Engine Compartment Ventilation

[Brent Headberg]

I just posted a question about battery configuration and I have a related question about the compartment where my batteries are located. My 1990 Hunter 335 has the batteries located under the berth in the aft cabin just to the port side of the shaft log. This compartment is also a part of the engine compartment. I have not seen any accomodations for venting this area. Is that acceptable for this area not be vented?The batteries that are in the boat right now are of the smooth top variety...not sure if they are AMG or just the maintenance free type. They have an indicator dot that turns green or red depending on their condition. I suspect that they are of the automotive variety...in any case, I am going to replace them with marine batteries.My biggest concern is ventilation...would Hunter build this boat back in 1990 without venting this space?Cap'n BrentS/V Elena Lua

 

[Doug T.]

Venting

There must be SOME venting or the engine would starve for air. Are there vent cowls on the transom?

 

[Daniel Jonas]

Ventilation

I would think that there must be some ventilation in the engine compartment, otherwise, where is the engine getting air to run on?Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)

 

[Brent Headberg]

No Cowl Vents

That's why I'm wondering where the engine is ventilated. There aren't any cowl vents on my boat, anywhere.

 

[fred miller]

NO COWL VENTS EITHER ON 35.5

Good Question. My 35.5 [1992] has no engine vents either that I can find. Where is the engine getting air? Another issue is that after the enginbe has run and is hot, the heat doesn't have any place to escape the engine compartment. Under the aft cabin bunk which sits in back of the engine I am seeing condensation. Hot engine cooler hull syndrome. To solve this I remove the engine hatch [steps] to let the engine cool down and the heat escape. Anybody with a 35.5 have any better ideas as to how to vent the engine compartment?Fred MillerS/V M Squared