Bit of fun, maybe?

[Murv]

OK, new boat owner here with no idea what I'm doing as most of you have probably now realised.
So, got a couple of images today of bits on the boat that I have no idea what they do.
Anyone help?

1st one, this is inside the engine compartment (the White thing with TMC written on it)
I would guess at it being a bilge blower but, it looks quite new to me and the boat was re-engined with a diesel unit 9 years ago
As with 99.9% of everything else on the boat, it doesn't seem to work or actually do anything

2: These are two rubber things on the front rail. The image is slightly confusing as the boat is currently on hardstanding parked in front, and facing, a larger boat which is the large bow facing mine. But, the photo was taken from the ground, looking up, to where these mysterious rubber things are.
Any ideas?

Thirdly, two metal eyes on the back of the boat. I assume these are for towing, but if so, what sort of weight can they take? could I tow another vessel for example (assuing of course that they are towing eyes!)
Ignore the rope through them, it was a temporary fix to hold the canopy down

 

[rob2]

Ok - it's guesswork time!

The TMC component may well be a bilge blower (I have no idea) so check what's at the other ends of the hoses.

Another guess for the rubber thingies at the bow. Do you by any chance have a Danforth style anchor? These could be to hold the anchor vertically at the bow, slipping the rod across the flukes into the loops.

Third time lucky? The eyes at the stern may have been fitted to allow an inflatable dinghy to be strapped across the stern whilst underway so as to avoid having to either tow it or deflate it. Whatever, it's a nasty mix of dissimilar metals - galvanised eyes with stainless washers. In the long term they should be replaced with stainless eyes or just removed. I wouldn't use them to tow anything unless you have checked inside to see how the load is distributed or they could rip a gurt big hole in the transom.

Good game, eh?

Rob.

 

[Murv]

Thanks Rob

1) One end of the hose lies on the floor, the other end dissapears up and under the floor (I think to a vent so it must be a bilge blower, just can't see why one would be fitted to a diesel if that was the case?

2) Having Googled a "Danforth anchor," that is indeed what we have. My Wife guessed that is what they might be for, but we asked a guy in the yard if that's what they were for and he had no idea, but not for holding the anchor he said.
Seems the most logical thing though, and it does fit there although does look a little precarious.

3) More bad news duly noted! will remove these then as they look tatty anyway

Thanks for the replies

 

[VicS]

TMC thing looks like a bilge blower

Rubber things on bow rail to hang a Danforth type anchor from ???? Got a Danforth ?

Eyes for towing a light ( inflatable) dinghy ?? but a cleat would be my choice

 

[pieter2]

check this one

http://www.nauticexpo.com/prod/tmc-technology-corp/boats-in-line-bilge-blowers-23473-120826.html

 

[galeus]

Hi Murv

The bilge blower is probably fitted on your diesel engined boat to clear any unburned calor/propane gas either from a current or previous installation.

Cheers Richard

 

[Murv]

Thanks all
Definitely a bilge blower then, I guess I may as well remove it? all gas is above the deck and the boat is diesel.
Any reasons at all to keep it? (if it works!)

 

[onesea]

Thanks all
Definitely a bilge blower then, I guess I may as well remove it? all gas is above the deck and the boat is diesel.
Any reasons at all to keep it? (if it works!)

Any reason to remove it if it is still working? Some one obviously fitted it for a reason? Try living with it for a year and see. Could help reduce engine smells when engine is hot?

First year with boat I try not to change anything form previous owner they should know more about the boat than me...

 

[chasroberts]

Check which way it's lined up. It could have been installled to blow fresh air into the engine compartment as opposed to sucking air out of the bilges. I have one fitted on mine and especially on a long motor you notice the difference inside the boat, a lack of diesel fumes, hot oil smells etc from the engine compartment seeping into the boat. Test it with a jump lead from the battery, could be a loose connection, blown fuse etc. If you can get it working it might well be worth keeping....

Chas

 

[Murv]

Thanks guys, very good points.
To be fair it's not in the way at all, I've just been on a bit of a mission to remove all the redundant wiring and kit.

Will try and get it working then, but won't worry too much if it doesn't

 

[Falling Star]

Just a thought about the rubber things on the pulpit.

Maybe they are there to support a bow fender that would hang in front of the Danforth.

 

[Murv]

Just a thought about the rubber things on the pulpit.

Maybe they are there to support a bow fender that would hang in front of the Danforth.

That could well be it.
As I say, my Wife did suggest that they were to hold the anchor, and I placed the anchor in them when we first picked up the boat (fits perfectly)
BUT, it did seem a little precarious in there and the consequences of the anchor falling out when under way could, I guess, be pretty catastrophic so I took it out before we moved.

 

[davidwf]

What's the vertical rubber hose in the foreground it doesn't look that healthy to me may not be important but worth looking at.

 

[Murv]

What's the vertical rubber hose in the foreground it doesn't look that healthy to me may not be important but worth looking at.

Absolutely no idea! I see what you mean though, there is corrosion and leaking there, will investigate at the weekend.

 

[alahol2]

Thirdly, two metal eyes on the back of the boat. I assume these are for towing, but if so, what sort of weight can they take?

Don't know how fast the boat goes but they're not for towing skiers/doughnut things are they?

 

[Murv]

I honestly don't know.
The boat is supposedly capable of 28 knots but, from what I've been reading, that sounds a little optimistic for a 23' boat with 140bhp?
She was certainly sluggish on the only 10 minute journey we've done in her but that was with a fouled hull.

 

[onesea]

What's the vertical rubber hose in the foreground it doesn't look that healthy to me may not be important but worth looking at.

Probably wire brush pipe end and jubilee clip...

Thanks guys, very good points.
To be fair it's not in the way at all, I've just been on a bit of a mission to remove all the redundant wiring and kit.

Will try and get it working then, but won't worry too much if it doesn't

Forget the mission to remove for your first year, get her going as you say repair what you can. I would not worry about looks to much its your first season with her you will make mistakes..

Get out there make them and enjoy!!

 

[NormanS]

Sometimes a bilge "sucker" is fitted to ventilate a battery compartment. Say you have been at a marina berth, and charging your batteries from the mains. There may be an accumulation of hydrogen in the battery compartment. Good policy to operate the (flameproof) fan before starting the engine.

 

[Murv]

Probably wire brush pipe end and jubilee clip...



Forget the mission to remove for your first year, get her going as you say repair what you can. I would not worry about looks to much its your first season with her you will make mistakes..

Get out there make them and enjoy!!

Yes, very good point. I've put of the (very long) list of jobs to do on the back burner, I have realised that I've taken on way too much!
Priority is to make her safe and seaworthy and then just get on with it!

Sometimes a bilge "sucker" is fitted to ventilate a battery compartment. Say you have been at a marina berth, and charging your batteries from the mains. There may be an accumulation of hydrogen in the battery compartment. Good policy to operate the (flameproof) fan before starting the engine.

Good point, thank you.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Thanks all
Definitely a bilge blower then, I guess I may as well remove it? all gas is above the deck and the boat is diesel.
Any reasons at all to keep it? (if it works!)

An outside possibility is that the natural ventilation is insufficient for the air intake requirements of the engine, and this blower blows air INTO the engine compartment to make up the deficiency.