Adding Solar Vents

[Pitman]

Adding Solar VentsOn my 1984 Hunter 31 I have two PVC Cowl Vents (standard). Being that the boat is in Texas it would be nice to increase the cabin airflow. Was thinking about replacing the Vents with 2 solar fans. I would also add a vent grill to the bottom hatch board. This should greatly increase the airflow. Has anyone ever done this?

 

[Ron Mills]

Get A/C

If you don't have A/C I would recommend that instead of trying to get more airflow. I removed the cowls on my H34. I am a little bit south of you but I think that the heat is about the same. A reverse cyle A/C makes the boat a year round condo.

 

[Guest]

Have A/C

I have A/C. Just want to keep the boat cooler when i am way and not running the AC

 

[Ron]

Does the A/C have a dehumidifier cyle?

Does your A/C have a dehumidifier cycle that turns it on 3 or 4 times a day while you are gone?

 

[Steve Dion]

I would question how much good they will do.

Pitman:I would question how much good they are going to do if you mount them on the dorade box. They will probably move a lot more outside air than inside. My choice would be to mount them in the v-berth hatch and the salon hatch. This way you would have a direct discharge of air from the boat 24 hrs. per day. I also recommend that you install Hella Turbo fans. They have low power requirements and move a considerable amount of air.

 

[RON MILLS]

Get rid of the humidity

Pitman:The purpose of my earlier responses was to say that adding the solar vents or whatever would in my opinion would be marginally helpful. Because of the heat that we are in I think that the cabin has to be not only cooled but also dehumidified. When this is done and you go to the boat after a long absence the boat has a fresh smell and not that smell of being closd for extended periods of time. Whenever I leave I set my A/C control panel to the dehumidifier setting. In this setting the A/C comes on for about 20 minutes three times a day. It is more expensive than running vents but the damage to the interior that occurs in the heat is a great deal more. Just my thoughts and purpose of my first response on get an A/C.

 

[Tom]

purpose of solar vents

A solar vent would do little if anything to create any kind of noticeable air flow. It is very slight. The main reason for them is to remove stale air, not necessarily for comfort reasons as you are looking for. I put solar vents in my boat with a louvered vent in the companionway hatch and it reduced the condensation in the boat tremendously, but that's what they're for, mainly. Good luck