Adding wing windows to C 28

M

markkiefaber

Active member
Joined
Oct 5, 2019
Messages
36
Fluid Motion Model
R-21 EC
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Colgate 26 sailboat
Vessel Name
Privateer
Do any of you remember the wing windows that cars used to have? They were a great way to cool down a car before air conditioning was ubiquitous. My former boat was a Mainship 30. The center panel of the front windshield could open and send air onto the driver and passenger. As much as I think the C 28 is a MUCH better boat, I miss that vent feature. Here's my question. Have any of you fashioned a vent wing device to slide onto the sliding glass windows next to the driver and passenger? I can imagine opening the window back about 6" or so, putting the wing onto the front edge of the glass and the wing directing the air in. With as clever and inventive as I have found the Tug and Cutwater people to be, I can't imagine that I'm the first person to propose this modification to our awesome boats.

Mark
C 28 MOJO
Annapolis, MD
 
We are in a more temperate climate but with all the windows, cockpit door, and six skylights open we have never had trouble with airflow or cooling the boat.
 
Mark, I have had the same idea on our C-26. But, I haven't tried to jury-rig anything to date. We prefer not to run the genset and AC while underway. So, I'll be following this thread.
 
Another idea would be to have your top hatches open from the front vice the side which would act as a scoop forcing air in while underway. If your top hatches are square it would be easy but if not it would require some modifications or new hatches. Good luck Bob.
 
Bob: Thanks. I have thought about finding a way to modify the roof hatches so they could open in the front. The difficulty of that led me to the wing window idea. I just don't think it could be that hard to rig. I'll let you and the others who are interested what I come up with.

Mark
C 28 MOJO
Annapolis, MD
 
Mark, Another option would be to use a auto sun visor. One of the ones sold to add on to your existing visor on your car, they are plastic size about 12 X 4 inches I would get one that clips on and usually costs about $15 sold on Amazon, check out (Glare Vis's). Then when you open your window just clip it and adjust for amount of air flow. Would not require any modifications to your boat, simple, and if lost overboard you are only out about $15 bucks. Good luck Bob
 
Bob: Bingo. I'll try that. Maybe by April I'll have an update.

Mark
 
I too have thought of ways to get more outside air flow inside the pilot house. The biggest problem is keeping the bow spray from coming in with the air. On Days with no wind this isn't an issue or wind on the stern. C26 and C28's are wet boats when heading into the wind or wind on the beam. Many times the only hatches that I can keep open are the two aft hatches on the pilot house. The forward hatches over the V-berth are a must to be closed when cruising. The hatches over the helm and co-pilot stay open but if there is anything larger than 1' waves with 10mph wind beam or bow the hatches come down to a crack opening and the side windows opening gets reduced to eliminate spray and water coming in. I keep a 12V fan mounted to the forward bulkhead in the V-berth area running to move air and a portable fan sitting on the top of the helm just far enough away from the compass that it doesn't cause the heading to be altered. I also have my inverter wired to the AC120V panel to power the AC unit. ( I don't power the AC unit compressor just the fan.) This helps move air in the pilot house and the large air discharge vent is directly across from the helm. Most of our boating has been Lake Michigan and Midwest river systems so this may not help in warmer parts of the country. I do know there were a few days while cruising the TennTom in Alabama that were high humidity upper 80's, calm water, every hatch and window open all the way fans blowing and it was still uncomfortable. The fix to that was a quick spray from the transom shower to cool off. Good luck with wing windows. Post the final installation and results when completed. Hopefully you are on to something.
 
Check out A Star helicopters. They have sliding front windows like our boats and have a pair of curved aluminum brackets mounted on the inside of the window frame that allow you to swing them out the open window when needed. They hold a piece of plexiglass that can then be pivoted on the other end of the brackets to deflect air into the cabin. Of course the helicopter is moving considerably faster but a larger version of this might work and the deflectors stow nicely inside the cabin when not in use.
 
Another option is to modify one or more of the cabin/top hatches with a RV roof vent fan multiple speeds, reversible and 12 volt. Would be installed same as screen. Electrical hook up would need to be thought out to ensure clean professional installation. Bob
 
Now the ideas are flowing in. Thanks guys. I just knew there were clever and innovative thinkers in our midst.

Mark
C 28 MOJO
Annapolis, MD
 
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