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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Cockpit Locker Ventilaiton

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thacket3
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/23/2004 : 10:45:00

The port locker in the cockpit of my 1982 Fin Keel, gets a lot of condesation inside. I was thinking about some sort of small vent with cover, along the lines of the one for the vent line of the head. Has anyone else encountered this issue? Any other thoughts on ways to combat the situation? If I do this should I have two vents? or is one sufficent?
Any and all thoughts are appreciated!
Thanks,
Tim

Edited by - on

f_sondergaard
1st Mate

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USA
92 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2004 : 10:53:51

We installed a small louvered vent in that locker last year. It seems to help. The biggest reason we put the vent in was becouse we keep our spare gas there.
Jason and Fran
1982 Catalina 25
swing to wing

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2004 : 11:45:09

Mark I series had chrome vents that looked nice.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2004 : 12:26:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by f_sondergaard
 We installed a small louvered vent in that locker last year. It seems to help. The biggest reason we put the vent in was becouse we keep our spare gas there.
Jason and Fran
1982 Catalina 25
swing to wing
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm not sure that a vent will afford you much protection since gas vapor tends to settle and accumulate in the bilge. That's what ducted bilge blowers are for.

I remember witnessing an accident in Jamaica Bay about 20 years ago when two ladies started their engines after anchoring out and their boat literally blew up like a bomb, disintegrating and throwing both of them 30 or 40 feet through the air from where the remains of their boat was anchored. They were horribly burned but miraculously survived. Oddly, their boat was a late model, not an old clunker. Since then, I have a very healthy fear of gasoline vapor and I store my extra gas above deck in the cockpit under the tiller in a jerry can, never in my storage locker. My '83 has an isolated fuel tank locker which is vented with a cutout at the bottom of the hatch cover along the cockpit floor.

Edited by - oldsalt on 06/23/2004 12:32:09

thacket3
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2004 : 15:04:45

Absolutley.

My 82 also has the seperate locker for fuel and none goes below in the locker.

I am primarily looking to reduce the moisture inside the locker from the condesation caused by ( I am assuming) the cool water outside the boat and the sun beating down on the seat cover. The above picture gives me exactly what I was looking for. Thanks all!
Tim

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2004 : 16:02:21

If you install that sort of vent you need to make sure that runoff from rain doesn't enter, or stray water when you hose down your boat.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2004 : 18:56:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">chrome vents that looked nice<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I believe those were Coast Guard mandated for ventilating gas fumes on boats built prior to those with the separate gas compartment. I've heard some complain that they allow more water to enter into the cockpit locker than they might allow to escape via ventilation.

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f_sondergaard
1st Mate

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USA
92 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2004 : 10:08:34

So far I have no problems with rain coming in the vent.

Jasoon and Fran
1982 Catalina 25

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2004 : 10:53:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldsalt
 If you install that sort of vent you need to make sure that runoff from rain doesn't enter, or stray water when you hose down your boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This past spring, I fabricated a 1" high stainless steel dam that fits inside the original flush mounted clamshell vent to prevent water from pouring down the vent hose and into the bilge.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2004 : 11:13:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldsalt
 If you install that sort of vent you need to make sure that runoff from rain doesn't enter, or stray water when you hose down your boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This past spring, I fabricated a 1" high stainless steel dam that fits inside the original flush mounted clamshell vent to prevent water from pouring down the vent hose and into the bilge.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

pop-rivet?

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2004 : 11:22:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldsalt
 If you install that sort of vent you need to make sure that runoff from rain doesn't enter, or stray water when you hose down your boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This past spring, I fabricated a 1" high stainless steel dam that fits inside the original flush mounted clamshell vent to prevent water from pouring down the vent hose and into the bilge.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

pop-rivet?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No. I designed it to use the same two screws that are used to secure existing clamshell vent.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2004 : 11:37:25

Brilliant

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sanibelle
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 16:34:14

I, too, am wary of gasoline fumes. I've kept the setup that the PO of my 1980 TR/FK had, which is a six gallon tank on a shelf in the port cockpit locker (the O/B is mounted on the port side). Before starting the engine (electric start), I do open the locker lid and perform a "sniff" test. The port air scoop faces forward the hose connected to it dead ends in the bottom of the locker. Of course, with the boat at its mooring there's not much flow prior to starting the engine.

Should I be worrying? I'm starting my third season as a sailor. Another thing that I'm not too thrilled about is that the terminal block connection point is in the locker as well.

Comments and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 16:58:43

So the '82> boats with seperate fuel areas don't have the vent scoops?

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 18:23:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">So the '82> boats with seperate fuel areas don't have the vent scoops? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My '81 with separate fuel locker doesn't have them. I vaguely recall seeing an '80 model with the separate fuel locker, but it still had the stern cleats just forward of where the scoops would have been (where they are on boats with the scoops). Sometime after that, but before my boat, Catalina moved the stern cleats to the far aft corners.

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 23:06:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">So the '82> boats with seperate fuel areas don't have the vent scoops?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My '82 has a separate portside fuel locker and no vent scoop. The only vent is about a 1" x 3" opening cut out of the aft bottom edge of the seat hatch cover for the fuel line to emerge.

Steve

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 01:20:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Lightnup
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">So the '82> boats with seperate fuel areas don't have the vent scoops?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My '82 has a separate portside fuel locker and no vent scoop. The only vent is about a 1" x 3" opening cut out of the aft bottom edge of the seat hatch cover for the fuel line to emerge.

Steve
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thats the same setup I have on my '83 and with the isolated fuel locker it's a good one. I always make it a point to open my locker to check the tank and connectors before setting out. Its also a good idea never to fuel your tank while your hatchboards are removed lest vapors find their way below.

I wouldn't be too happy to have a gas tank in a locker that also contains a terminal strip, but on the other hand the non isolated fuel lockers are already open to the bilge.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 12:42:59

My 1979 C-25 came with the "clothes dryer vents" shown in the parts drawing above. Something about having permanent openings that large, that far out towards the edge of the deck makes me uncomfortable. They looked like they would let more water in than out (particularly in the event of a knock down). In addition, they weren't effective in removing gas fumes and the scoops would chafe a stern line. I removed the vents, rebuilt the deck where they had been, and relocated the stern cleats aft, where it looked like they belonged in the first place.

I then cut out the early style fuel tank shelf, and installed a built in 12gal gas tank (just ahead of the locker hatch) with proper dedicated enclosure and external venting. Since doing all that, I haven't had any problems with gas fumes or dampness in the port locker.

If by some chance you were hoping for a less ambitious way to improve the situation, you might try a couple of small louvered vent plates in the cockpit seat back surface of the coaming, perhaps aft where the tiller already discourages sitting while under way.

I did something similar with tiny SS air scoops, but they tend to snag on my belt and beltloops when I sit there to deal with the outboard motor.

-- Leon Sisson

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