Has anyone had any experience with installing a cowl vent(placement and type?)on a 23.5 to improve ventilation in the cabin while sailing. I've looked at Nicor and Plastimo. How about a 12 VDC fan? My wife says it is stiffling down there. I'm always at the tiller so I don't have an oportunity to go below and experience the sauna for myself. I've thought about just opening the forward hatch but the jib can get torn on the hatch closure. I'm not concerned about water from a serious wave crashing over the bow and getting in because we would batten down the hatches before serious weather and besides we're fair weather sailors. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Jonathan Costello Heeling Powers
Below deck ventilation
- Thread starter Jonathan Costello
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Try it...
Jonathan- Try opening the foward hatch while under way. Cover the closing latch with an old tennis ball with a small slit cut in it - this will protect the jib from catching on it. Your wife will thank you profusely when she feels the difference in temperature while underway.
Jonathan- Try opening the foward hatch while under way. Cover the closing latch with an old tennis ball with a small slit cut in it - this will protect the jib from catching on it. Your wife will thank you profusely when she feels the difference in temperature while underway.
Try a mushroom vent
These can be set in the hatch itself or in the cabin top. Someone makes one that has a solar fan in it too I think. They are much shorter that cowl vents (which need Dorade boxes) and can be a problem on small boats. Installation in either case is straight forward - just cut a hole, seal the deck core with epoxy and use a good grade of caulk - not 5200 not 4200.
These can be set in the hatch itself or in the cabin top. Someone makes one that has a solar fan in it too I think. They are much shorter that cowl vents (which need Dorade boxes) and can be a problem on small boats. Installation in either case is straight forward - just cut a hole, seal the deck core with epoxy and use a good grade of caulk - not 5200 not 4200.
Why doesn't your wife ever get to sail the boat?
Men - and then you will wonder 1. Why she doesn't want to get a bigger boat 2. Why she won't want to go cruising (who wants to be the galley slave for 3 yrs.) 3. ... Do you make her haul in the ground tackle? (I have seen 200 pound men - sitting at the helm - yelling at 120 pound women struggling with 70 pounds of ground tackle.) Sailing should be fun for everyone, and it is only fun if you actually get to do the sailing now and then.
Men - and then you will wonder 1. Why she doesn't want to get a bigger boat 2. Why she won't want to go cruising (who wants to be the galley slave for 3 yrs.) 3. ... Do you make her haul in the ground tackle? (I have seen 200 pound men - sitting at the helm - yelling at 120 pound women struggling with 70 pounds of ground tackle.) Sailing should be fun for everyone, and it is only fun if you actually get to do the sailing now and then.
12 volt fans are great!
I don't like Hella, but this is what you will find at WM etc. Look at Hotwire Port fans. Motors last longer, are quieter, and use very little power. (And I don't get a kick-back even...)
I don't like Hella, but this is what you will find at WM etc. Look at Hotwire Port fans. Motors last longer, are quieter, and use very little power. (And I don't get a kick-back even...)
Can you remove 12 volt plug safely...
...and hard-wire fans like this? I would assume you would want to add some type of inline fuse as well? But otherwise, wouldn't it be ok to do this?
...and hard-wire fans like this? I would assume you would want to add some type of inline fuse as well? But otherwise, wouldn't it be ok to do this?
Thanks Mike and Debra
I appreciate your suggestions and will do both. Thanks for the web site Debra. The fans look like they are much better quality than the overpriced Hella fans at WM. Hella doesn't even rate the CFM. No Debra I am not a chauvinist pig. I am easing my wife into handling the tiller. As a matter of fact I do most of the work before during and after sailing. She is comfortable with handling the sheets and mother nature calls a lot more for a woman than a man so she has to go below. However, she is not comfortable with handling the tiller with our two small children on board. I plan to let her handle the tiller more this summer whe we sail by ourselves. Thanks for the input.
I appreciate your suggestions and will do both. Thanks for the web site Debra. The fans look like they are much better quality than the overpriced Hella fans at WM. Hella doesn't even rate the CFM. No Debra I am not a chauvinist pig. I am easing my wife into handling the tiller. As a matter of fact I do most of the work before during and after sailing. She is comfortable with handling the sheets and mother nature calls a lot more for a woman than a man so she has to go below. However, she is not comfortable with handling the tiller with our two small children on board. I plan to let her handle the tiller more this summer whe we sail by ourselves. Thanks for the input.
Power Vent 3000
I have a Nicro Power Vent 3000 in my forward hatch. It makes a world of difference when the boat is closed up. Not sure that it will make much of a difference underway. I had thought about adding ports into the lights on the side like the ones on Catalina 250s. I have yet to muster up the balls to cut into the Plexiglas and install them. Just put a sign in the cabin that reads "Jonathans Day Spa" you'll end up painting her nails before you go home but she'll want to go every weekend.
I have a Nicro Power Vent 3000 in my forward hatch. It makes a world of difference when the boat is closed up. Not sure that it will make much of a difference underway. I had thought about adding ports into the lights on the side like the ones on Catalina 250s. I have yet to muster up the balls to cut into the Plexiglas and install them. Just put a sign in the cabin that reads "Jonathans Day Spa" you'll end up painting her nails before you go home but she'll want to go every weekend.
Debra
I'm so glad you posted the Port Fan link. Saw those at a boat show last year, but lost the brochure and couldn't remember the name. Great product. Made using a computer fan. Also, a woman who's not at the helm is often not there by choice. My wife introduced me to sailing, but still she has little interest in tending the helm or adjusting the sheets. I sail the boat and she enjoys the ride! Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
I'm so glad you posted the Port Fan link. Saw those at a boat show last year, but lost the brochure and couldn't remember the name. Great product. Made using a computer fan. Also, a woman who's not at the helm is often not there by choice. My wife introduced me to sailing, but still she has little interest in tending the helm or adjusting the sheets. I sail the boat and she enjoys the ride! Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
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