Hello - I have an extensive winter "to do" list to bring our Catalina back to tip-top shape....A few days ago I ordered two stainless 4" cowl vents. New challenge...there does not appear to be enough room to add a standard Dorade Box. I have attached a picture of the vent I will replace that also shows the space issue. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!
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Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD
My boat is a 1989 C36, the fibreglass moulding under the vent is shaped differently compared to your picture but I suspect the functionality is similar.
You appear to have a solar powered vent that was probably added by a PO in substitution for the original Catalina vent. I believe my boat has the original equipment.
Where you have the solar vent, I have a Vetus dorade box as seen on their catalogue page 139:
[url]http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/c95187af#/c95187af/138[/url]
On top of this dorade box, I have a low profile ventilator.
The dorade function is provided by the Vetus box, it is not part of the Catalina cabin top moulding.
Hope this helps. I'd be happy to explain in more detail if you need.
Cheers,
Graham Mackey
SV Nostromo
1989 C36 908
Tall Rig/Wing Keel
Toronto, Canada
Thank you for taking the time to send. I have checked it out. Though can't believe what they are getting for these things (roughly $300 each). The more I am looking at these I can't help but wonder if a simple mushroom vent inside a PVC cutout (with drain holes in the sides) could do the trick for a much better price?
Anyone ever try something like this?
Thanks!
Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD
My (1983) boat had the SS mushroom vents, with Dorade / cowl assemblies like the Vetus one noted above, but with fairly tall cowls. The mainsheet knocked the cowls overboard within the first month I had the boat, during jibes. So I unscrewed the dorade boxes and got rid of those too.
Perfectly happy just having the mushroom vents in place. They can be easily screwed down shut for rough weather (much easier now to get them shut tight from the outside than it was from the inside), and when anchored with 4 people in the boat, I pop them open and it cuts down noticeably on the condensation inside.
A PVC cutout or cloth cowl of some sort might be a nice addition to get some airflow going when at anchor, but I see no need for the big tall dorade boxes.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada