[C320-list] Ventilation Best Practices

[amshd2 at aol.com]

Allen

 I also swear by the Nicro solar vents.  I have the 4 inch model one in the head and one above the galley sink.  This is my 5 year with the boat and have never had a problem in the winter or summer with moisture.   

If you get them be sure to look at the ones with on off switch, reversible blades for intake/exhaust and have the option to close off air flow from inside the boat. 

I also would not recommend leaving hatches cracked open just to many things that could go south program.  

Tony
Chica Caliente Hull 30 

-----Original Message-----
From: David Nolte <dcnolte at mac.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 9:51 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Ventilation Best Practices


Allan, 
 
I, too use the Nicro solar vent, and swear by it. I have one in the hatch over the main salon, drawing air out. I have always felt the the gap in the wood hatch covers in the companionway is large enough to allow for sufficient air flow into the boat. 
 
As for the head, I put a hook and an eye near the top of the door and the frame on the outside, which is positioned to hold the door open about two inches to allow for good airflow in there. I am not in favor of cracking hatches open as some have mentioned, I can only think of bad things, liquid and/or living, that might come in the cracks. 
 
David Nolte 
Beach House #4 
 
On Sep 22, 2008, at 9:39 AM, Allan S. Field wrote:0
 
> Martin - Welcome to the List and especially to one fine boat. We > expect you 
> will get many years of enjoyment from your C320, much like the rest > of us! 
> 
> Keeping the moisture levels in check below decks is something I am > almost 
> fanatical about. This is based on not being fanatical with my first 
> boat...but that's another story. Suffice to say that I still am > shocked 
> that Linda still married me given the condition of that boat! 
> 
> The first thing we did was to put Nicro vents in the forward and 
> mid-hatches. The vents we have run 24/7 by solar re-charging of the 
> batteries. The fan blades are set such that the forward vent pulls > air in 
> and the mid takes it out. These little fans move a surprising > amount of 
> air. I think that this is the number one moisture control tactic > one can 
> take. 
> 
> All things wet, such as towels and wash cloths, go home with us > when we 
> leave the boat after a weekend. We put rubber drain mats over all > 3 of the 
> sink openings - 2 in the galley, one in the head. Since we run A/C > and the 
> condensate line drains to the bilge, we empty the bilge by using a > wet vac 
> and then paper towels. We hang a bag of Damp Rid over the galley > sink (if 
> the thing breaks, which one did, you want the water falling into > the sink). 
> While we leave water in the toilet, we 
put a large cup with a > rounded bottom 
> in the toilet over the water. For the head, we run a small plug-in > ozone 
> generator when away. 
> 
> What I have not yet done is to cut a hole in the head door and place a 
> louvered grate in the hole so that we can get air circulation in > the head. 
> Some on the list prop the door open when they leave but I have been 
> reluctant to do this given the violence of some of our northeasters > and how 
> much the boat thrashes around in the slip during one of these. 
> 
> Other techniques which we have not done include placing air coils > under the 
> bunks, propping the cushions up when leaving, and leaving all > drawers open 
> when leaving. There also is a way to use our A/C to cycle every 30 > minutes 
> and take humidity out of the air but again, we don't do this as I am 
> reluctant to leave the A/C on while away. 
> 
> Despite all this, boats are in a wet, damp, humid environment and > are going 
> to pick up moisture and inevitable odors down below. At least once > per 
> year, a very thorough cleaning down below with a bleach type > product will 
> keep the mold and mildew in check. After 7 years of owning Sea > Shadow, her 
> "boat breath", what hits you when you open the main hatch after > being away 
> for a week, is manageable. 
> 
> Hope this helps. 
> 
> Allan S. Field 
>
 Sea Shadow - #808 
> Columbia, MD 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com 
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of > Martin Bayly 
> Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 11:23 PM 
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
> 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 i
n 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&clas> sNum=3 
> 80 
> 
> 
> 
> Cheers 
> 
> Martin Bayly 
> 
> Serendipity #1023 
> 
> 

> 
 
David Nolte 
Nettle Net® BOAT POOL® 
800-962-9020 
www.nojellyfish.com 
dcnolte at mac.com