Hatches, windows and doors closed and cabin fresh air

[baz]

When underway the hatches and cabin door(s) are supposed to be closed. If now all windows are closed how does fresh air enter the cabin ?

Unlike for cars I don't see any way for fresh air to enter and exit the cabin ?

Does fresh air somehow make its way from the engine bay into the cabin via the various openings inside cupboards ?

I ask this as

1. I'm just plain curious if Ranger has this cleverly designed into their boats
and
2. I've noticed blacken streaks on the white fur lining in the forward cabin behind the helm console. Is this being caused by engine bay air entering the cabin from/through the helm console compartment. I sure hope not. I will post a photo shortly to help describe this and will also be asking Ranger about this at the Bremerton meeting in Sept.

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

I hope I don't regret asking this but why are windows,doors and hatches supposed to be closed while underway?

 

[Bruce Moore]

The only hatch we close routinely is the forward hatch over the v-berth. Other hatches, and windows, are open or closed based on conditions. If we're taking water over the cabin, we close those hatches. If spray or excessive wind is hitting us abeam, we close (partially or completely) the port or starboard windows. At slow cruise, the cabin door is often open.

Plenty of condition appropriate control, and plenty of ventilation.


Cheers,

Bruce

 

[baz]

I hope I don't regret asking this but why are windows,doors and hatches supposed to be closed while underway?

A fair question. The foredeck hatch has a label saying it should be closed when underway. Somehow my 1st mate convinced me this applied to all hatches. We've discussed this and it seems the foredeck hatch is the only one that should be closed.

No matter, my question still stands -- how does fresh air enter the cabin when all hatches (including the port holes), windows and cabin door are closed tight ?

 

[knotflying]

I would say that the only air that gets in is whatever leaks through any minor openings from windows, hatches or doors that don't seal 100%. Nothing is ever air tight, even in a house. There are also openings from conduits that are screened off to prevent bugs and varmints from entering. I doubt the is an intentinal design to allow for a specific air change, but Ranger can answer that question.

 

[Levitation]

The forward hatch may or may not be closed depending on how likely we are to take water over the bow...
In decent weather the overhead hatches are almost always either partly cracked or wide open...

We normally close the cabin door to avoid sucking exhaust fumes when going down wind - and to reduce the noise... But it is open much of the time otherwise...

Now, you have to note that I consider anything faster than 6 to be nose bleed speeds - as well as a flagrant display of conspicuous consumption of diesel... So, an open forward hatch taking a wave is not a major issue in my world most of the time...
Otoh, I have at times been punching into waves that sent green water completely over the top of the cabin to crash down in the cockpit and slam against the door - which did force me to keep the cabin door closed even though we were not going downwind..

 

[baz]

When underway the hatches and cabin door(s) are supposed to be closed. If now all windows are closed how does fresh air enter the cabin ?

Unlike for cars I don't see any way for fresh air to enter and exit the cabin ?

Does fresh air somehow make its way from the engine bay into the cabin via the various openings inside cupboards ?

I ask this as

1. I'm just plain curious if Ranger has this cleverly designed into their boats
and
2. I've noticed blacken streaks on the white fur lining in the forward cabin behind the helm console. Is this being caused by engine bay air entering the cabin from/through the helm console compartment. I sure hope not. I will post a photo shortly to help describe this and will also be asking Ranger about this at the Bremerton meeting in Sept.

I've discussed the issue of black streaks on the monkey fur in V-birth with Andrew today. The black streaks are not mold. We suspect that because I have both port and starboard cockpit lockers stuffed with gear (port side one is stuffed with extra life jackets) that this is impeding air flow from engine bay to the side vent ports -- thus causing any engine bay fumes/etc to flow into bilge area and ultimately into the V-birth through the panel wall seems. Use of the Wallas stove may also contribute to this issue...

Each vertical panel separating V-birth from cabin is made from two panels split horizontally and which are hinged. Andrew has agreed for me to remove theses port and starboard panels (they are simply secured by screws) and take them to the Kent factory where they will, at no cost to me, remove the monkey fur and re-wrap them with a smooth vynal covering. This material is much like what is used behind our galley area and cabin ceiling for easy cleaning. Andrew said it would take no more than an hour to replace the monkey fur and the vynal is much easier to keep clean any rate.

So I will be doing...

1. Restock both port and starboard cockpit lockers with things that do not impede airflow from engine bay to outside hull vents. Sleeping bags would be the worst item to store in these lockers, so said Andrew.
2. Remove V-birth panels as I've described and take them to the Kent factory (a mere 60 mile round trip for me) for recovering with vynal material at zero cost.
3. Have Yanmar check engine exhaust and the engine itself for exhaust leaks on its next service.

 

[j&lgray]

Isn't Andrew great?

The Laurie Ann also had the black streaks suddenly show up on the monkey fur in the V-berth and Andrew did the replacement quickly and with good quality. The exact cause remains a mystery but the fixes that were employed and the problem went away were:
A. Additional ventilation was cut into the hull to take air in and to to remove it. Our early 2008 hull did not have these (hull 35) and
B. The turbo on the Yanmar 110 was seized after 90 days of river travel on the western half of the Great Circle Loop and going 8 knots day after day. We don't do that pattern of cruising anymore.
C. Our port and starboard cockpit lockers, or anywhere else for that matter, are never,ever full. So that is not an issue. If they were, that is our definition of carrying too much stuff.

Hatches and ventilation: We cruise at least twice a month and nearly always have a window cracked somewhere. But the latest and neatest addition is the window replacement on the port side, next to the cabin door. That fixed window was replaced with a slider, moves up and down, that we leave partially open all the time as it is protected by the canvas over the cockpit.

On the Laurie Ann, we added a lot of sound dampening material to the engine lid so now the difference between the cabin door being open or closed is not that apparent unless we are going more than 2800 RPM.

 

[baz]

Isn't Andrew great?

Yes yes and more yeses.... 🙂

The Laurie Ann also had the black streaks suddenly show up on the monkey fur in the V-berth and Andrew did the replacement quickly and with good quality. The exact cause remains a mystery but the fixes that were employed and the problem went away were:
A. Additional ventilation was cut into the hull to take air in and to to remove it. Our early 2008 hull did not have these (hull 35) and
B. The turbo on the Yanmar 110 was seized after 90 days of river travel on the western half of the Great Circle Loop and going 8 knots day after day. We don't do that pattern of cruising anymore.
C. Our port and starboard cockpit lockers, or anywhere else for that matter, are never,ever full. So that is not an issue. If they were, that is our definition of carrying too much stuff.

Hatches and ventilation: We cruise at least twice a month and nearly always have a window cracked somewhere. But the latest and neatest addition is the window replacement on the port side, next to the cabin door. That fixed window was replaced with a slider, moves up and down, that we leave partially open all the time as it is protected by the canvas over the cockpit.

On the Laurie Ann, we added a lot of sound dampening material to the engine lid so now the difference between the cabin door being open or closed is not that apparent unless we are going more than 2800 RPM.

Can you tell me more about your additional sound dampening you installed on/in the engine lid? Maybe if you're at the Bremerton meet I can take a gander and discuss with you.... that would be awesome. 🙂

Also, I'm very interested in that window modification you made...