VENTILATION
All boats using 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.
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A natural ventilation system consists of:
- A supply opening (duct/cowl) 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.
- All blower motors installed in exhaust ducts must be in working
condition of date of manufacture.
- 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:
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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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