Fan located at starboard side of the engine room

[Georg Weinstabl]

Hi,

For those who are overhauling a Volga, we sometimes find something that does not give sense to us and might even think of uninstalling it believing it is useless. Stay calm! With a tight budget, urged to save weigth and costs everywhere possible, our russian boffins have never-ever added anything useless.

Among all repairers and reconditioners none of them was able to answer the use of the fan, that is located starboard of the engine room and has pipes leading to a vent grid under the deck and a pipe going under the engine. The ventilator itself is in the engine room, whereas it's electric driver is in the passenger department, both separated by bulkhead. Now, what is the sense behind this?

Especially gasoline tends to make explosive fumes, that heavier than air sink down to the lowest level of the bilge in the engine room compartment. Any spark may ignite this air-benzin mixture and the solution of draining such air was found by installing this fan, that sucks out the air under the engine (lowest place in this compartment) and discharges it to the atmosphere. Our russian freinds have also thought of the explosion proof factors and therefor installed the electric motor outside the engine room in the passenger compartment hidden under the floor. All other electrictrical components, like starters, alternator or lights have been carefully places as high as possible.

For those of you who are having already diesels on board, such explosion danger is not given. If you however should have the original gasoline engine, this small air ventilator shall prevent an explosion in your engine room once you are starting the engine or switch on anything electricals in there. It is regarded as a MUST, that you are venting the engine room with this fan prior to starting anything else over there.

Happy hydrofoiling.... (Photos will come).

[waterskizone]

Apart of outboard engines, every gasoline motor compartment is equipped with the so called "Blower"

[Georg Weinstabl]

True! This is my first boat and nobody was able to tell me untill I found out myself what the blower was good for.

[Georg Weinstabl]

I was advised by a boatowner to use 2 fans instead of one. He says that the risk is so high with gasoline engines, that I for sure should have two fans. Has anybody of you ever lived the an explosion of the engine room in our Volgas? Can anybody say the factory fitted fan is not good enough and should be supported by a second fan?

[Georg Weinstabl]

I am not very sure whether this answers what I have asked for?

[Mark]

All I know is u must indeed ventilate ur engine room with a benzine engine.

Or regular diver that inspects or Voskhod hydrofoils once recovered a riva..
Well some of it.
http://www.vosenpeperkamp.nl/index.php? ... oto&id=151

luckily their lived to tell the story..