How long should one wait after turning on a vessel's blower before starting the engine?

Waiting four minutes after turning on a vessel's blower before starting the engine is crucial for safety reasons. The primary function of the blower is to ventilate the engine compartment, helping to eliminate any potentially explosive gasoline vapors that may have accumulated. By running the blower for this duration, you ensure that these vapors have sufficient time to dissipate into the atmosphere, reducing the risk of ignition when the engine is started.

While shorter waiting times might seem adequate, they do not provide enough ventilation to ensure safety. Relying on less than four minutes could compromise the safety of the vessel and its occupants. Therefore, four minutes is the recommended timeframe to maximize the safety of starting your engine after using the blower.