In cleaning, repairing, and updating our recently acquired '84 Hunter 31 I have found that the vent in the cabin ceiling, that goes to the scoops on the deck, has been caulked shut. This boat came with CruiseAir installed and I'm wondering if that would have been a reason this was sealed. I'm also wondering if un-sealing would be of benefit with mildew control. I have an AirDryer de-humidifier, but I'm wondering without any ventilation will my AirDryer work as well? Thanks, Joe S/V Charis
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Bill Ebling
Keep moving air
I have decreased mildew to a significant extent on Yesterday's Dream (1985 31') by improvong air circulation while the boat is locked up. Ventilate, ventilate ventilate. 1. Definitely open up your dorades to the cabin and remember to keep the dorades bug screen clean. It is located under in the teak cover plate in the cabin roof. The very fine screen tends to accumulate dirt and dead insect type critters that can impead air flow. Of course to ventilate the inside of the boat you need an place for air to come in as well as go out. Unfortunately, the two dorades on the 31 attach to only one internal vent opening and therefore act as a placebo vent. Pretty useless in a closed up boat other than circulating air within the dorade box. 2. To get needed cross ventilation in a closed up boat additional vents need to be added. Many add Nicro vents. This requires drilling a new hole in either your cabin roof or alternatively a hatch. I was not have the courage to drill through my core. I took a different path. I added new vents in/into the companionway washboards. I drilled four, 3 and 1/2 inch holes in the second from the top washboard. These were covered by a pair of stainless steel ventilation louvered cover plates that I picked up at west marine. (I think they are possibly made by perko, something like 4" X 8" or so each; each plate will cover two vent holes). To keep critters out I sandwich vinyl window screen between the louvered covers and the washboard before bedding with silicone. The louver covers are secured to the washboard with 3/8" stainless steel screws. My boat has a dodger. The downward pointing louvers plus the dodger keeps any rain from entering through the washboard vents even in very srong blows. This winter I did not cover the boat but had the dodger removed. No water entered the boat. Since adding these vents my mildew problems essentially went away.
I have decreased mildew to a significant extent on Yesterday's Dream (1985 31') by improvong air circulation while the boat is locked up. Ventilate, ventilate ventilate. 1. Definitely open up your dorades to the cabin and remember to keep the dorades bug screen clean. It is located under in the teak cover plate in the cabin roof. The very fine screen tends to accumulate dirt and dead insect type critters that can impead air flow. Of course to ventilate the inside of the boat you need an place for air to come in as well as go out. Unfortunately, the two dorades on the 31 attach to only one internal vent opening and therefore act as a placebo vent. Pretty useless in a closed up boat other than circulating air within the dorade box. 2. To get needed cross ventilation in a closed up boat additional vents need to be added. Many add Nicro vents. This requires drilling a new hole in either your cabin roof or alternatively a hatch. I was not have the courage to drill through my core. I took a different path. I added new vents in/into the companionway washboards. I drilled four, 3 and 1/2 inch holes in the second from the top washboard. These were covered by a pair of stainless steel ventilation louvered cover plates that I picked up at west marine. (I think they are possibly made by perko, something like 4" X 8" or so each; each plate will cover two vent holes). To keep critters out I sandwich vinyl window screen between the louvered covers and the washboard before bedding with silicone. The louver covers are secured to the washboard with 3/8" stainless steel screws. My boat has a dodger. The downward pointing louvers plus the dodger keeps any rain from entering through the washboard vents even in very srong blows. This winter I did not cover the boat but had the dodger removed. No water entered the boat. Since adding these vents my mildew problems essentially went away.
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John K Kudera
I agree,
On our H34, we have very little problems with mildew, I think, due to the dorades and the passive vents in the v berth area. John
On our H34, we have very little problems with mildew, I think, due to the dorades and the passive vents in the v berth area. John
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Joe Dickson
To Scoop Part II
Thanks for the responses. I'm inclined to cut a hole for a solar powered Nicro vent in the forward hatch, and use the dorades for an exhaust. Has anyone had any experience with doing that? I assume just a large hole saw would do the trick??? Isn't the hatch material basically plexiglass?
Thanks for the responses. I'm inclined to cut a hole for a solar powered Nicro vent in the forward hatch, and use the dorades for an exhaust. Has anyone had any experience with doing that? I assume just a large hole saw would do the trick??? Isn't the hatch material basically plexiglass?
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Jim
Hole saw a no no, "Joe"
Joe, Do not use a hole saw. It will make a mess of your hatch. Scribe your template on the hatch, then take a samll drill [3/16] and drill a hole somewhere on your scribe mark. Then take a dremel with a router bit and insert it in the drill hole and router out the circle for your vent. Hold the dremel with both hands and and rest them on the hatch as you cut and take your time.
Joe, Do not use a hole saw. It will make a mess of your hatch. Scribe your template on the hatch, then take a samll drill [3/16] and drill a hole somewhere on your scribe mark. Then take a dremel with a router bit and insert it in the drill hole and router out the circle for your vent. Hold the dremel with both hands and and rest them on the hatch as you cut and take your time.
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Jim
Joe, Your fuel tank gauge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shine a good flashlight on the fuel tank and you can see the level right threw the plastic tank, especially at night.
Shine a good flashlight on the fuel tank and you can see the level right threw the plastic tank, especially at night.
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Dave Winiker
Nicro Vent
We installed a solar-powered Nicro vent in the forward hatch last fall and cut the hole with a saber saw -- no problem
We installed a solar-powered Nicro vent in the forward hatch last fall and cut the hole with a saber saw -- no problem
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