Triangular side insert - what is it?

[Diatom]

Early Cutwaters have an arc-topped long triangular insert on each side beneath the CW logo & side light; seems to be mesh-overlaid plastic. What is it - air intake, reflector, ornament? (My kid managed to put her foot through it... is it replaceable?).

/Diatom

 

[BB marine]

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=51735

If you are talking about this. It is a fake air vent. It has no purpose other than looks. If you have a Volvo D3 I would advise making it a real vent and venting the forward portion of the engine compartment to cool it down. If you have a Yanmar you are probably ok because the Turbo and air intake are located aft in the open section of the engine compartment.

I had the mesh come loose. I removed the vent and straightened the wire mesh so it would lay flat and used a thick epoxy to glue it in place. This was 4 years ago and it is still holding strong.

 

[Diatom]

Thanks Brian - yes, that's the mystery vent. I'll follow your fix.

 

[markkiefaber]

Guys: So on the C28, how does the D4 get the air that all diesels need? In other words, where's the vent? Thanks.

Mark
Annapolis, MD

 

[BB marine]

Guys: So on the C28, how does the D4 get the air that all diesels need? In other words, where's the vent? Thanks.

Mark
Annapolis, MD

The C28,C26,C30,R27,R25,R29,R31 (All diesel inboards built by Fluid Motion have no ventilation system installed) Each boat has different size engine compartments and different nooks and crannies in the cockpit and cabin for air to get sucked into the engines induction for Combustion. The engine running causes a negative pressure in the compartment and air is sucked in through all the voids between the cockpit liner gaps and cracks. There is no sealed bulkheads between the engine compartment and the living space so it can get air from there too. Your D4 will get enough air to operate. The one flaw with the system is there is no cross flow ventilation. There is no way to get air movement for ventilation of the compartment unless the engine is running. Fluid Motion is one of the only manufactures that I have found that does not install a ventilation system in their diesel powered boats.

 

[markkiefaber]

Thanks Brian. That's a clear answer to something that puzzled me.

Mark
Annapolis, MD