Cabin ventilation

PSR

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Sep 17, 2013
117
Catalina 27 4743 MB Yacht Harbor, Richmond CA
Has anyone found a way to replace existing sealed Catalina ports with alternatives that open? More cabin ventilation in summer, especially at anchor or in the slip, would be very welcome. I will most appreciate any suggestions.
Peter
 

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
I have a C 30, not a C 27 but I replaced the forward fixed ports in the head & across at the area above the hanging locker with Lewmar Ocean Series operable ports. Beckson (original equipment for Catalina) plastic ports are slightly cheaper, but the Lewmar are better quality. You may have to cut & enlarge the port opening slightly to fit the #2 size ports, but is easy to do with a jig saw & well worth the trouble. You can't have too much ventilation, especially in the head. I also installed a Nicro solar powered exhaust fan in the head in the cabin top, which I feel is a must on all of our boats, as it really helps to provide positive airflow in the boat when she's all shut up at the dock. I feel that it really helps reduce mold forming & musty smells from lack of ventilation that most boats suffer from.
But beware that the Lewmar ports must be thoroughly sealed when installing as they can & will leak around the inner frame. Also seal the core that you cut through to prevent core rot, especially in a deck mounted Nicro vent. The core that I drilled out for the Nicro vent was 1.5" thick on the C 30 with 2, 1/2 inch thick layers of balsa & marine ply sandwiched in between a quarter inch of fiberglass on the top & bottom of the cabin top.
No wonder the C 30 is over 10,000 lb. empty! They were solidly built back then. Cheers.
 

PSR

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Sep 17, 2013
117
Catalina 27 4743 MB Yacht Harbor, Richmond CA
...I replaced the forward fixed ports in the head & across at the area above the hanging locker with Lewmar Ocean Series operable ports...
jr-
Thanks very much for the suggestion and advice on installation. I will look into the alternatives you name and appreciate the Lewmar recommendation.

There is an aesthetic consideration in such a modification. Do you have a photo of the exterior showing yours as they are installed? Seems to me the forward location you chose is the best for a different style.

I have a Nicro vent in the forward cabin, and so far, all has remained fresh. Winter may be more challenging. The POs had a bit of RV/Marine dehumidifying stuff on board, which I do not like, and I hope my constantly running exhaust vent will do the job. A second Nitro vent installed in the forward hatch is a possibility if more power is needed.

Thanks again!
 

PSR

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Sep 17, 2013
117
Catalina 27 4743 MB Yacht Harbor, Richmond CA
Just looked at photos of your C-30 in your refit album. The 27 has only three ports, which are probably identical to the 3 after ports on the 30. The forward port on the 30 does not match the shape of the other 3 on each side, and I can see that there wouldn't be the same aesthetic challenge in replacing the forward port with a rectangular operating port.

One more reason of many that I would like to trade up to a 30!