car radiator fan as cabin fan?

Ken13559 · May 5, 2016

Noise and current draw?

Jim 5757 · May 5, 2016

1700cfm??? Damned thing'll blow you right off the boat!!! (if your battery bank lasts long enough)

. Consider this: a bath fan is usually 70-100 cfm. Range hoods range from 200-400 cfm. Seriously, though...it might work as long as you can slow it down, but an electronic speed control would be infinitely more efficient than a rheostat. One more thing to consider is noise level. As an engineering guy, I believe the main design criteria for the car fan is max air flow at min cost.

kloudie1 · May 5, 2016

Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._re=12v_dc_cooling_fan-_-35-213-009-_-Product
ya'd have to build some kind of mount and wires, but it is low noise and low current draw..
These are expensive but have some fine features for marine use. http://www.satpro.tv/Caframo-Sirocc...U4y13J2R_3hUB11YQfSIfv6aZbgYDLTyTRBoCckbw_wcB

Chief RA · May 5, 2016

7" internal computer fans may suit your needs as they draw minimum amps per RPM . Chief

seadaddler · May 5, 2016

The marine fans may sound pricey to you but I have a few for many years and they are usually 2 speed and easy mounting
and any direction and look good in cabin when mounted any place.
I like them better than some cheap thing that has to be
hanging with some crazy mounting and over the years have tried saving money.
The carfram ones so nice and I just reach over and select the speed I want any time with out fuss.
Try defender.
Nick

Brian S · May 5, 2016

From everything I've seen, most people like a more versatile fan, something small that could be moved around for directed airflow. Caframo fans get good marks for low current draw, and decent airflow. I put a model 747 on my little boat. If I had kids around I'd put a ducted fan on. Some feel the price is high, but I actually got mine from West Marine when I just happened to be in a store, and they just happened to be on sale. Go me! http://www.caframolifestylesolutions.com/products/marine/

If you need whole cabin air movement, a popular option seems to be a form of air scoop on the forward hatch. There are some that only funnel from one direction, and would be good at catching light breezes when on the hook. Others I've seen have a 4 way design that sucks air in from any direction. I think I'd try one of these before trying to install a massive fan intended to do the whole cabin. Take a look here on the chandlery store, and also the google can help you find at least 3 or 4 commercial designs. Some are like eyebrow dormers over the hatch that can even be used when it's raining.

Remember that an automobile fan is not designed for low current draw, because it is pretty much being powered by the alternator when the engine is running. As long as the alternator can handle it, they can run it, without worrying about battery draw, as the batteries are only for starting, not for deep cycle use as you would on a boat.

Also, if you take a look around on the interwebs, you'll see tons of designs for ice cooling devices that use computer case fans. The larger the fan diameter, the more air it will generally move. The slower the fan, the more quiet. A small fan needs to spin fast and noisy to move air (I think about power supply fans on my 1 rack unit servers; evil, noisy little bastards.) But a big, slower fan is nice and quiet, and most of them are 12v. You can search for "swamp cooler." Some have designs using 5 gallon contractor buckets with polystyrene cooler inserts. There is an article in Good Old Boat magazine this month of a guy who took a regular cooler, and added a fan and PVC pipes to direct the air flow. He used 2 square plastic storage containers with a mix of water and alcohol, and added a baffle to force air down into the cooler and over the containers. The containers make it easy to re-freeze at home, and also a large block of thermal mass, what with block ice lasting longer than cube ice. The alcohol blend freezes at a lower temperature, so makes for colder air than just water.

jleblanc31 · May 5, 2016

Some of the fans foreign cars even have square shrouds around them that just might fit a hatch great. find your local pullapart grab one and try it out if it don't work with in 30 days bring it back and get your money back

THECUSCUS · May 5, 2016

Car fans are noisy. Pop your hood when your car is running and listen to fan.

Stu Jackson · May 5, 2016

This appears to be another case of an attempt to reinvent the wheel when the solutions are already out there. For some reason, it seems boaters are among the first to repeatedly do this. One of the great things about the proliferation of boating internet forums is that we no longer have to do these kinda things in the dark anymore. Ask a question, get an answer. Interestingly enough, it is usually the folks who ask this kinda question who end up arguing about the answers, too.

seadaddler · May 5, 2016

Yes that is the other thing that the marine fans use less power draw and those cheap Walmart with clamp and cigarette plug use more draw and don't last long.
The old saying you get what you pay and cheaper is some times more in the long run and wait for sale defender or WM.
Nick

Scott B · May 5, 2016

Jim 5757 said:
1700cfm??? Damned thing'll blow you right off the boat!!! (if your battery bank lasts long enough). Consider this: a bath fan is usually 70-100 cfm. Range hoods range from 200-400 cfm. Seriously, though...it might work as long as you can slow it down, but an electronic speed control would be infinitely more efficient than a rheostat. One more thing to consider is noise level. As an engineering guy, I believe the main design criteria for the car fan is max air flow at min cost.

Point it at the sails and go faster !!!!!

Steve Dion · May 5, 2016

We have one of the O2Cool fans that works on batteries, A/C & D/C. Not that expensive on Amazon and they have multiple speeds.

Benny17441 · May 5, 2016

Hey, you can set that fan behind the sails and get at least 1 knot of speed on a wind less day.

centerline · May 5, 2016

In my atv trailer, I have a 10" model as the bathroom vent fan.. it will clear out the "smokey" atmosphere in 20-30 seconds... it is NOT the fan to use as cabin ventilation because its way noisy and draws to much power for constant use....

On the boat, for the bathroom fan, i used a 4inch model, and it works well for the purpose, and even though its only 4inches, its plenty loud enough to drown out any strange sounds being made in there...

For a Cabin fan the camframo sirroco is still the best available, for air movement vs power draw... and the different modes of use ot offers.

JohnVTX · May 5, 2016

Good Grief....

jeepbluetj · May 5, 2016

I use an o2 cool in the RV. Doesn't draw too much. Cheap enough to replace every season.
On the boat I've got one of these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ON...Pg2cnMndLaK1rQkH99me9xoCf-Hw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's been on the boat 3 years or so, and it works fine. Use the big Ryobi spotlight and the smaller flashlight on the boat too. 2-3 batteries will last out a long weekend trip.

BudGates · May 5, 2016

jeepbluetj said:
I use an o2 cool in the RV. Doesn't draw too much. Cheap enough to replace every season.
On the boat I've got one of these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-18-Volt-Hybrid-Portable-Fan-Tool-Only-P3320/205022215?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-D25T-PowerTools|&gclid=CjwKEAjw3qu5BRC-0uCw8O6Y5zcSJAA_WtdLX4zYb2rekSdObI5Iy9wEPg2cnMndLaK1rQkH99me9xoCf-Hw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's been on the boat 3 years or so, and it works fine. Use the big Ryobi spotlight and the smaller flashlight on the boat too. 2-3 batteries will last out a long weekend trip.

We bought one of those Ryobi fans for our boat but haven't used it yet. Glad to know it works for you.

Ron20324 · May 5, 2016

Does J.C. Whitney still do business? They use to have oodles of fans. Marinco Solar fans move 1000cf per HOUR.