Console Ventillation

[Andy_Rs600]

I've had a search and found a few threads loosely on this issue before but nothing specific:

Question - what is people's take on ventilation in consoles through which fuel filler hoses run?

I've got a 2001 RibCraft 6.8 with an original Ribcraft console. There is no ventilation of any kind fitted from the factory, and other Ribcrafts I've driven also don't have console vents. Some manufacturers do seem to default to putting a grill vent on the aft face of the console though.

Advantages of vent - clearly venting petrol fumes. I've got 2 plotters, 2 radios, smartcraft, 2 batts and NMEA buesses in the console so there seems to be a lot of potential ignition sources.

Disadvantages - at the movement my console is totally sealed, even with the deck flooded down. Vent grill clearly makes water ingress possible removing a potential buoyancy compartment and maybe affecting lifetime of electronics.

Any opinions?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Andy_Rs600

I've had a search and found a few threads loosely on this issue before but nothing specific:



Question - what is people's take on ventilation in consoles through which fuel filler hoses run?



I've got a 2001 RibCraft 6.8 with an original Ribcraft console. There is no ventilation of any kind fitted from the factory, and other Ribcrafts I've driven also don't have console vents. Some manufacturers do seem to default to putting a grill vent on the aft face of the console though.



Advantages of vent - clearly venting petrol fumes. I've got 2 plotters, 2 radios, smartcraft, 2 batts and NMEA buesses in the console so there seems to be a lot of potential ignition sources.



Disadvantages - at the movement my console is totally sealed, even with the deck flooded down. Vent grill clearly makes water ingress possible removing a potential buoyancy compartment and maybe affecting lifetime of electronics.



Any opinions?

There shouldn't be any petrol fumes in the console. The vent pipe comes to the filler point & is externally vented. No need for vents in the console itself.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Andy_Rs600

I've had a search and found a few threads loosely on this issue before but nothing specific:

Question - what is people's take on ventilation in consoles through which fuel filler hoses run?

I've got a 2001 RibCraft 6.8 with an original Ribcraft console. There is no ventilation of any kind fitted from the factory, and other Ribcrafts I've driven also don't have console vents. Some manufacturers do seem to default to putting a grill vent on the aft face of the console though.

Advantages of vent - clearly venting petrol fumes. I've got 2 plotters, 2 radios, smartcraft, 2 batts and NMEA buesses in the console so there seems to be a lot of potential ignition sources.

Disadvantages - at the movement my console is totally sealed, even with the deck flooded down. Vent grill clearly makes water ingress possible removing a potential buoyancy compartment and maybe affecting lifetime of electronics.

Any opinions?

I put two large vents on my own 6.8 (high up on the side of the consul with covers) when I built it...just liked the thought of air movement to help with any condensation ect...
I have smart gauges...and although they have fogged a little from time to time it very soon disapates..not the same for everyone I've seen!
I doubt seriously your consul is 100% hermetically sealed anyway!
It certainly won't do any harm

[GuyC]

+1 on what Maximus is saying and agree with PD that the fuel tank vent is / should be externally vented.

In terms of stability, the damaged waterline assuming you are reliant on the tubes for buoyancy rather than the hull is probably about 20% of the way up your tubes. If the vents are above this and the deck to console join is watertight you will still maintain the buoyancy. If you are in a position where the water reaches the vents, I'm afraid it is probably a bit of a lost cause.

[cgoing]

I see a lot of consoles with heavy mildew inside from trapped moisture. Adding vents higher up allows air flow and helps reduce the mildew from coming back after being thoroughly cleaned. A couple nice small(2-3") stainless vents on the sides usually do the trick.

[lakelandterrier]

Both my RCs have had the console vented with vents on the aft face of the console at the top , port and starboard covered with stainless fitting. Thought it was standard RC fit out.

Fuel is vented through a breather onto the filler point. Should be no fuel fumes inside the console.

LT

[jeffstevens763@g]

Any space should be ventilated in my opinion, as Dave Says with fuel and also the battery compartment.

[ribber]

I put in a couple of these stainless steel clam vents either side of console as mildew became a problem.

57mm x 55mm Stainless Steel Shaped Boat Clamshell Vent | GS Products