This goes under the category of biggest bang for the boat buck projects I've ever done. I took the screen for the hatch above the fridge home and cut a piece of 1/4" plywood the same size. Also had to route or chisel a recess where each of the little plastic clips holds the screen in. Then bought a cheap $10 desk fan, and disassembled it. Remove the base and take apart the front/rear halves of the 'cage'. Cut a hole in the plywood just a bit smaller than the cage. I attached it by drilling 4 holes around the hole and using electrical ties to hold the front cage to the rear.
The fans don't last forever; when they get slow to start after a couple years, I just get a new one.
I stick the fan in the hatch whenever I leave the boat for awhile during the hot months, plugging it into the outlet in the galley. I leave the hatch cracked with the coiled jib halyard around the aft side of the hatch. Have only had very minor water spots on the plywood.
I've been using these whole boat fans for the past 10 years at least. Makes a big difference in the temperature below when I arrive at the boat, when it's been closed up for some time.
Obviously only works when plugged in at the dock. :)
BTW, I splurged on the current fan; I think it was $15 bucks.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Gary
Is the fan blowing air into or out of the boat?
__/)__/)__/)__Capt Mike__/)__/)__/)__
Punta Gorda Florida
1990 Std WK M35 Hull #1050
blows air out, eg. exhausts hot air from the boat. I got the idea from our whole house fan, which does the same thing, quite effectively.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
I've got an even better idea: Move to the SF Bay area, where it's always moderate temperature!
SF Bay
1998 C36
Plus you have wind..!!!
My favorite city. A friend lived there in the 80's and I've been there several times for conferences. However, a little pricey :( And the ground shakes from time to time. And my wife has to keep her job at Drexel U. so I can stay retired :)
So I'll have to keep on building whole boat fans.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Gary,
I think that's an effective set up; however, I don't have a dodger (and don't want one for Lake Lanier). It does get very hot here in the summer and your project has me thinking. I am going to look at using a small muffin fan in my aft berth port hole (I do have a full bimini). I would like to supplement the air flow of my 2 existing nicro vents (one on the galley and one in the v-berth) and that may be an easy way to do it.
Thanks for sharing your project.
Stephen Kruse
Kruse Control #1428
1995 C-36 MKII SR/WK
Lake Lanier, Ga.