Adding Dorade Boxes

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Me and Boo

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Dec 1, 2011
75
Catalina 1984 C30 Tall Rig Bow Sprit MD
I would like to add two dorade boxes to my Catalina 30.

Are there any commercial boxes available? I see CD has them for the larger boats, but not the C30.

How difficult is it to make your own boxes?

If you installed your own, where did you put them?
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,151
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Unless you just want more external teak to care for and to look more "yachty"...

Get a Beckson Vent O Mate. Be SURE to get the SS top and not the standard plastic top.

We have used these on several boats and they keep the interior dry and ventilated. Positive closure when you want it, and when open no spray comes in.

All around Good product.
http://www.beckson.com/vent2.html

(No financial or personal interest, just a customer.)
 
jrowan

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Just my 2 cents worth, but I've had several boats with dorades & I personally think that if your gonna go to the trouble to cut a hole in the deck, try a solar powered Nicro fan unit instead.
It works all the time, 24/7 since it has a solar charged battery that also runs at night. It doesn't blow U away with airflow, but it generally works better then a dorade & doesn't have the higher risk of leaks like a dorade box can. Dorades only work when a stiff breeze is blowing in the direction in which the snorkel is mounted or turned towards. When your at the dock or at anchor, lack of a breeze is usually the problem in the 1st place! The best place to mount a nicro fan is above the head. I don't think I have to explain why. lol. Just make sure U seal the deck penetrations really well with butyl tape or 4200 thoroughly to avoid deck rot. Also some Nicor vents I've bought have had bad batteries that went out after a week or two. Then I just buy another one & exchange the bad one, but in general they work fairly well.
 
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Bob4203

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Jul 1, 2004
398
Catalina 30 Atlanta GA
Interesting...........I have never seen dorades on a Catalina 30. The deck area is very limited in space but the most logical location for installation if your intend on ventilating the main cabin area is aft of the mast and forward of the traveler between the teak hand rails. Measure how far your opening hatch goes in. They can be very expensive if you opt for the polished chrome vents and teak dorade boxes. They do make them in all PVC but I would guess your more into the look here and prefer the chrome/teak combo. As aforementioned, you could do just as well with the solar and mushroom vents when venting out a cabin without a high deck obstruction liked a dorade set up.

Keep us posted on installation if you go through with this.

Bob
'88 Mark II
 
jimmcgee

jimmcgee

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Feb 26, 2008
603
Catalina 30 Marathon, FL
Bob4203 said:
Interesting...........I have never seen dorades on a Catalina 30. The deck area is very limited in space but the most logical location for installation if your intend on ventilating the main cabin area is aft of the mast and forward of the traveler between the teak hand rails. Measure how far your opening hatch goes in. They can be very expensive if you opt for the polished chrome vents and teak dorade boxes. They do make them in all PVC but I would guess your more into the look here and prefer the chrome/teak combo. As aforementioned, you could do just as well with the solar and mushroom vents when venting out a cabin without a high deck obstruction liked a dorade set up.

Keep us posted on installation if you go through with this.

Bob
'88 Mark II
Click to expand
Here you go. These are Plastimo dorades that were installed by the previous owner. You can find more info here http://www.plastimousa.com/Dorades.pdf. I think they go for around $120 each.

 
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