Ventilation

Powered Ventilation

Permanently installed with regard to an engine means that it is securely fastened to the boat’s structure and the necessary wiring, piping and controls are connected and secured to the boat in accordance with the applicable USCG regulations. See Title 33 CFR Part 183, Subpart I, Electrical Systems and Title 33 CFR Part 183, Subpart J, Fuel Systems. The use of the term “permanently installed” is to highlight that the engine is not portable or easily removed from the boat and to differentiate it from “portable equipment”.

The term gasoline engine with a cranking motor is used to indicate that the gasoline engine can be started from a location that is remote from the compartment where it is permanently installed. An engine without a cranking motor (starter) requires the presence of a person at the engine location in order to start the engine. Presumably, any dangerous conditions such as liquid fuel or vapors being present at the engine location would be detected by odor and/or sight and remedied before the engine is started.

This section of the regulation addresses boats that have a permanently installed engine with a cranking motor in a compartment. To comply with the regulation one of the following alternatives must be satisfied:

1. The compartment must be open to the atmosphere, as defined in 183.605.
2. There must be an exhaust blower system installed to ventilate the compartment in which the engine is installed. An exhaust blower system consists of one or more blowers with ductwork and terminal fittings attached to the ducts.

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