Advice on best ports to add for ventilation

[robertsapp]

Our Hunter has beautiful expanses of smoked acrylic that lets in tons of light, but no air. In other words, the cabin is a greenhouse. I'm considering cutting holes in four to six of the existing fixed acrylic ports along the cabin top and insetting smaller opening ports for ventilation. To do this, I'd want to use ports that will mount well in the existing 1/4" to 3/8" thick fixed ports and have a black finish so they complement the external appearance rather than clash as a white trimmed port would. The installations would be within 10 or 15 degrees of vertical, so I don't think drainage would be a big concern. Can anyone recommend the best brand of port to use in this situation?

 

[tkanzler]

I believe there's a Beckson openable port in the cockpit that vents to the stern berth (bottom-left in the photo), same as my H340 had. They're available in black. If you like the Beckson, then that's an option. The self-draining version is probably ok for the sides, if they're not more than 15 degrees off the vertical. The one in the cockpit is the rain drain version, which works up to 45 degrees from vertical I believe, and has drain grooves (so you don't get a bath when you open it after a rain).

I added a louvered screen to mine (Beckson option) so I could leave it open all summer, including when it rained. You might want to consider that for the one in the cockpit. It really helped keep the interior fresh, but nothing would keep it cool short of opening the two deck hatches and the other openable ports.

 

[Steve Dion]

Robert: The side fixed ports on our HV'36 have openeing ports. The surface must be very flat if you want to prevent leaks. If your fixed ports are crazed i would suggest that you have the acrylic replaced and have the fabricator cut the opening ports for you.

 

[robertsapp]

Robert: The side fixed ports on our HV'36 have openeing ports. The surface must be very flat if you want to prevent leaks. If your fixed ports are crazed i would suggest that you have the acrylic replaced and have the fabricator cut the opening ports for you.

Sounds like it's definitely the Beckson ports I want. I found directions on their website the describes how to install them in fixed acrylic windows.

The boat is almost 18 years old, and has lived in Florida its entire life, so naturally the acrylic is crazed, but I really don't think it bothers me enough that I'd want to tackle the job of trying to replace it all. From what I've read, that is a total PITA.

There is a provision in the instructions for dealing with installation in curved surfaces. I guess I need to take my straight edge to the inside of the existing ports and see how flat they are.

We're wanting to take the boat south, and I'd really like to increase airflow for cooling. The existing Dorade vents are mostly for show, because they're way too small to be effective.

 

[Ross]

All of the ports on my boat are opening and it is very pleasing to feel a breeze through the boat. Just remember to close them if/when it starts to get lumpy.

 

[jibes138]

Add dorade boxes and vents. I put a solar vent in one of mine to get circulation when there is no breeze. They keep the boat air fresh and really cut down on mold/mildew. I highly recommend them.

 

[Ron20324]

One time when I was in the quarterberth, running a wire across the stern stowage area, I asked someone to go in the opposite cockpit locker to grab the wire. When he opened the lid, a blast of air blew through the 1/4- like a venturi effect. We repaeated to the same results. Crack the lazz hatch a bit and see if that helps any.