Carbon Monoxide can kill.
It kills quietly and without warning. Fortunately for wakesurfers, most inboard boats, most of the time, do not expose the rider to very much carbon monoxide. Unfortunately, the people in the boat may be exposed to a lot. It depends on how the boat is set up, where you are sitting, and the direction and strength of the wind.
Most carbon monoxide deaths associated with inboard boats happened to people that were teak surfing, (platform dragging, teak drag, body surfing or hanging onto the swim platform). Be aware though, there have been deaths to people sitting inside the boat, on the swim platform, or swimming around the back of an operating boat. Click here to see another example of carbon monoxide danger (look at the second picture).
WARNING: Pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid breathing boat exhaust. An unborn child is very susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Many people have been on a boat and later in the day felt drowsy or had a headache. They typically blame it on the sun, food, beer, etc. The complaints may be due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The following is an excerpt from the Fresh Air Exhaust Carbon Monoxide study.
I have been around boats most of my life. I certainly have smelled exhaust gases while operating these boats. For the most part, I had very little concern for carbon monoxide. When I began building and testing Fresh Air Exhaust, I was merely trying to move the exhaust further away from the wakesurfer. Even though I was aware of the potential dangers of carbon monoxide and some of the drowning deaths associated with it, my attitude towards boat exhaust was still somewhat careless.
My attitude changed substantially once we actually began testing carbon monoxide concentrations. Our first time testing carbon monoxide levels, we let the boat idle near the pier to warm up. As I went to set up the Biosystems carbon monoxide monitor at the back seat, the alarm on the monitor started blaring. The carbon monoxide levels inside the boat, around the back seat, exceeded 1100 ppm (the maximum the meter would register). Since 1200 ppm is considered lethal, I suddenly had a new respect for carbon monoxide levels present in boats.
A life vest can prevent Carbon monoxide induced drowning. When participating in watersports, ALWAYS wear a life vest. Always!
Larry Mann, DC
Click here to read the complete study.
In a study by the Centers For Disease Control conducted for the U. S. Coast Guard, Fresh Air Exhaust removed up to 90% of the carbon monoxide from the boat. Fresh Air Exhaust may reduce air pollution generated by inboard boats (further laboratory testing is planned).
With Fresh Air Exhaust boats operate quieter; your stereo sounds better.
DO NOT teak drag - you will likely die.