T&T: Federal Law re Using Blower Before Starting Engine

[Dave Legrow]

Ask and ye shall receive... 

 
33 CFR '183.610 Powered Ventilation System
 
(a) Each compartment in a boat that has a permanently installed gasoline
engine with a cranking motor must:
(a)(1) Be open to the atmosphere, or
(a)(2) Be ventilated by an exhaust blower system.
(b) Each exhaust blower or combination of blowers must be rated at an air flow
capacity not less than that computed by the formulas given in Table 183.610,
Column 2. Blower rating must be determined according to AMCA Standard 210-74,
Figure 12, or UL Standard 1128.

TABLE 183.610

----------------------------------------------------
 Col. 1 1        Col. 2 2             Col. 3 3
----------------------------------------------------
 Below 34        Fr = 50              Fo = 20
 34 to 100       Fr = 1.5V            Fo = 0.6V
 Over 100        Fr = V/2 + 100       Fo = 0.2V + 40
----------------------------------------------------
1 Net compartment volume of engine compartment and compartments open thereto
(V) cubic feet.
2 Rated blower capacity (Fr) cubic feet per minute.
3 Blower system output (Fo) cubic feet per minute.
(c) Each exhaust blower system required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section
must exhaust air from the boat at a rate which meets the requirements of Table
183.610, Column 3 when the engine is not operating.
(d) Each intake duct for an exhaust blower must be in the lower one-third of
the compartment and above the normal level of accumulated bilge water.
(e) More than one exhaust blower may be used in combination to meet the
requirements of this section.
(f) Each boat that is required to have an exhaust blower must have a label
that:
(f)(1) Is located as close as practicable to each ignition switch;
(f)(2) Is in plain view of the operator; and
(f)(3) Has at least the following information:
WARNING--GASOLINE VAPORS CAN EXPLODE. BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OPERATE BLOWER
FOR 4 MINUTES AND CHECK ENGINE COMPARTMENT BILGE FOR GASOLINE VAPORS