anyone mount fan into hatch for cooling?

Fly_H23 · Aug 9, 2011

JonnyQuest said:
I'm Looking for ways to improve summer sailboat overnighters for the kids and Mom via cabin cooling (ours is a 1975 27' ODay, one small mid-ship hatch, one larger v-birth hatch, fixed ports along sides, and Nicro vent fan in mid-ships head).

I have read here at SBO that fan cooling options tend to be:

1. small round clip-on 12v fans using cigarette plugs
2. small round wall mounted 12v fans hardwired to batt system
3. box fans in companionway (12v or 120v with inverter)

I ran across the Fan-Tastic 12v box fan that West Marine sells and looked on their website--mainly a camping supply company, but I understand there is some crossover between rv and boating supplies. They also have a hatch mounted fan that looks like it would do well as a replacement in the forward v-birth hatch.

Has anyone considered or used one of their fans that is mounted into a replacement hatch? Looks like it would be a nice addition to a boat without installed a/c.

Any thoughts? I am attaching a photo from their website, which is http://www.fantasticvent.com

Thanks,

Jonny

Looks like it would move air very well. I would want to be sure the fan can be removed quickly in case of needing to use the hatch to exit the boat, ie - galley fire.

tkanzler · Aug 9, 2011

If it were me, I'd start with passive methods, such as a Windscoop (or similar device). There's a pop-up style that doesn't need halyards or other overhead support, but I can't recall the brand.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10114&subdeptNum=11315&classNum=11375

http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products/marine_product.asp?pnum=00291

My FIL has two Fantastic Fan units in his RV, and they move a fair bit of air, but I'm not so sure I'd want to physically block a hatch with one. I'd stick with battery powered fans, or dual-source fans (AC/DC) if that's available.

Venting the space on a hot day is important, but you'll feel cooler with a breeze directly on your skin via convection cooling and accelerated evaporation of sweat. If the inside and outside are the same temperature, then no amount of ventilation will change it, other than to exhaust humid air due to sweat and breathing.

Mike Turner · Aug 9, 2011

I have one of the Endless Breeze 12v box fans. It moves a good amount of air and doesn't seem to draw down the batteries too much. I have occasionally suspended it in the forward hatch using bungee cords, to blow air down into the boat. But lately I've been hanging it from bungees just below the forward hatch so it will blow on us when we're using the forward berths.

This past winter I bought four 12v mounted fans on sale at West and mounted them in the cabin -- one in the saloon, one in the galley and one at the foot of each berth forward. They also move a good amount of air and don't draw much amperage. You may want to find a West or other chandlery that has display models out, so you can listen to how loud some of these fans are - some of them are pretty noisy when running, but those also seem to be the ones that move the most air (although that may be an illusion based on the noise).

Getting a good flow of air through the boat helps some. The air scoops are good for that but we can't rig one on our boat as the fore boom is right over the forward hatch. As mentioned above, getting a breeze blowing directly on you helps a lot, that's the purpose of the two mounted fans over the berths.

Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, Alabama

seadaddler · Aug 9, 2011

Bad

I have a fantastic fan in my RV and work great moving hot air out but it is not removable and can't bring in fresh air either and so after thinking how cool they would be in a boat until I saw all bad things it can't do.
You would be better to get one of those 12 volt plug in clamp on fans from wall mart that can be put any where you need them to blow fresh air out the hatch or fresh around cabin,while sailing or at anchor air comes in nicely from the hatches.
Nick

FourPoints · Aug 9, 2011

JonnyQuest said:
Which works better, the wind scoop in the front hatch or how about rear anchoring to catch the breezes via the companionway opening? (or is that a bad idea for anchoring?)

Anchoring from the stern isn't a bad thing, and at least one very well respected marine company reccomends it over bow anchoring at (least in in storm conditions, http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_14.htm), however it is more complicated to setup the bridal needed, and your anchor locker is in the bow, along with everything else you need to anchor, so that is even more trouble you'll have if you try.

In addition to that there is the problem if you not swinging at anchor like the other boats around you (aka you won't, they will), so you need to add additional swing room between you and other boats, but they may actualy avoid anchoring near you just by the fact you are hanging "backwards", and asume you are an idiot...

As for the wind scoop, most of the time it will probably move more air than an electric fan could, but if the wind dies completly on a hot muggy night, you may want something as a backup to keep air moving...

Sailm8 · Aug 9, 2011

I would add a cheap tarp and some bungie cords thrown over the boom to shade the area and start the cool down before trying to sleep. In our area, southwest Florida, you can't get the cabin much cooler than the water you are sitting in. The boom tent goes a long way to start the cool down

seadaddler · Aug 9, 2011

Heat out

Tarps really work well at keeping the sun and heat out of the boat while anchored and that is the best idea cover all hatches and windows keeping the sun from heating up the boat all day.
I have a hatch hoodie from Banner Marine which covers the veeberth hatch and high up on the bow and lower with bungees drawing in fresh air but keeping the sun and rain out and screens keeping bugs out also,with boom tarp and a few fans down below do help keeping the hot Florida weather a little cooler while anchored.
Anything that keeps the hot sun from entering the boat will make a big difference and don't forget the screens on any opening before night bugs attach.
Nicks

Steve Dion · Aug 9, 2011

You may want to take a look at the O2-Cool line of fans. They have a model that takes replacable batteries, built in batteries, and AC or DC options. They have them at WM, but you can "probably" get them cheaper elsewhere.

wflowe2 · Aug 10, 2011

If you are in a slip with access to shore power, it is easy to make altered hatch boards and mount a window air conditioner. The condensate just drains into the cockpit.

Dan Johnson · Aug 12, 2011

Hatchboard AC...

Here's what I did on my last boat...

Sumner · Aug 12, 2011

We bought one of these...

...fans for the Mac to direct air from the...

.... hatch to us and loved it so much that despite's its high cost bought a second that we can move around to where we need it in the cabin area.

We also mounted it in the Endeavour...

...by the hatch and it blows down on us.

It has three speeds and only uses 2.5 watts on low and 4 watts on high and moves lots of air. We find that low is plenty of air for us most nights. It also has a 2,4, 6 and 8 hour timer built into it. We usually run it on the 2 hour and it shuts off while we are sleeping. If we need more it is there at the touch of a button.

I have more about it and the model number an such on our site here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/inside-31.html

It is a great fan and can be mounted anywhere and pointed in any direction. We used it into late May in Florida when the temps were getting into the low 90's during the day,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

ITMaster · Aug 13, 2011

I have the Endless Breeze on a long cord so I can move it anywhere inside that we want it. Have used it for about 7 summers, it is quiet and seems to provide more than adequate cooling on the lowest setting. I endorse it.

bwhite8622 · Oct 6, 2011

Looks good. I am in the process of installing a Nicro Solar powered vent in my forward hatch for the same reason.

anyone mount fan into hatch for cooling?

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