After opening all openings on the boat, what should you do next to minimize fumes?

Running the bilge exhaust blower for four minutes is essential in minimizing fuel vapors and ensuring safety on the boat. The exhaust blower helps ventilate the bilge area where potentially hazardous vapors can accumulate, particularly from the fuel system. By activating the blower, any fumes present are expelled from the compartment, reducing the risk of ignition or explosion when starting the engine.

This step is especially critical because fuel vapors are heavier than air and can settle in the bilge, creating a highly flammable atmosphere. Allowing the blower to run for a designated period ensures that a sufficient amount of fresh air circulates through the bilge, effectively diluting and removing the dangerous vapors.

In contrast, simply closing all compartments would trap any existing fumes inside, which could be dangerous when the engine is started. Sniffing around for fuel vapors could provide some initial awareness of the situation, but it does not actively mitigate the risk as effectively as using the blower. Turning on the boat engine without venting could ignite any accumulated fumes, presenting a significant safety hazard. Thus, running the blower is the proactive and necessary step to take in this situation.