[C320-list] Ventilation Best Practices

[sholdr at aol.com]

I put an exhaust sun-powered fan in the forward hatch cover and a filter (standard A/C fiberglass filter) in a holder I made inside the lazarette covering the ?access hatch at the back of the main cabin -- the filter keeps critters out pretty well and is readily? jettisoned should the need for access? thru that door arise -- I leave the door open to allow air from the outside to percolate through the main cabin and salon out the forward hatch.? I also leave the bilge access door out of place but still above the bilge (It covers 80% of the hole so I don't break my ankle in the hole when I forget to replace the cover upon entering the boat). We have had no sweating problems nor mildew issues, and helps to keep any head odors under control as well. (Texas -- Hot & humid or cold & humid).

Phil Hansen
Camelot #322


-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Bayly <mbayly at telus.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:23 pm
Subject: [C320-list] Ventilation Best Practices



Hey C320 Owners

 

Very proud and excited this weekend to join your throng.  Got the keys for
my first boat which is a 2005 320, hull #1023, Serendipity.

 

We're at Bowen Island, near Vancouver, BC Canada.  Anticipating many years
of fun family cruising.

 

But anyway first question, of which I'm sure there will be many, as even
though I sailed for many years with my family when I was a kid, still most
definitely a newbie at being skipper!

 

As may be well known, given the comments over the last few days regarding
sailing in Puget Sound, we have lots of moisture up here in the North West
and so I'm wondering whether I should be concerned about the lack of
apparent inbuilt ventilation in the Catalina 320.  The boat is basically 4
years old and still surprisingly fresh smelling given I don't think it's
been used much to date.  

 

However, from what I've read the best way to combat mildew is by keeping the
temperature in the interior similar to the exterior through good ventilation
and by ensuring the air continues to circulate and exchange.    However, my
320 doesn't seem to have any ventilation other than a 3 " by 1/2 " slot in
the main hatch boards.  The current owners have a couple of West Marine Air
Dryer Dehumidifiers (see link below), but the guy who runs the marina
suggested that they may do more harm than good if they warm the internal air
too much.

 

So interested in people's experiences and best practices for keeping the
mildew at bay and the air flowing sweetly.

 

West Marine Dehumidifier:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/
245832/377%20710%201663/0/Dehumidifiers,%20Air%20Purifiers/Primary%20Search/
mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201663
<http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001
/245832/377%20710%201663/0/Dehumidifiers,%20Air%20Purifiers/Primary%20Search
/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201663&Ne=0&Ntt=Dehumidifiers,%20Air
%20Purifiers&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenU
RL
=true&storeNum=5002&subdeptNum=12&classNum=380>
&Ne=0&Ntt=Dehumidifiers,%20Air%20Purifiers&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=C
ategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5002&subdeptNum=12&classNum=3
80

 

Cheers

Martin Bayly

Serendipity #1023