[OntarioTheLake]

We have a scoop, and if there's any wind it keeps the V berth cool. But if it's light wind, that nice breeze doesn't seem to make it into the rest of the boat. In a heavier breeze, yes it sure does- but not so much aft cabins.

We used to use a big AC fan at the dock to force air, and it worked well, but for whatever reason we got away from that. We have small DC fans blowing on our sleeping positions, and that works well on all but the hottest nights.

I find that on hot, sunny days drenching the deck before sleep works wonders at mitigating heat exchange into the cabin. Also, drenching the humans- getting to sleep when one's core is hot is tough; once you're asleep you'll stay asleep but it's that first hurdle. Cooling off the core (swim, shower) before climbing into bed gets one to sleep.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

We have one of the Caframo fans installed in the aft cabin now and an extra one that we're deciding where it would best provide airflow. We have a couple other older fans that I've resisted installing because I think they're probably junk and don't want to put more holes anywhere that isn't a good fan.

The Admiral bought some DC clip-on fans that are USB chargeable. I scoffed at first, after all we've had fans, but these new fans run more than 12 hours on their own batteries. And as clip-on, and without a cable, we can put them exactly where they blow best at night. Since they are USB, and I installed LED lights with USB throughout the boat, we can plug them into the light bases and let them charge all day.

They are also a lot quieter than the old DC fans.

I'd toss the old fans. The new technology really impressed me.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

I just ordered a wind scoop type that I will try out in the big forward most hatch.

Let's talk about that.

As others have already shared, if at anchor you set it to face forward. But worst case scenarios are at dock, or in a tide, when that can render the scoop lesser- or wholly ineffective. So you will want to be able to adjust it to face in various directions.

What I do- and I'm sure there are smarter people with better ideas:

• top of scoop connected to halyard. Don't pull it dead tight, you want a scoop shape.
• a tie (line) at the top of the scoop. I use this typically to tie to the headsail and force-bend the scoop shape.
• a tie (line) in the middle of the bottom crossbar. I use this to force the bar (and bottom of scoop) to the rear of the hatch.
• two lines on each of the mid-scoop "wings" to both keep them forward, and to adjust angle.
• two bungees with clips that I added to the crossbar, near the outer bottom of the scoop. These I use to adjust angle of attack of bottom of the scoop. I can clip them onto all sorts of stuff, pull them tighter or leave them looser, etc so I get the crossbar, and thus the bottom of the scoop, where I want it.

All these lines are used to fine-tune the angle of attack of the scoop to face the wind. It also mitigates the mid-sleep flop-bang-flop noises of a loose scoop. None require modification of the boat.

I anticipate that others will have better solutions which I eagerly await.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

The Plastimo wind scoop is allegedly omnidirectional.

https://www.tradeinn.com/waveinn/en/plastimo-ventilating-sail/136655403/p?id_producte=5984731&country=us&gclsrc=aw.ds

Looking at the one photo, I'm having trouble understanding how.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

I've never seen one, but the review I saw says it is. It looks like the same design as the Breeze Bandit.

"The Plastimo wind scoop is omnidirectional, which makes it somewhat unique in the industry. That means that this wind scoop will efficiently funnel air down into the forward hatch regardless of what direction the wind is blowing."

Best Wind Scoops: How to Use Them Properly

Wind scoops are an excellent passive ventilation tool for use at anchor or when moored at the dock. The best wind scoops are the Plastimo Ventilated Sail, the Dorcap Hatch Vent, the Breeze Booster Hatch Ventilator, the Breeze Booster Port Ventilator, and the Breeze Bandit Hatch Ventilator. In...

www.lifeofsailing.com

Also there is this guy who made his own.

what a joke. Might as well hang a bedsheet.

Note too, securing or dropping through the hatch means no screens.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

Re. Aft cabins,

That's a whole new subject. I'd bet that there are threads on this. Darned aft cabins with no airflow. Forward hatch blasts air down, but it doesn't get to the aft cabin. Ours is quite open into the salon, and has three ports, but no significant airflow ever gets back there. The fans help, but it's not like having a blast of cool air on your face. I will admit, I am wholly hesitant to start cutting through liner and cockpit seating to add a hatch. Surely, the manufacturers know that aft cabins have no airflow, but elect not to improve on that- and people buy the boats anyway.