Engine compartment venting

[fred1diver]

Hello all
With everything we want to do on the boat, it will be a new boat at the end

ok, the vent intake and exhaust for the engine compartment are located on the transom, which greatly reduce the space for boarding from the swim ladder, would it be advisable to move them on the side of the coaming, one on each side? If so what would you all recommend as a cover for the vent? Just a standard grill? Or something else?
At the moment the hoses come flush to the top of the transom and there is a cover with slits for allowing air to flow

 

[dmax]

Can you put them on the face of the transom? Lots of boats have them there.

 

[dLj]

What are your sailing plans?

dj

 

[fred1diver]

@dmax what do you mean on the face? On the stern?

 

[fred1diver]

@dLj
I do want to sail, I do need the motor to enter and exit the marina, my waterway is a bit narrow so I unfortunately need to motor often

 

[fred1diver]

How would between the push pit and the small block be?
Going aft

 

[dmax]

@dmax what do you mean on the face? On the stern?

Yes, the stern. My Catalina 30 had clam shell vents on either side of the stern, up high.

 

[fred1diver]

Yes, the stern. My Catalina 30 had clam shell vents on either side of the stern, up high.

Can you share pictures please

 

[dLj]

@dLj
I do want to sail, I do need the motor to enter and exit the marina, my waterway is a bit narrow so I unfortunately need to motor often

I understand that, but are you doing day sails, weekend sails, planning long ocean passages? That kind of thing.

dj

 

[fred1diver]

Weekend and once or twice a summer, full week

 

[dmax]

Can you share pictures please

Sorry, I was not remembering the vents correctly (it's been a while), they were actually on top of the transom, you can see one in this picture. I still think you could place them on the stern, up high.

 

[dLj]

Weekend and once or twice a summer, full week

Ah - then just find a place and installation that you find works. Once you start heading into more ocean intensive sailing, I have a lot of opinions, bot in placement and type of device...

dj

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Cowling on the vertical face of the stern, open facing down. I don't know how common this is but I think it is done this way quite often. It would be a very rare occurrence for me to see a boarding wave.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

My O'Day 25 had them on the coaming with a clamshell facing backwards. I would recommend a screen to keep bugs out but then again, you'll have to clean it every so often. I had that boat in all kinds of conditions. The bilge was always wet on that boat so I'm not sure if small amounts of water ever entered.

 

[fred1diver]

Hello all!
Quick update,
I will be installing them on the stern.
I had a good look inside the stern lazarette and it will be easy to do!
The blower and hoses are pointing up

 

[dLj]

Do you have the atomic 4 gasoline engine in your Person? If yes, then venting is important to exhaust gasoline vapors. I don't have a lot of gasoline experience, but I believe you need to run your vent before starting especially if you've just filled up. But I'm sure you know this.

dj

 

[fred1diver]

Yes venting is extremely important,
What I want to do is move them to have better access from the swim ladder, we might replace the blower to a quieter one as well, we will see

 

[dLj]

Yeah, just make sure your placement is such that the intake doesn't suck in the exhaust fumes.

dj

 

[fred1diver]

Very good point, thank you for pointing that out, it will be taken into consideration .

 

[dlochner]

I believe you need to run your vent before starting especially if you've just filled up.

Only if you don't want to blow up.