77 23' Savage

bdolnik · #1 07-18-2007, 08:49 PM

Tanks are out now and they don't look too bad. They were epoxied on bottom and sides so may not be originals. I don't know, any chance the factory would have done that on the Savages?

Also can anyone explain how the blower system works on the inboards? There is a blower/motor in the stern on the port side, hooked up to large flexible piping. The piping goes to the rear vent and I believe the forward vent. On the starboard side the flexible pipe is there but it's not hooked up to the blower.

Islandtrader · #2 07-19-2007, 09:59 AM

If you look at the tanks some place near the filler there should be a plate or sticker that tells when they were made.

As far as the blower, think of it as a vacuum cleaner. It's job is to suck the air out of the bilge. So one end of the hose should be in the low part of the bilge and the other to an exit point. The other hose is to allow circulation while the boat is running under power. That way the blower is not on at all times. The bilge air is then removed by a venturi process. Hope this helps.

BigLew · #3 07-19-2007, 08:43 PM

This is possibly a minor point, but I learned (and it makes sense if you think about it) that the blower should be mounted so that it sucks fresh air in and delivers it to the bilge/below deck areas where it will be forced out the remaining vents, along with the air in the bilge go any accumulated fumes from fuel, etc.

If you mount the blower so that it picks up the bilge air and pushes through the blower and then out through the vent, you run the risk of drawing up fume laden air in the bilge and forcing it past an electric motor that more than likely is creating sparks at the armature portion to the electric motor; a potential disaster!

Because of this, it is recommended that the blower be run for 5 minutes prior to engaging the starter or even turning on the ignition. In our boats this should provide time for about a three to five fold exchange of outside air through the bilge.

Just my 2 cents.

Islandtrader · #4 07-21-2007, 09:33 AM

You could be right on this. However I believe the blower motor is built so that it will not spark on start up. I think they call this spark arrested? Anyway the best test is the nose test.

BigLew · #5 07-21-2007, 11:11 AM

You are likely right, however. I witnessed a teenager jumping into a Donzi equiped with an I/O tied to a dock on Lake Murray in SC. He didn't run the blower and immediately turned the key. The explosion not only destroyed the boat but killed the boy and injured a near by observer.

As contributed on another thread on this site, my personal policy is to run the blower for 5 minutes WITH the engine cover lifted with no one else aboard, if at all possible, prior to cranking the engine.

As I said, Just me 2 cents.

Miles Offshore · #6 07-21-2007, 11:56 AM

in my boat I have two hoses on each side ,

1 on each side that goes between the hull and liner near the stern that naturally asperates(sp), and the other two that run directly in the main bilge and on one side I have the blower installed (exhausting outward. ) Nothing works better than a sniff test- one before starting, one before and after fueling. The bl=ilge blower motors are sealed so no sparks from them. You dont want to be turning other switches on and off while fueling though. craig

bdolnik · #7 08-10-2007, 10:17 PM

Been on vacation, but back now and boat is progressing again. Have the bilge painted and new motor in. Found a local guy to do the console and he's filling all the holes so it will be a blank canvas to re-fit. Waiting on just that now before maiden run.

Mechanic ran the engine before he put it in and said it sounds great! Can't wait to get it out on the water.

New motor with old tranny attached.

I also pulled out all the old wire today and will start the re-wire this weekend. The previous owner had used some kind of garden hose as bilge pump hoses, I also pulled all that out.