Do I need a bilge blower?

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

Hi guys, just taken ownership of a nice little Merry Fisher 530 with a 70hp outboard. ....a nice little fishing boat in great condition.
The previous owner suggested that perhaps a small bilge blower might be an idea because when you lift the deck hatch to access the 70lt fuel tank, there is a smell of petrol fumes. There is a smell, but only under the hatch and perhaps just a slight wiff if you like, in the cockpit area if you kneel down .....certainly not enough to worry about as it would be blown away when motoring out for a days fishing.
Access should be fairly easy if I was to fit one and I was thinking of the vent coming out into the splash well perhaps?
Having never had a boat with an inboard petrol tank before, is this something to worry about? Or could it just be a case of lift the hatch for a few minutes on each trip before setting off?
Many thanks
TDPB

 

[No Regrets]

None of my Petrol appliances smell of petrol once the fuel taps are closed. Even my plastic fuel cans don't smell of petrol, on a hot day, when full....

I would get this checked out, and use a torch rather than a match ;-)

 

[BruceK]

I would check for any weep leaks and where the petrol tank vents to / condition as that is imho the likely culprit rather than putting in a device to mask or alleviate a potential problem. Having said that, if there is nothing untoward found then a blower makes sense.

 

[Bouba]

I agree with everyone. A bilge blower is for inboards, if there is a whiff of petrol sort it immediately you have a leak. Whether the leak is liquid or vapors it's a danger

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Perhaps I should have worded it slightly better, although all the above points have been noted and I will do a check of pipes and fittings ect, but when I say fumes, its not a strong , neat petrol kind of smell, like you might smell when filling up your tank or lawn mower , but more of a "stale", smell if that makes sense?.....the bilge is completely dry btw. I will bet aking a closer look for sure, but wondering if its just a case of the watertight/airtight hatch being shut for long periods?
I guess at the end of the day, fumes is fumes, and probably should'nt be there...

 

[QBhoy]

No, is the answer.

 

[Bouba]

Check the vent from the filler pipe to the outside is not clogged or badly fitting

 

[BruceK]

Sometimes the air-vent gets this white salt forming in and around it in humid environments that impedes function. Worth checking when you check for any weep leaks.

 

[salar]

You sometimes notice chemically smells on a new-to-you boat and that may just be the build, or it could be the natural smell of whatever is under the deck. It could be almost anything that was once spilt, used, painted, wiped or dropped and it can stay in the bilge a long time.

 

[kashurst]

as per others, triple check you have no petrol leaks. Try giving the bilge a really good clean. I tend to use neat washing up liquid and a mop and give it a really good rub. Might shift the source of what ever the niff is. Would it be possible to leave the hatch partly open for a few days and let the wind blow through