OK guys I took my wife for her first overnighter on the hook and I screwed up bigtime. First it was hot this weekend 100 degrees hot and I had no bimini Didn't bother me but I don't think it helped her mood much. Made a note to myself to fix or replace the bimini. sailed/motored two hours to nice anchorage at Banks channel dropped the hook. grilled nice steaks, wonderfull dinner, nice breeze, sun going down, nice on deck had drinks. Not too bad so far. Time for bed, disaster, all though nice cool breeze on deck it was like an oven below even with all hatches and windows wide open. To make a long story even longer, my wife was miserable all night and i'm afraid she won't go again except maybe in the fall. So I'm just asking does anyone have experience with the windscoops do they work well if theres a good cool breeze outside? Any suggestions on cooling a cabin at night? small boat Cal 2-25 battery bank of 2 group 27 batteries, could I run a small fan all night without killing the battery? I may never get her away from shore power again.
Windscoops, will it save me?
- Thread starter Gary_H
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yes and yes
I love my windscoop. It funnels the breeze right down the forward hatch no matter which direction the wind is coming from. I also have 2 12volt fans that I use sparingly. I bought a small fan at Wal Mart last year that I use 95% of the time. It runs on 6 c batteries, or ac power cord, or 12v or rechargeable internal NiCad batteries. It will run on the rechargeable batts for over 12 hours, and the best part was that it cost about $15.00 and is totally quiet. Make the wify happy and she'll enjoy herself.........
I love my windscoop. It funnels the breeze right down the forward hatch no matter which direction the wind is coming from. I also have 2 12volt fans that I use sparingly. I bought a small fan at Wal Mart last year that I use 95% of the time. It runs on 6 c batteries, or ac power cord, or 12v or rechargeable internal NiCad batteries. It will run on the rechargeable batts for over 12 hours, and the best part was that it cost about $15.00 and is totally quiet. Make the wify happy and she'll enjoy herself.........
Windscoops work if the wind is blowing
Otherwise some small 12v fans will work. They should not kill your batteries. I have a scoop(cannot remember the name) that has a flexible frame made from a pole that you would use on a tent. It has a line attached to the top center of this bowed pole that uses a wood strut that goes inside the hatch diagonally and then turns square. The downward force holds the canopy open and it sends lots of cool air into the boat.
Otherwise some small 12v fans will work. They should not kill your batteries. I have a scoop(cannot remember the name) that has a flexible frame made from a pole that you would use on a tent. It has a line attached to the top center of this bowed pole that uses a wood strut that goes inside the hatch diagonally and then turns square. The downward force holds the canopy open and it sends lots of cool air into the boat.
Scoops Work Don't Forget Bug Screens
You do need some breeze but a scoop makes the most of any breeze that exists. I went to Lowe's and bought some window screen material. It is pretty cheap and put it over the hatches when bugs are about. Usually bugs are not a problem but the screens have saved us several times.
You do need some breeze but a scoop makes the most of any breeze that exists. I went to Lowe's and bought some window screen material. It is pretty cheap and put it over the hatches when bugs are about. Usually bugs are not a problem but the screens have saved us several times.
I don't have alot of charging capability, so
my wife has 2 fans ( she usualy only uses one)each 12volt and less than .2 amps/hour(? can't remember the exact but know that someone here will) computer fans that can be bought at Radio Shack or Best Buy for about $20. I then wire that to a cigarette lighter style plug and hang it from a 1/8" line.In 10 hours it burns about 2 amps each. I would build four more if it would keep her on the boat. The one way that my wife can deal with hot days is by swimming. The water this early in the season is still very cool. If you swim or bob for 15 or 20 minutes, it lower the body temp and makes being on deck in the shade very nice. I have a fresh water pump to hose off with so that the lake water doesn't cause that mucked up feeling. This has taken years to develope plans for bad days with our limited resources. This last 90+ weekend went great. My wife even ventured out in her kayak for hours at a time. ( much of that was spent in the shade of the shoreline. This is a tough issue. I hope you can make it work for you. r.w.landau
my wife has 2 fans ( she usualy only uses one)each 12volt and less than .2 amps/hour(? can't remember the exact but know that someone here will) computer fans that can be bought at Radio Shack or Best Buy for about $20. I then wire that to a cigarette lighter style plug and hang it from a 1/8" line.In 10 hours it burns about 2 amps each. I would build four more if it would keep her on the boat. The one way that my wife can deal with hot days is by swimming. The water this early in the season is still very cool. If you swim or bob for 15 or 20 minutes, it lower the body temp and makes being on deck in the shade very nice. I have a fresh water pump to hose off with so that the lake water doesn't cause that mucked up feeling. This has taken years to develope plans for bad days with our limited resources. This last 90+ weekend went great. My wife even ventured out in her kayak for hours at a time. ( much of that was spent in the shade of the shoreline. This is a tough issue. I hope you can make it work for you. r.w.landau
should not drain a good battery
Little 12v fans use very little power, maybe 1/2 an amp an hour (ie 1 fan for 8hr = 4a/h conservatively). Even if you added two more fans where you sleep it would not be draining a fully charged group 27 battery to 50 %. A windscoop plus a couple of fans should keep you relatively comfortable, but it will never be like AC if it is humid. That said, a breeze created by the fans will diminish the effects of the humidity. Check the A/H of your batteries and remember that your lights etc. will drain also. If you have an alternator or other power source figure the A/H input for recharge time.
Little 12v fans use very little power, maybe 1/2 an amp an hour (ie 1 fan for 8hr = 4a/h conservatively). Even if you added two more fans where you sleep it would not be draining a fully charged group 27 battery to 50 %. A windscoop plus a couple of fans should keep you relatively comfortable, but it will never be like AC if it is humid. That said, a breeze created by the fans will diminish the effects of the humidity. Check the A/H of your batteries and remember that your lights etc. will drain also. If you have an alternator or other power source figure the A/H input for recharge time.
Great suggestions
I will take advantage of all your suggestions and hopefully get another chance to get her out there. I guess I should have been better prepared to make her as comfortable as possible. I don't really want her to be limited to going from marina to marina. She likes staying on the boat when theres plenty of shore power but most of the cool places are more isolated.
I will take advantage of all your suggestions and hopefully get another chance to get her out there. I guess I should have been better prepared to make her as comfortable as possible. I don't really want her to be limited to going from marina to marina. She likes staying on the boat when theres plenty of shore power but most of the cool places are more isolated.
There are three types of insect screening. Netting , which is very fine and ligh
standard fiberglass insect screening and pet proof insect screening which is much stronger and in colored versions used for outdoor upholstery fabric. The latter is the most durable but the mesh size won't stop the no seeums. I used a netting with a double knit border weighted with 1 inch hemp rope for my for hatch and that has worked well.
standard fiberglass insect screening and pet proof insect screening which is much stronger and in colored versions used for outdoor upholstery fabric. The latter is the most durable but the mesh size won't stop the no seeums. I used a netting with a double knit border weighted with 1 inch hemp rope for my for hatch and that has worked well.
The small inexpensive 12V fans are rated at .8 amps.
That means they will draw .8 amps per hour or 8 amps for a ten hour period. A fully charged deep cycle group 27 wet cell battery has about a 100 amp capacity. That gives you 50 amps of usable current and the fan would consume only 15% of its usable capacity in a 10 hour period. I usually run 2 of them to maintain good air circulation. A bimini top and a tarp over the boom will help keep the sun off the deck and allow the boat interior to stay cooler and cool quicker in the evening. Taking a shower on deck at sundown will also help to deal with the heat. Certain cushion fabrics will breathe better than others. Highly recommended would be Air conditioning. You do not have to break the bank to enjoy A/C. A 5,000 btu manual controls window unit will set you back $90 and a Honda 1000eu generator around $700. Not a bad deal considering you can also use the generator to run a microwave oven, a coffe maker or even charge your batteries. If you run refrigeration is a blessing to be able to recharge batteries overnight. A carbon monoxide monitor is highly recommended when running a gas powered generator.
That means they will draw .8 amps per hour or 8 amps for a ten hour period. A fully charged deep cycle group 27 wet cell battery has about a 100 amp capacity. That gives you 50 amps of usable current and the fan would consume only 15% of its usable capacity in a 10 hour period. I usually run 2 of them to maintain good air circulation. A bimini top and a tarp over the boom will help keep the sun off the deck and allow the boat interior to stay cooler and cool quicker in the evening. Taking a shower on deck at sundown will also help to deal with the heat. Certain cushion fabrics will breathe better than others. Highly recommended would be Air conditioning. You do not have to break the bank to enjoy A/C. A 5,000 btu manual controls window unit will set you back $90 and a Honda 1000eu generator around $700. Not a bad deal considering you can also use the generator to run a microwave oven, a coffe maker or even charge your batteries. If you run refrigeration is a blessing to be able to recharge batteries overnight. A carbon monoxide monitor is highly recommended when running a gas powered generator.
My daughter-in-law is an artist. She gave me enough
silk screen material ( this stuff is like iron) to fill the bow hatch and the companionway. I bordered it with sunbrella, it works great. It does have one hugh down fall. It limits air flow. We use it only on buggy nights that we can't keep the bugs out. The point of this is: a larger knit screen may pass more air. r.w.landau
silk screen material ( this stuff is like iron) to fill the bow hatch and the companionway. I bordered it with sunbrella, it works great. It does have one hugh down fall. It limits air flow. We use it only on buggy nights that we can't keep the bugs out. The point of this is: a larger knit screen may pass more air. r.w.landau
Follow up question for Benny please. Or anybody else.
What is the smallest generator output required to start and run an average 5000btu AC unit? How would a person read the lable on their particular AC unit and decide what size generator they needed to start and run it, if that was all they were going to power at one time? Thanks for any info. Judging electrical consumption is not yet something I do well.
What is the smallest generator output required to start and run an average 5000btu AC unit? How would a person read the lable on their particular AC unit and decide what size generator they needed to start and run it, if that was all they were going to power at one time? Thanks for any info. Judging electrical consumption is not yet something I do well.
Lance, look at the amp rating.
Volts times amps equals watts. The max amps times the voltage should give you the min. wattage needed to start the air conditioner. The start-up is the hardest on power draw. r.w.landau
Volts times amps equals watts. The max amps times the voltage should give you the min. wattage needed to start the air conditioner. The start-up is the hardest on power draw. r.w.landau
The scoop and fans
I think I can get this weekend.That should help quite a bit. Also the bug screen should be easy to find at Home Depot or Lowes. I have a bimini but the seams along one of the zippers has come unsewn perhaps rotted the treads I may be able to fix that myself not sure I may have to find someone to make a replacement I'm not sure an off the shelf bimini will fit my bows (theres a slot for the backstay)AC would be sweet but I can't afford the little generator right now cause I have to get my botom painted. I think eventualy I will get it together. I want her to enjoy it as much as I do.
I think I can get this weekend.That should help quite a bit. Also the bug screen should be easy to find at Home Depot or Lowes. I have a bimini but the seams along one of the zippers has come unsewn perhaps rotted the treads I may be able to fix that myself not sure I may have to find someone to make a replacement I'm not sure an off the shelf bimini will fit my bows (theres a slot for the backstay)AC would be sweet but I can't afford the little generator right now cause I have to get my botom painted. I think eventualy I will get it together. I want her to enjoy it as much as I do.
Be very care to look at power draw on the fan you buy..
If the battery dies, so do you!
r.w.landau
If the battery dies, so do you!
r.w.landau
Thankyou r.w. and Ross. Gary - Benny mentioned a shower.
I don't know if you have ever used a camping solar shower, but for smaller boats in remote anchorages, they work great. About a five gallon plastic water bladder with shower head. Heated by the sun during the day, ready for you and yours to use anytime you want. This really helps for relaxing and cooling off. They are so inexpensive that I really underestimated how much comfort it would add but now we use them all the time. Anyway, have fun and keep her out there.
I don't know if you have ever used a camping solar shower, but for smaller boats in remote anchorages, they work great. About a five gallon plastic water bladder with shower head. Heated by the sun during the day, ready for you and yours to use anytime you want. This really helps for relaxing and cooling off. They are so inexpensive that I really underestimated how much comfort it would add but now we use them all the time. Anyway, have fun and keep her out there.
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