Bilge Blower Atomic 4 not venting to outside

urbanfood · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

i'm in the processing of purchasing a '77 newport 30 and had the survey done the other day. it has an atomic 4 gas engine and everything looks good but one of the main things i want to take care of right away is the bilge blower. the bilge blower works, but it doesn't blow the air overboard. it just blows it around in the engine compartment which is most of the area under the cockpit.

the surveyor had recommend attaching the hose to the rear vent/cowl on the aft port side which face rear to exhaust it outwards. makes sense to me but my question is how do you attach the hose to the cowl? is there a piece of equipment that exists to do this or do you need to jerry rig something? i'm not the jerry rig type so would prefer to find a real solution.

i'd also like the cowl to still vent the compartment and not be completely taken up by the hose. maybe there is a gadget that allows the hose to vent out and also still let fresh air into the cowl/engine compartment.

thanks, david

mitiempo · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

I don't think it would work well unless it takes up the area of the cowl vent. A common solution is to have 2 vents, the blower exits through one and the other on the opposite side of the boat is a dedicated intake. You can purchase a low profile clamshell type vent with a tailpiece that the bilge blower hose clamps to. Or you can measure the inside diameter of the current vent and buy a piece of plastic pipe that is a snuq fit and attach the hose that way.
The intake vent doesn't require a hose.

With a gasoline engine ventilation is important.

ccriders · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

This is something you need to take care of properly before operating your engine or anything that can create a spark. There is probably a Yahoo group for your boat where you can ask other owners exactly how Newport originally installed the blower as there are strict requirements on the blower motor, it's installation and the other elements of the engine venting. What you have sounds very suspicious, like someone moved the blower motor or its hose connection to the vent cowl. I believe that the blower has to have a dedicated exhaust cowl. You can install an additioal outlet cowl if you like.
Don't delay.
John

urbanfood · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

thanks ccriders and mitiempo,

i agree, don't delay. i will search out a yahoo group. i do have two vents in the rear, one on each side. i will use the port aft for the bilge blower exhaust and the other one for the intake.

the existing vet is a clamshell, if i can't secure the hose to that clamshell cowl, i'll check into a clamshell with a tailpiece.

i was suprised to find this condition as the PO took very good care of the boat and the interior was well maintained. the boat has been frequently sailed and kept up.

thanks, david

urbanfood · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

i found the newport yahoo group, great suggestion, just waiting to get approved.

i believe this is the type of vent i have. there are two of there, one port and one starboard. the port one is the one i'd use for the bilge exhaust;

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|6880|45749|320599|845201&id=1391304

now just need to figure a way to attach the hose.

thanks, david

CalebD · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

urbanfood,
Besides a yahoo group for the Newport 30' you need to check out the forums at Moyer Marine Inc - which is the website for everything related to the A4. I know there are other Newport owners registered there.
Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians - Powered by vBulletin

I would think a hose clamp would be the equipment used to attach the hose to the cowl vent. If I am not mistaken the fan itself should be mounted directly under the vent and the hose led down to a low spot by the engine. In other words the fan should be sucking the air up the hose rather then trying to blow the air up the hose from below. I believe the fan motor is spark protected.
Welcome to SN.

mitiempo · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

You shouldn't have to replace the vent. A plastic tube about 4" long that is sized to fit in the vent can be glued in and the hose attached to it.

Yes, bilge blowers are sparkproof.

SlowButSteady · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

Two words: Duct tape

justified · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

urbanfood

I use to have a 28 newport with an A-4. the bilge vent was on the port side facing aft and the flex hose from the blower was just glued in the hole under the cowel.
Hope that helps.You just need to get the fumes out.
Peter

SimonV · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2011

Duct tape will work in the short term, but as the hose is removing hot air the glue tends to let go. What I did was use cable ties and have had no problems.