Engine noise reduction blanket

[Vertor]

I am in the process of replacing my engine noise reduction and came across a marine engine blanket. I like the idea but am worried about heat retention issues.

I would incorporate ventilation and a good extraction fan. Does anyone have any experience of using an engine blanket such as this one?

https://www.nkgroup.co.uk/product/ma...ngine-blanket/

Thank you in advance for your advice.

[MV Wanderlust]

I don't really see how that is any different than the acoustic insulation inside most generator boxes and the generators are fine; no harm is done to them. At the start of summer, we applied all new acoustic insulation to the inside of our generator box and have run it a couple hundred hours since then with no issues. You should be okay.

[billknny]

The amount of heat lost by an engine to the air around it is trivial. Virtually all the heat is carried away by the water cooling. The only part of a typical small diesel engine that requires air cooling is the alternator.

Yes, under the blanket will get hot. Maybe as much as 200F (95C) if not ventilated. As long as you feed the engine with cool combustion air, and a source of cool air for the alternator to cool itself, the surrounding ambient temperature really doesn't matter. But those cool air sources are critical.

I would check out carefully the temperature rating of the attached electrical wires, especially any added to the engine that were not part of the original engine manufacturer's wiring harness.

If there are any electrical parts you want to keep cool, you can simply extend the wires and mount them off the engine.

It might be a good idea to check with the engine manufacturer. It is possible they have an ambient temperature rating that you would not want to exceed.

[Regulatorsq]

If you look at some photos of boats for sale on yacht brokerage sites you’ll see some pictures of engines and their surroundings. Almost all will be fitted with some similar form of sound absorbing material. Usually fitted to the surrounding structure. I would not suggest you fit it free standing though. Make sure it’s firmly fixed to the structure so that it can’t fall onto moving parts, exhaust or air intakes. Also consider the recommend to fight an engine/fuel fire without having to remove large panels, thereby risking your life and allowing unrestricted air flow to any fire.