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CO2 problem

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/03/2007 : 01:07:43

I smelled the outboard exhaust after the first leg of my o7 cruise and was concerned so used Duct Tape to seal around the torn rubber boot for the stern hole for the fuel lines, controls and battery cables. Didn't help and then while looking in and under the aft quarter berth saw with a flashlight that the 3" vent hose was torn off where it was suppose to be attached to the bottom edge of the port storage area. This on my 79 was the method of the design to vent the fuel storage that is inside of the compartment. Fixed it by climbing down inside and using 3M 5200 to reattach the 3" vent hose. I hope this makes sense as this is a serious hazzard and I would have never thought of looking for a torn off vent hose. Things in the bottom storage area have been able to slid back and forth and the vent hose was never protected. This could have been my very wooozy cruise and my last.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 08:22:48

I do not have an early design but I believe that if I did I would put my gas in the cockpit and secure the tank with a cooler tiedown.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 08:31:28

I agree with Frank. I have an 88 model so it has an enclosed tank storage locker. On long cruises though, I carry an extra 12 gallon tank between the seats secured under the tiller so I know it works well. here should be plenty of spce for a six gallon tank and tie-downs

Edited by - aeckhart on 08/03/2007 08:32:15

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 08:43:09

CO is what you're worried about--CO2 is harmless (except to polar bears and coastal regions that may one day be part of the ocean).

But I'm surprised you're picking up that much exhaust from the deck-mounted vents... Had you been motoring a long way with a very light following breeze?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/03/2007 08:50:14

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 09:08:06

"CO2 is harmless"

Well, usually harmless. Excess CO2 can kill you too, but requires very high concentrations. The vessel I worked on had both CO and CO2 alarms in the crews quarters below decks. (Probably due to their proximity to the engine room). That technicality aside, a little outboard isn't going to produce enough CO2 to affect the cabin air... it's the CO that can get you.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 09:16:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach
[brExcess CO2 can kill you too, but requires very high concentrations...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Well, yes--just like water. Excess CO2 is what make you yawn. (Useless factoid for the day.)

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Gambit
Navigator

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USA
160 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 12:02:04

One must also be careful of hydrogen dioxide. Higher concentrations can cause death or sinking of your boat

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 13:08:57

George,
I think you mean [url="http://www.dhmo.org/"]DHMO[/url] (dihydrogen monoxide), or did you mean hydrogen peroxide?

Edited by - delliottg on 08/03/2007 13:33:33

Gambit
Navigator

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USA
160 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 13:14:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 George,
I think you mean [url="http://www.dhmo.org/"]DMHO[/url] (dihydrogen monoxide), or did you mean hydrogen peroxide?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, that one. Good thing I am a CPA and not a chemist, might blow something up.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 17:43:58

I was motoring in almost a no air moving day. I do have an exhaust fan for any fuel problems. I use the metal tanks with no fittings in the compartment and use fire resistant fuel lines. I don't do any refueling at sea but just can change lines right over the stern up to the outboard. It was the exhaust smell that caused me to check. In CA it is ok to post stickers at the stern of boats about Carbon exhaust poisoning.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 18:57:05

Maybe you can purchase some CO2 offset credits from Al Gore and all will be okay! LOL

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 20:41:04

Well, Jim, I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

1. I'm presuming you have a 2-cycle outboard, since 4-cycles produce a tiny fraction of the smell (to most of us, none at all).

2. With no wind or an inperceptable tailwind, some of that 2-cycle smoke is going curl up over the transom and follow you home, and a little might be sucked into the vent as air is sucked out of your companionway by your forward motion (with that hose disconnected in the quareterberth).

3. There's lots of vaporized and paritally-burned oil in that smoke, and yes, some CO2 and CO. But the annoying oil smell is out of proportion to the CO content. (That could be thought of as an advantage of 2-strokes over 4.)

So, by my calculations, you're still alive with the same number of synapses firing... but your nose is offended. That's a good thing--no point in taking any chances.

Stinkpots with big 4-cycle gensets (to run the air conditioning and plasma TVs) exhausting under swim platforms, kill people swimming there... That's far from your situation, even before you 52ed the hose back in place. But your cabin will smell better now...

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 20:48:28

Oops... I found out you have a Honda. Hmmmmmmm... maybe it's because it's too big!

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 23:15:29

Maybe but us stinkpotters have to stick together. It does feel good to get from point A to point B before dark even if there is a current or a rain. My cruise this summer was during a record breaking wet July. Hey I even had a windshield that I made from a plastic cover of the cabin opening. Wouldn't you know that all that rain came with no wind. I didn't smell the boat exhaust after 3 weeks out but it did have an odor. Yes I showered before going to dinner.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 23:47:43

I do tow a 8' hard dingy with a 9.8 hp. It is my emergency escape and I can tie it up along side for power to get to a dock if the Honda fails. Home again and smelling better.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2007 : 09:52:37

Late model Honda? Doesn't it have through-the-prop exhaust? (at least when it's above idle and not in reverse) IMHO: You shouldn't be smelling any exhaust when the motor is running above idle unless there's something wrong with the exhaust system.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2007 : 00:27:03

CB, good idea. I do have a lot of exhaust oil on back and below the outboard. Will look at this in the morning. The boat goes back into the lake next week for the rest of the season and I will be able to really check things out with all the cruising gear out.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2007 : 15:59:19

...and check your oil. If it's low, that tells you something about the residue. If it's high, gasoline might be leaking into it (not good). Either is evidence of a ring problem. Also check your spark plugs for signs of cooked oil.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/05/2007 16:03:16

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