Has any one insulated their cabin top between the molded headliner and the cabin top? If so how did you do this, I can only think of cutting acess oles and spraying in expanding foam.
Hunter 30 cabin top insulation
- Thread starter duncanew
- Start date
There is wood in there between the cabin top and the liner. I doubt that drilling holes in there is going to do you much good.
What is the purpose of the insulation?
What is the purpose of the insulation?
I would think it would be more cost effective to hang a reflective tarp over your boom and one over a line to the jib to knock down the Florida heat. You could also mount a misting system to have a fine water spray cover your boat for an economical price. Less work than trying to place cabin insulation.
My thoughts.
Ian
Meant to Be
My thoughts.
Ian
Meant to Be
The cabin top and side decks have a plywood core. The liner is just below. Having pulled out port lights and done a few other projects involving this area on my '82 H30, I would estimate there is not much more than 1/8 to 3/8 inch of space between most of the liner and cabin top. Down the center of the cabin top (on my boat anyway) there is no space; the liner seems to be cemented to the deck underside. There is more space, 1 or 2 inches, at the lower edges of the liner under the side decks.
You are not going to get much insulation into the cabin top were you want it and that space is also effectively the wire raceway to your cabin lights. It would be impossible to pull new wiring to them in the future if the space is filled with foam. The larger space at the side decks is where you need to maintain wrench access to the toe rail nuts.
If you are looking to stay cool in the Florida sun, a problem I rather envy right now, the suggestions above from Ian sound more effective, and less problematic, than spray foam above the cabin liner.
You are not going to get much insulation into the cabin top were you want it and that space is also effectively the wire raceway to your cabin lights. It would be impossible to pull new wiring to them in the future if the space is filled with foam. The larger space at the side decks is where you need to maintain wrench access to the toe rail nuts.
If you are looking to stay cool in the Florida sun, a problem I rather envy right now, the suggestions above from Ian sound more effective, and less problematic, than spray foam above the cabin liner.
Air is the best insulator going so I'd leave things alone on the deck side of things.
I use sun screens made of sail cloth that lower the cabin temp by about 10 degrees on a 100 degree day in full sun. Also keep the rain off and allow you to keep the ports open when it rains. The cost of materials was around $80 for all three (forward of mast triangle, aft of mast port and starboard rectangles. I sewed them myself by hand (had a LOT of time on my hands) but a standard sewing machine would allow you to do it in an afternoon. I put grommets on all the corners and lines with snap links to attach the shades to the boat attachment points.
I use sun screens made of sail cloth that lower the cabin temp by about 10 degrees on a 100 degree day in full sun. Also keep the rain off and allow you to keep the ports open when it rains. The cost of materials was around $80 for all three (forward of mast triangle, aft of mast port and starboard rectangles. I sewed them myself by hand (had a LOT of time on my hands) but a standard sewing machine would allow you to do it in an afternoon. I put grommets on all the corners and lines with snap links to attach the shades to the boat attachment points.
You can always add insulation to the interior (if you're trying to maximize efficiency of air conditioning, for example).
I've installed Reflectix in a few vehicles but never on a boat: though other people have done so and I found at least this one website detailing the effort. Not sure how you'd dress up a cabin top if you lined it with this, but at least you can see the effort involved is no small ordeal... http://www.frugal-mariner.com/Insulating.html
My solution
The canvas shop on this site did this cover to my design, and tied it into the Bimini they had previously provided.
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=16&aid=7416&page=article&mn=27_75-84
A few minutes to set up or strike, admits the breezes off the water, and cools the cabin on a hot day!
The canvas shop on this site did this cover to my design, and tied it into the Bimini they had previously provided.
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=16&aid=7416&page=article&mn=27_75-84
A few minutes to set up or strike, admits the breezes off the water, and cools the cabin on a hot day!