Engine room vent covers

[davidwigler]

Currently I'm using bulky old blankets over the screens over the vent openings to freeze-proof the engine rooms. There must be a better way to seal them up for winter yet be able to easily open them up for cruising. Vinyl covers with snaps? Any other ideas?

 

[wsdemmer]

After reading about someone using vent covers I went out today to Walmart and bought foam egg crate and cut it up to fit the opening. I doubled it up to help it form to the vent opening. I am going to try it for a while and see how it does. I made a note and put it next to the start button at the helm so I wouldn't forget them.

 

[dcate]

Mine has an interior hinged wooden door (flap?) cut to the shape of the rectangular vent with the hinge running the length of the top of the door mated to the boat along the top of each vent. There is one for each vent inside each engine room. Latch it open for running and latch it closed for keeping the heat in.

I think I've seen these before....probably popular up north, which is where this boat came from.


Looks like it'd take about a day to make and install them. Half inch plywood cut to shape (and painted).

 

[the kuz]

If your 77 has the same open rectangular engine vents as ours we have something that works well. I cut blocks of 4" foam rubber to be slightly larger than the vent openings (+ 1/4 - 1/2 inch bigger) Bought some "oil cloth" (cloth backed plastic you see on table tops sometimes - pacific blue like our canvas) at a fabric/sewing shop and covered the foam pieces (two ends, and piece wrapped around to have just one side seem - Sew inside out, pull rightside out - stuff foam and hand sew the open area you leave on the middle of the one side seem, 12 -18" or big enough to stuff the foam). You could use that thin blue tarp material or something similar also. Anyway, we have a soft, wind proof "plug" about 3 1/2 feet by 6 " x 4" that I can just slide/press into the vent opening and/or remove in seconds. Air tight, prettty good R value, easy, light weight and cheap. Works great if you have the "open" style vents. No suggestions for the louvered type. Made similar "soft plugs" for all the smaller vent openings. Seals/removes from entire hull in under a minute. Have lasted for almost 10 years so far.

Regards, Bob K

 

[Robby]

Currently I'm using bulky old blankets over the screens over the vent openings to freeze-proof the engine rooms. There must be a better way to seal them up for winter yet be able to easily open them up for cruising. Vinyl covers with snaps? Any other ideas?

When I winterized two weeks ago we used the white sticky paper that you use for lining drawers.Make sure you get the kind that releases.You can get it in the housewares dept at Walmart and its inexpensive.

 

[34Hatt]

When I winterized two weeks ago we used the white sticky paper that you use for lining drawers.Make sure you get the kind that releases.You can get it in the housewares dept at Walmart and its inexpensive.

Did you apply this over the outside of the hull onto the paint?

 

[sandspur1966]

All the above suggestions work well and are cheaper.

But if you are painting the hull this year (As I am) there is an updated (read expensive) solution as well.

I have been slowly decreasing the number of hull penetrations both above and below the water line.

Delta T makes automatic engine room vents that I have used in commercial applications and like a great deal.

Basically it is a vent damper with fan assembly's attached that are made up to fit the rectangular OEM vents. This will allow you to patch the 4" round blower vents before you paint and remove the scoops on the outside of the hull. Provides a cleaner look in my opinion and definitely improves the ventilation in the ER.

Their website is:

http://www.deltatsystems.com/dtsp-Standard_Rectangular_Dampers.aspx

I am sure many here will say it is an unneccessary modification and not worth the money. To which I answer... If it was all about money, I never would have bought and rebuilt my first boston whaler when I was a kid in the 70's never mind the 58 foot hole in the water i own now.

Oh also these Delta T's can be wired into the fire apparatus to close automatically in the evebnt of a fire/discharge. Greatly increasing the effectiveness of the fire fighting agent.

 

[Felicity]

Being able to close off the engine room vents is a safety feature in many new boats in case of a fire, I believe the Delta T advertises this as well. The Delta T's are great!!

 

[Felicity]

I guess I missed that last paragraph!

 

[GJH]

Shawn, I'd be curious as to what the Delta T conversion cost, ball park if you like. Are you having them do the work or using a yard or DIY?

 

[Robby]

Did you apply this over the outside of the hull onto the paint?

Yes, We have a black and gold stripe and we stayed off of those.

 

[TopHattandTails]

Robby, if your winterized, wouldn't you prefer air to circulate throughout the boat to kee the mildew away? All of the boats around here are winterized on the hard (so that might a difference if your in the water), but we pop all hatches, open all windows, remove all floorboards to bilges and make sure there is good air circulation from outside throughout the entire boat. We also wet vac all of the bilges to remove all water. Don't forget fuel stabilizer as well.

 

[DLCameron2]

Guys:

Here is the solution I pirated from another Hatt owner, works great holds in the heat when necessary:
DC

 

[davidwigler]

Mine open along the top, not the front, I assume to protect from water intrusion. I do like the piano hinge idea.