We just got back from our 2008 inaugural cruise, the ice having grudgingly left a week ago, and although our Wallas kept us warm and toasty the whole time, we did have another “blackout” which filled the cabin with acrid exhaust fumes while the unit was shutting down. As has been discussed on this site previously, it seems the usual reason for this is a gust of wind from the wrong direction snuffing the flame. But whatever the reason, this occasionally happens and it is unpleasant to say the least.
So it got me first thinking about installing a 3” Jabsco flangemount engine compartment blower in the galley cabinetry, discharging into the cockpit directly beneath the cable pass-through. Both 105 and 150 cfm models are available. At the first hint of fumes, one could turn it on and hopefully avoid filling the rest of the cabin.
But then as I began writing this post, it struck me that a blower might not be anymore effective than cracking a forward window and the opening window in our cabin door. Since these “blackouts” only seem to happen while underway, there would always be some motive force. We obviously have tried opening windows when this occurs but first off, it cools the cabin down immediately and second, it still takes a while to clear the air.
What do you folks think? Would a blower be an improvement or would it yet be another in a long list of “improvements” which perhaps didn’t need doing in the first place? LOL
Al
So it got me first thinking about installing a 3” Jabsco flangemount engine compartment blower in the galley cabinetry, discharging into the cockpit directly beneath the cable pass-through. Both 105 and 150 cfm models are available. At the first hint of fumes, one could turn it on and hopefully avoid filling the rest of the cabin.
But then as I began writing this post, it struck me that a blower might not be anymore effective than cracking a forward window and the opening window in our cabin door. Since these “blackouts” only seem to happen while underway, there would always be some motive force. We obviously have tried opening windows when this occurs but first off, it cools the cabin down immediately and second, it still takes a while to clear the air.
What do you folks think? Would a blower be an improvement or would it yet be another in a long list of “improvements” which perhaps didn’t need doing in the first place? LOL
Al
