I was looking at some h34 pictures and saw in different boats a pair of chromed vents installed behind the v-berth hatch. We had borrowed an h34 to sail from the Chesapeake Bay up to NYC and long Island and the boat had those two vents. Are those original vents installed by Hunter? The question pertains as when underway from Cape May to Sandy Hook conditions were a little brisk and we dipped the bow into a few of the waves and the water running into the boat's cabin seemed like Niagara Falls. I don't recall very well if those could be closed but I think I looked at them and it did not seem like they would. At the time I just thought a PO had installed them and that they were poorly located. Are they original equipment?
Air vents on h34
- Thread starter Benny17441
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The orignal vents were probably Nicro (white vinyl). These metal ones were replacements for the original ones. The problem with the original ones was the fact that there were no replacements for the base.
If there was water pouring in the dorade boxes were not functioning properly. The box drains were probably plugged up. You can also rotate them around so the are facing aft when sailing in this type of conditions or even replace the vent with a cap.
If there was water pouring in the dorade boxes were not functioning properly. The box drains were probably plugged up. You can also rotate them around so the are facing aft when sailing in this type of conditions or even replace the vent with a cap.
Benny, those are Vetus vents like this : http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...me=Vetus+UFO+Stainless+Steel+Deck+Ventilators
They were standard on the 34's and when they are sealed and undamaged, water should not come through them. Blue solid water on deck over them would probably get through the baffles. There is no way to turn them off. There are some vents from Vetus that do have a valve that can be shut.
They were standard on the 34's and when they are sealed and undamaged, water should not come through them. Blue solid water on deck over them would probably get through the baffles. There is no way to turn them off. There are some vents from Vetus that do have a valve that can be shut.
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Kloudie, those are the ones. What do you mean by "sealed"? I consider these were undamaged and the water seemed to be coming in from the ventilation holes rather than the base to deck joint. They worked well under thunderstorm conditions but could not take water running the deck awash. Due to the sloping angle going up the cabin top it is pretty easy to get water up there so I question the designer's wisdom about the placement of these vents. After looking at the vent's design I concur with you that the baffle to keep water out was probably overwhelmed by blocks of water. We only got about a bucket full inside the cabin per dip but at first thought the v berth hatch had failed. When we returned the boat I advised the owner to look into removing them and sealing the apertures as a precursor to any offshore work. The boat is sturdy and handled great both under sail and power even though this was the shoal draft version. Thanks for the info.
Sealed .. I meant that mine had failed the seal where the little skylight attached and leaked some there.. They also leaked at the deck .. You are right, Benny, from your description, they must have been overwhelmed by the deck water which siphoned through.. I noticed in the Vetus catalog there is a piece about not being able to be submerged because they will leak. I'd guess that some clear strapping tape around the outside to cover the holes when going offshore might be in order.
Benny...
Claude's correct in that they were standard Vetus installations on the H34. I have never burried the bow and have never had them leak otherwise.
Claude's correct in that they were standard Vetus installations on the H34. I have never burried the bow and have never had them leak otherwise.
Vents clarification
Are we talking about the dorade box or the 2 small vents in front of the mast? They are about 5 in' in diameter and fairly flat? You must have been in some pretty big seas to bury the nose that far.
Are we talking about the dorade box or the 2 small vents in front of the mast? They are about 5 in' in diameter and fairly flat? You must have been in some pretty big seas to bury the nose that far.
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Vents...
Yep, Heart, the ones that vent in the v-berth are the ones in discussion.
I don't think I've seen a wave big enough on the Northern Chesapeake to bury the bow of my H34! Zowie! That's a scary thought!
Yep, Heart, the ones that vent in the v-berth are the ones in discussion.
I don't think I've seen a wave big enough on the Northern Chesapeake to bury the bow of my H34! Zowie! That's a scary thought!
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