What action should you take if fumes are present in the bilge?

When fumes are present in the bilge, ventilating the area to remove those fumes is the most critical and safest action you can take. This is important because the bilge can contain highly flammable or toxic gases that could ignite or cause health risks if allowed to accumulate. By ventilating, you create airflow that helps disperse these harmful fumes, reducing the risk of explosion and ensuring a safer environment on the boat.

Starting the engine immediately could ignite the fumes and lead to a potentially catastrophic explosion. Ignoring the fumes, especially when the boat is docked, is reckless as the fumes can pose health risks and create dangerous conditions even when the boat is not in operation. Sealing off the area completely would trap the fumes inside, increasing the concentration and risk of ignition, rather than allowing them to dissipate effectively. Therefore, ventilating the area is the sensible and responsible step to ensure safety.