PocketShip.net

Good points all. FYI, I keep the cowls inside the cabin storage area--only plan to put them on when I am in the cabin and need ventilation. Reasons: 1. keep animals (squirrels, etc.) out of the dorades when boat is sitting in the yard, 2. when climbing to the anchor well cowls can be kicked off and fall in the water never to be recovered. Now you have made me aware of a third reason.

I am using the flat plates that came with the cowl vents to replace the cowls. They don't screw in, but still they are hard to remove and I'm sure will stay in place.

You have made me think about putting deckplates in the bulkhead and opening them only when I need ventilation. Looks are not as important as function. I don't plan to be in boat in dire conditions, but they can't always be avoided. I have a friend who lives in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan and we may take his boat and my boat out on that lake--so in that eventuality I definitely need to be prepared. (They ought to call the Great Lakes inland seas, not lakes.)

One other suggestion, make sure you have some sort of screen behind the cabin openings t keep the bugs out. Found a wasp hanging on one of mine yesterday.


Chris

Good point! I went ahead and ordered the deck plates so I can finish things up in there for now. If I install the "butterfly" vents later I'll be sure to add screening. Mounting the butterfly vents to the inside of plywood flanges should facilitate that.

Fitting some netting on the deck plate flange with an elastic band doesn't seem like it would be too difficult (actually it would probably take some cussing while working one hand blindly through the dorade top hole to get the job done) but, do-able.