. However, when we were at the boat shows last fall, the Mariner's harware booth has those nice bronze vents, and they had a mock up of engine cowl vents attached to some thicker, black, rubbery hose. So we asked where they got it, and he said he didn't know - he "just had the guys mock something up". That dryer vent stuff doesn't hold up at all as, at least on Mahalo, it runs through a storage locker. It's thin and it rips.

[Steve Laume]

I think this is the stuff I have used before and it sounds like what the boat show guys had. 4" by 50' flexible dust collection hose; $34.99. This is about enough to do about three CD-30s or one three times. Item # D50A in my Tool Crib catalog. http://www.amazon.com/toolcrib 800:635-5140. I will be ordering soon and could order extra for anyone nearby. If I have any leftover I can eventually use it in the shop. I lasts a long time even with saw dust traveling through it at a high rate of speed. It is still very flexible, Steve.

[Oswego John]

Hi John,

Going back quite a few years, boats were supposed to have bilge and engine compartment blowers. I'd like to say, but I'm not certain, that this was a Coast Guard requirement..

Most boat main and auxiliary power was gasoline. (Naptha real early) After refueling, the boat operator was supposed to power vent the area where any heavy gas fumes would collect down below.

The average inboard engine had a 6 volt generator, not a 12 volt alternator, as is in common use today. The generator usually had two carbon brushes that pressed against the commutator bars. Oftimes, these brushes would sparkand could ignite any below deck fumes. Many a boat burned to the waterline with human casualties involved.

Thankfully, today we don't have such volatile fumes when using diesel fuel.

Hope this helps some.
O J

[mahalocd36]

Item # D50A in my Tool Crib catalog. http://www.amazon.com/toolcrib 800:635-5140. I will be ordering soon and could order extra for anyone nearby.

Thanks for the pointer! In one of the reviews of it it said the 10' stuff was thicker and didn't collapse like the 50' stuff does - that it was more stiff. So we might go for 2 10' lengths instead - probably look locally and see if we can see it in person.

[John Edwards]

I'm fairly the diameter is 3" not 4", there is an industrial outfit here which has a really nice 3: rubber version of this "bilge blower hose" they simply call it RHF-3, but it's $4.04 per foot!

John Edwards

[bottomscraper]

I'm fairly the diameter is 3" not 4

Yes you are correct 3" not 4" on our boat anyway.

[John Danicic]

To all:

I found a cheep and stiff solution to flexible blower hose. Plastic gutter downspouts. With the the various available angle tubes, you can assemble a nice system that won't be crushed by an errant shoulder while working in tight quarters. They should last, being UV treated. Use a good duck tape or metal tape to seal the seams. Though a bit smaller then the hose, the smooth interior surface should let the air flow faster. They are rectangular but you can tape on a flexible hose to adapt it to the blower. Available locally at a Home Depot or hardware store near you. Also, any extra lengths of downspout makes for good chart tubes.



Sail on.

John Danicic
CD 36 - Mariah - #124
Lake Superior