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Equipment
Requirements - Ventilation
All
boats which use gasoline for electrical
generation, mechanical power or propulsion
are required to be equipped with a ventilation
system.
A
natural ventilation system is required for
each compartment in a boat that:
- Contains
a permanently installed gasoline engine
- Has openings
between it and a compartment that requires
ventilation
- Contains
a permanently installed fuel tank and
an electrical component that is not
ignition-protected
- Contains
a fuel tank that vents into that compartment
(including a portable tank) and
- Contains
a non-metallic fuel tank
A natural ventilation
system consists of:
- A supply
opening or duct from the atmosphere
(located on the exterior surface of
the boat) or from a ventilated compartment
or from a compartment that is open to
the atmosphere; and
- An exhaust
opening into another ventilated compartment
or an exhaust duct to the atmosphere.
Each exhaust opening
or exhaust duct must originate in the lower
one-third of the compartment. Each supply
opening or supply duct and each exhaust
opening or duct in a compartment must be
above the normal accumulation of bilge water.
A powered ventilation system is required
for each compartment in a boat that has
a permanently installed gasoline engine
with a cranking motor for remote starting.
A powered ventilation system consists of
one or more exhaust blowers. Each intake
duct for an exhaust blower must be in the
lower one-third of the compartment and above
the normal accumulation of bilge water.
For boats built prior to 1980, there was
no requirement for a powered ventilation
system; however, some boats were equipped
with a blower.
The Coast Guard Ventilation Standard, a
manufacturer requirement, applies to all
boats built on or after August 1, 1980.
Some builders began manufacturing boats
in compliance with the Ventilation Standard
as early as August 1978. If your boat was
built on or after August 1, 1978 it might
have been equipped with either (1) a natural
ventilation system, or (2) both a natural
ventilation system and a powered ventilation
system. If your boat bears a label containing
the words "This boat complies with
U.S. Coast Guard safety standards,"
etc., you can assume that the design of
your boat's ventilation system meets applicable
regulations.
Manufacturers
of boats built after 1980 with remote starters
are required to display a label which contains
the following information:
Warning
Gasoline vapors can explode. Before
starting engine, operate blower
at least 4 minutes and check engine
compartment bilge for gasoline vapors. |
All owners
of boats equipped with exhaust blowers are
strongly encouraged to take the same precautions
before starting a gasoline engine.
All owners are responsible
for keeping their boat's ventilation systems
in operating condition. This means
making sure openings are free of obstructions,
ducts are not blocked or torn, blowers operate
properly, and worn components are replaced
with equivalent marine type equipment.
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