Bilge Blower

jhenson · Post by **jhenson** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:54 pm

I have all the remnants of the Atomic 4 removed now for several weeks in anticipation of installing the Yanmar 2GM sometime in the distant future. I"ll be covering the old guage holes though very soon. Is there any reason that I should retain the bilge blower (ie: supplimental engine cooling) or should I close off the inlet hole and pitch it?

Joe

Post by **Tim** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 7:09 pm

Pitch it! Remove the unnecessary complication. You'll never use it if you keep it around.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:41 pm

or should I close off the inlet hole ...

Inlet hole (or perhaps outlet)? You mean the blowers are not supposed to be hung from baling wire below a cowl vent in the poop deck?

What does the fitting look like?

-Britton

Post by **Tim** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:52 am

Many of the older boats had blowers mounted at the forward end of the cockpit well (port side), behind a small vent screen.

Here are a couple pictures from Glissando's early days, showing the installation. I couldn't find a photo of the cockpit vent, but it was about a 2" hole covered with a thin metal grille.

This one shows the blower as seen looking inside the port cockpit locker, towards the bow:

This one shows the view from the cabin, after the icebox was removed:

Going back briefly to an earlier thread, I also found this picture of my original engine room and foundation:

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:33 am

Isn't it nice to go back to those old photos and realize how far you have come?

Interesting placement for the blower. So the blower outlet had a straight fitting with a screen over it. I suppose that would mean it funneled water below when it got wet in the cockpit. If I continue using the cowl vent it will still be suceptible to taking on water when splashed over the stern but at least I could stuff a rag in the vent. maybe a sort of dorade vent would work here. I am going to have to think about this (for next winter's project list). Thanks for the photos.

-Britton

jhenson · Post by **jhenson** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:13 pm

Those pictures are exactly like mine before removal. I should have said outlet.

Joe

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:35 pm

Inlet/outlet, it's the hole in the deck :-) I guess Pearson did something different with the late models. I would see some sort of repair/patch if my boat been built the same.

So no cap or anything to keep water from flowing in? I am thinking now of some sort of covered 90 degree fitting that points down along the back of the cockpit. Should stay reasonably dry and be out of the way there. Another three weeks of hemming and hawing about the idea and I might just get around to doing something about it.

Thanks for the pictures,

-Britton

Post by **dasein668** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:51 pm

Britton,

Dasein had a low profile cowl vent over the bilge blower outlet. On the opposite side of the poop deck (port side) there was an inlet, also with a cowl. The blower was one of those squirrel cage type blowers and was mounted directly to the outlet opening with screws up into the underside of the deck, if that makes any sense. Sorry, no pics of the blower installation, but the cowl can be seen in this pic (next to the Tevas):

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:58 pm

Yep, okay, my boat must have had the same arrangement. I guess the mounting screws just gave out and that is why I have bailing wire holding my blower in place.

I was going to ask you about your boat but I thought with the diesal installed by a PO your blower would have been long gone. I hadn't noticed if the older boats even had those low profile cowl vents.

-Britton

Post by **Tim** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:40 am

This is what you really need on those vent openings:

Or, if you prefer a lower profile more like the original ones, these:

Or even these little tiny 2" ones:

These solid cast-bronze beauties are sweeeeet. You get a choice of 4 or 5 interior paint colors. These images are from Mariner's Hardware.

Most "professional" gas-diesel conversions I have seen are too half-you-know-whated to even remove the old blower or replace the vent hoses with something new and beneficial to the diesel. So it's common to have the old, rusty, nasty blower still hanging there in its original position, often held on only by a lick and a promise to boot.

Everyone seems to do the minimum. Instead of doing the minimum, do the best you know how, even if (especially if) only you will know.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:03 pm

THANKS!

I guess anything less would condem me to eternal shame now. Now that I have seen those beauties there is no going back. This fall the poopdeck is coming off for a recore. I am leaning towards a couple of those low profiles by next spring. I suppose they will require weekly polishing to keep them looking that good too <sigh>.

This is what you really need on those vent openings

Exactly what is your definition of "need"?

You like torturing us by raising the expected standards don't you...

Most "professional" gas-diesel conversions I have seen are too half-you-know-whated

So far I haven't been to impressed by "professional" boat maintenance in general. Some repairs are PO induced but from what I know of this PO there were other "professionals" that have also been inside my boat. I guess the good ones make it look like it has always been there so only the cheap and ugly catch your attention. My blower was wired in with the wires simply twisted together and wrapped with half a roll of electrician's tape.

-Britton

Post by **dasein668** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:18 pm

bcooke wrote:I guess anything less would condem me to eternal shame now. Now that I have seen those beauties there is no going back.

This is why I just took mine off entirely and filled in those holes. I had seen these cowls before...

bcooke wrote:
Tim wrote:This is what you really need on those vent openings
Exactly what is your definition of "need"?

You like torturing us by raising the expected standards don't you...

Hey, just be glad you're down in Massachusetts... Just imagine what its like when you're stuck in the same building with the guy! hehe

Post by **Tim** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:20 pm

My favorite statement in a used boat listing is "boatyard-maintained", as if that's a positive thing. Usually, these boats are more neglected and have actually been very poorly and carelessly maintained.

bcooke wrote:Exactly what is your definition of "need"?

You like torturing us by raising the expected standards don't you...

Yeah, kind of! hehe

I expect to have a slew of these gorgeous cowls on Pixie when she's rebuilt, however. So I torture myself at the same time as you!

Post by **Tim** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:21 pm

dasein668 wrote:Just imagine what its like when you're stuck in the same building with the guy! hehe

Oh, woe is you...you poor fellow! hehe

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:01 am

Tim, if you really plan on using lots of these cowl vents you should stock up now while they are on sale. Regular price $136.07 Current sale price $95.50.

I should have taken up knitting as a hobby...

-Britton

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:33 pm

ALERT !!

Big notice on on the Mariner's Hardware website that ALL bronze hardware is being discontinued.

I quickly ordered a couple of bronze cowls but I need to get back and have another look soon...

-Britton

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:06 pm

What!?! But the whole point of Mariner's Hardware is the fabulous bronze. <wails and gnashes teeth> You can get stainless any number of places.

I give up! The world is stupid!

At least the part of it that seems to prefer stainless to the exclusion of bronze.

Augh.

<sobs>

R.

PS: I see they're bummed too; the bronze ports feature "Lamented glass."

Hee.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:26 pm

Drat!

I was too late. They only had one low profile 3" cowl in stock and won't be re-ordering.

Now where am I going to find them...

-Britton

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:01 pm

I haven't looked specifically for those cowls, but have you tried these outfits?

www.classicmarine.uk

www.toplicht.de

Davey & Co. which is sold in the US through RW Rope at the following:

http://www.rwrope.com/traditional_rigging/davey&co.htm

What a drag!

R.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:51 pm

Well, I can say the people at Mariner's Hardware were pretty nice.

They called back and were going to offer me the larger 4" low profile cowls at the same price but I felt they would just be too big on the aft deck where I was going to use them to ventilate the 'engine room'.

Instead they agreed to ship me two deck plates and one cowl and will special order me another cowl. Expected delivery of the second cowl is approximately 120 days.

Apparently, with copper prices through the roof, the cost of bronze has become too high. I noted that a regular 4" unpolished bronze cowl is going for around $400 at the moment. I definitely need to start browsing the marine flea markets... or switch to stainless steel deck fittings.

-Britton

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:38 pm

Hey Britton? Can I ask you a favor? Would you please stop posting to this thread? I'm really trying to ignore it because my rubber cowl vent is crap and my boat budget is busted and I really really want to get a bronze cowl vent for the foredeck. I almost gave in last night and pulled the trigger on one of these babies, but common sense prevailed. ;)

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:26 pm

:-)

Even I can't justify $400 for a cowl vent. Of course I just spent $350 for the two low profiles on the aft deck but those are only $175 a piece!

I am thinking Ebay is the best option for future ventilation needs.

And then there is the chock issue-$60 per chock and I need how many?... Deck/cockpit scuppers? $75+ ... I guess it was lucky I can't get bronze deck fills with "gas" labels. I had to go stainless for those.

Don't worry, one more cowl and I will probably go all stainless for the little pieces. My bronze addiction is just about finished. I have hit rock bottom. I can sail or I can buy bronze fittings but I can't do both.

-Britton

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:33 pm

Weeeell.... I hate to point this out, but sailing is free, you know.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:18 pm

Of course!

How could I have forgotten?...

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:25 pm

P.S.

A much younger and more financially secure Britton wrote: This fall the poopdeck is coming off for a recore. I am leaning towards a couple of those low profiles by next spring.

Only two years off in my estimate. Things are improving...

B.

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:37 am

bcooke wrote:And then there is the chock issue-$60 per chock and I need how many?...

Check out these guys: Deep Blue Yacht Supply

I got my mooring bit from them. They are fast, efficient, and cheap. Looks like their chocks would only run from $32-$36 a piece for the 6" cast bronze ones - depending on the style you choose. (I've got 5" chocks, they're fine on the stern but a little small for the bow.)

Hey! I think I just saved you $120 or so boat bucks! Now you can afford those scuppers...

Post by **Tim** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:53 am

I was going to buy a dozen cowl vents at $400 each, but I decided against it and therefore "saved" $4800.

Now what will I do with all that "extra" money?

Using this logic, maybe I should pretend I was going to buy 100 vents instead. Then I'd save even more if I decided not to buy.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 1:24 pm

Great idea, Tim!

I saw a 40-footer I liked once (but didn't buy), so my boat budget is now HUGE. I love it.

Welcome back from your cruise, by the way. Although I would never wish your cruise over for my sake, it's nice to have you back on the forum.

Rachel

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:18 am

bcooke wrote:Well, I can say the people at Mariner's Hardware were pretty nice.

Funny, my experience with MH has been just the opposite.

They were really nice when they took my money, but when they screwed up my custom portlights they blamed me, the customer, for their screw up. Now I'm stuck with $2K worth of portlights I have to spend more money on to modify. They have refused to do anything despite numerous attempts on my part to work out a compromise.