[C320-list] Air Conditioning

[Kirk Mueller]

Hi All,

Has anyone recently installed A/C in their boat. If so, what type and
size? Where did they put the unit, the supply ducts and the return?

Thanks,

Kirk Mueller
Second Chance #361
Rock Hall, MD

[Ben Cares]

Installed a Flagship Marine unit from Stuart, FL in the aft starboard
locker. Ran 2 ducts on top of shelf in aft cabin, then built a false front
with a new shelf on top. Still leaves room for shirts, towels, etc. to be
stored on the shelf. I ran 2 ducts this way . . . one to head and one to
salon. Then I ran a duct to aft cabin and one to galley over refrig. With
the return by the head of person sleeping furthest aft in aft cabin, the
unit can be a bit noisy. Haven't solved that problem yet (just put unit in
at the end of last season). Also need to reduce air flow in head and aft
cabin to increase flow in salon.

Unit works great (could store a side of beef in the head right now
though!). A nice benefit of this unit is that it uses resistance heat,
which means I can run it on the hard in the winter season if I want to work
on the interior of the boat. Apparently, the US Coast Guard uses the system
on their 47' boats.

Right now I can run the AC and the microwave, lights, etc without having to
install a separate power supply for just the AC.

Ben Cares
Catch the Wind #37
Erie, PA

--
*Ben Cares*
*PHOTOGRAPHICARTS*

commercialphotography
graphicdesign

902 Market Street
Meadville, PA 16335

814.333.2990
814.720.5260 cell

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Ben,

Where you able to put a duct up front in the v-berth?

Thanks,

Kirk Mueller
Second Chance #361
Rock Hall, MD

[Ben Cares]

I could not, but our '94 with the two opening panels and the door open
cools down okay. We also pull the blind over the hatch in the forward
cabin during the day. I tried to find a way to get a duct up there but
looked like it would mean major drilling or put another false front and
shelf on the starboard side ( I didn't even want to think about doing
that).

This is a work in progress! I'll be fine tuning this all summer probably.

If you want a few pictures of what it looks like, I'll be glad to send them
along when I get up there this weekend.

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Ben. That would be great if you don't mind. Second Chance is a 1996,
same configuration as yours. When you said aft starboard locker do you
mean the locker all the way back against the stern?

Thanks,

Kirk

[Ben Cares]

Yep. On the shelf over the fuel tank. I know its a location Catalina has
used because Kent (can't think of his last name) sent me drawings and
photos.

[Kirk Mueller]

Great. ...thanks for all your help. Sounds like a great plan.

Thanks,

Kirk

[Allan S Field]

Kirk - We went with Annapolis CruisAir about 10 years ago and have never had
a problem with the unit. We went with a 12,000 BTU unit. The compressor is
in the port side locker. The outflow vent is above and to port of the
cabinet above the refrigerator. The return is at the foot of the aft cabin
bunk. The pump and water inflow thru-hull are under the aft cabin bunk
close to the fresh water pump.

When it gets really hot, like over 95 degrees, we close off the V-berth. (We
removed the aft cabin door years ago.) But the A/C will cool the boat down
even on those days with the V-berth cabin door open. It just won't get it
much below about 72 when the sun is shining brightly and it's over 95. We
recently bought the Hatch-Hoodie to put over the forward hatch but have not
yet tried it out on the really hot days. Regardless, very few people, other
than our grandsons when they were younger, ever sleep in the V-berth.

We had a choice between a 16,000 BTU system (which we looked at on another
C320) and the 12,000. The 16,000 is a "split-system" meaning there are 2
compressor units and it takes up a lot of space, plus needs ducts. We have
never regretted going with the 12,000. As for the head, several years ago
we put a hook-and-eye on the door with the eye on the inside frame and the
hook on the inside of the door so we can prop the door open a few inches
when we are off the boat plus cool or warm the head when the AC/heat pump is
running.

This upgrade was the best thing we ever did on the boat. It really turned
the boat into a summer home for us with a view that if we get tired of, we
can change! The heating cycle also opens up March and November for staying
on the boat. August is not a particularly sailor-friendly month on the
Chesapeake but that does not stop us from going down to the boat for the
weekend.

Hope this helps!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Alan,

Do you just have the one supply (outflow) vent? I'm surprised that supplies enough airflow. Rock Hall is our home port and Annapolis CrusAir suggested Millers Marine to do the installation. I imagine having the return at the foot of the aft cabin bunk causes the air to be drawn into that part of the boat. Seems like a real simple/clean installation. If you don't mind sharing do you remember how much you paid?

Thanks,

Kirk

Sent from a tin can with a very long string. :-)

[Diane]

Annapolis Cruisair also did our AC system. It is just as Allan described as far as ducting. However, our single unit is 16,000 btu. The v berth door does get closed in hot weather. The system works very well for both AC and heat.

Diane

Allan S Field <allan...@verizon.net> wrote:

--
Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

[Allan S Field]

Kirk - The purchase and install was $4,200 in 2002. And yes, there is only
one outflow. I think that because of the short throw being on the port side
and the return in the aft cabin via the starboard side, the entire boat gets
handled very well. And yes, it is simple and clean. An even cleaner
install was what Bruce and Warren did over on Middle River; I remember
seeing pix somewhere of what they did to their boats. - Allan

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Diane,

Annapolis Cruisair suggested the 16,000 btu single unit.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cheers,

Kirk

Sent from a tin can with a very long string. :-)

[Kirk Mueller]

Thanks Alan.

Sent from a tin can with a very long string. :-)

[mtpoodles]

The 16,000 btu unit has been a good choice. I know you will like it.

Diane

Marshall & Diane Lucas and
The Merrythought Poodles
S/V Merrythought
Catalina 320 #1037

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Kirk Mueller

Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 4:04 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Air Conditioning

[Rick Sulewski]

I concur on the 16K AC/Heat unit selection as it may cycle less and will
more rapidly reach the target temperature. With a 16K unit we can come & go
with the companionway open for extended periods on hot/humid days because
the AC unit begins to noticeably recover the target temperature in just a
few minutes. The 16K unit will also cool down the entire boat without having
to partition off the v-berth or aft cabin. The difference between the 12K
and 16K unit was only $200 just a few years ago.
Rick

[Kirk Mueller]

Thanks Diane. I appreciate the counsel.

Cheers,

Kirk

Second Chance #361
Rock Hall, MD

[Diane]

Where do you keep your boat? We love to go to Rock Hall Landing as the walk into town is short.

Diane

[Kirk Mueller]

We are at Haven Harbour. Blue dock, slip 23.

Cheers,

Kirk

[Diane]

We've stayed there in the past as transients. Great marina.

We are at Bay Bridge Marina which is only 10 minutes from home. Talk about spoiled with being close to the boat!

[Bill Hutt]

Hi All,

Sorry to hijack this message but I have a few questions and am having
trouble logging on.
I recently bought 1999 C320 hull #570 and love her already.
1) I am missing pages 41-56 in the owners manual. Can anyone scan and send
me these pages so I can print and put them in my binder?
2) Cleaned and charged the water system, turned on the water heater and it
works great. Is there a switch to turn it off or does it stay on all the
time? Also, I don't have a manual for the water heater. I assume it's a
Seward. Does anyone know the model # for a 1999 boat?
Thanks to all,
Looking forward to being a member of the group.
Bill Hutt
New Owner "Caribbean Soul" #570
Cleveland, Ohio

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Bill,

There is a "push" type circuit breaker on the left side of the AC panel It
will toggle on and off.

Cheers,

Kirk Mueller
Second Chance #361
Rock Hall, MD

[Chris Burti]

There Should be a switch on the AC panel for the heating element for
the water heater when you are on 115v shore power. There is no DC
element, and the engine heat exchanger only works with the engine
running, no switch or valve involved.

The manuals are on the website, but certain features are only
available for paid members. If you are one, contact Jeff Haire, if not
please join.

On Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 8:50 AM, Bill Hutt <bh...@windstream.net> wrote:

--
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC

[Bill Hutt]

I tried, can't pull it out and if I push it again nothing happens. When you
say toggle....
Bill

[Allan S Field]

Bill - Welcome to the 'hood! You got on just fine.

I sent you the entire manual but it is big. Let me know if you don't get
it.

As for the water heater, there should be a breaker on the panel on the shore
power side of the panel. If the breaker is on, the water pump breaker also
should be on. The water heater heats both from shore power (that is what
the breaker is for) and from running the engine (breaker should not be
turned on if not on shore power). Make sense?

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Bill,

When you push it in it should pop out and when you push it in again it should stay in. That's how it works on mine (#361 1996)

Cheers,

Kirk



Sent from a tin can with a very long string. :-)

[Bill Hutt]

Alan,
Got the pdf, thanks.
I'll try the breaker again.
Bill

[Scott Thompson]

On my 1999 boat (hull 653) the breaker on the AC panel above the nav
station is an ordinary switch. Are you perhaps looking at the separate
breaker on the heater itself?

[Wash, Steve]

HI,
We have a 16K Marine Air unit - reverse cycle (Port Lazarette). It has been a great choice given the last 2 summers on Lake Michigan have seen many days in the 90's. It cools down very quickly. We have a large discharge over the 'bread box' in the salon and a small discharge in the aft berth.

The single 30A service has been mostly adequate. We have blown the breaker on the rare occasion the A/C, microwave and water heater are on at the same time.

Good luck with your project.

Steve

#1029

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Steve,

Where in the aft berth did you put the discharge?

Cheers,

Kirk

Second Chance #361
Rock Hall, MD

Sent from a tin can with a very long string. :-)

[Wash, Steve]

Hi Kirk,

A large intake is located at the foot of the bed (a bit left of center). To the right of that is a pretty small discharge. I located it about 12" over (I think). It is only 3x5 inches or so. I didn't want it at the head of the bed blowing on us. I kept it small so the intake wouldn't just suck the cool air back into the intake. The discharge has the usual louvers that permit us to aim it up and forward to discourage this. Since the return is in the aft berth, we also get cool air from the salon through the door. The 'Y' junction used in the installation has a diverter to help balance the flow. I haven't had a need to adjust it from the default 50% position.

I'll be at the boat this weekend and take a picture ... The discharge in the aft berth is probably more useful when heating.

[Chris Descher]

I've gone through the same thing. You probably need to push the button on
the breaker in further. At that point you'll hear a pop, and it will turn
off. You'll be able to tell because then the button will come out further,
and white will be shown.

Since you're a new owner, it may be worth noting that when water is heated,
a lot of extra pressure can build up in those hoses and they may blow if
they're loose at all. You may want to relieve some pressure by opening a
hot water valve sometimes. Running the engine heats that water, too.

Chris Descher
#500

>>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces@**lists.catalina320.com<c320-list-bounces@

>>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces@**lists.catalina320.com<c320-list-bounces@

[Kirk Mueller]

Great information Steve. Did you put some louvers in the aft cabin door
so you can close it and still have air circulate?

Regards,

Kirk
On Jun 6, 2013 11:45 AM, "Wash, Steve" <wa...@advantageelectronics.com>

[Wash, Steve]

Kirk,

Not yet. It usually just the 2 of us and the door stays open. The louvers are on the endless things to do to the boat list - LOL.

Steve

[Kirk Mueller]

I feel your pain. I've had the boat for three months and it hasn't left
the slip. -:)

Kirk

[Bill Hutt]

Just got back from the boat, pushed the button in and it popped out. Water
heater off. BTW, I checked the hot water and it is scalding hot!!! Burn you’re
a** off if your not careful.
Question: Does the water heater have a thermostat or are the elements hot
all the time?
Thanks to all for your quick responses, glad to be aboard.
Bill Hutt
#570

[dpru...@comcast.net]

Would anyone have an idea of how many degrees the flag pole socket on the aft pulpit is canted? I'm an hour from the boat so I can't measure mine. I picked up an ultrasonic bird repeller that I want to mount on a stainless steel pole in the flag socket, but I need to bend it to stand vertically so the repeller will "aim" in the right direction.

Thanks,

David Prudden
#787

[Barbara Uhlman]

David, I would like more info. re. the bird repeller. We are having problems
like that.

Barb
Whisper #1158



________________________________
From: "dpru...@comcast.net" <dpru...@comcast.net>
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Sent: Thu, June 6, 2013 6:04:31 PM
Subject: [C320-list] Flag pole socket

[dprudden]

Barb,
It's sold by a company called Deck-Guard. I saw it at the boat show this spring and it seemed worth a try. It's solar powered so no plug or batteries needed. I am mounting it to a stainless pole at boom height so it should repel birds from the boom, dodger and bimini. I'll let you know how it works in a few weeks.

David

Sent from my iPhone

[Colin Evans]

Best bird repellant is to put bread on the boat next to you

*************************
Regards
Colin Evans
Watermark
2000 C320 # 774
Lake Macquarie, Australia

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Barbara Uhlman
Sent: Friday, 7 June 2013 10:56 AM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com

[Warren Updike]

Kirk, we are at Md Marina on Middle R. This winter two of us 320 owners
installed AC. We worked together on every aspect of it. Now that the season
is in full swing, we've had opportunity to use both cooling and heat; and,
can report that we are very satisfied with the result.

After much study, research, and consultation with others we decided on a
Cruiseair 12K unit installed in the port locker. We bought the unit from
Annapolis Cruiseair and were very happy with their support. I strongly
recommend you talk to them.

This installation afforded us the least effort installation with good
results. The Cruiseair unit is reported to produce a true 12k output. With
only a short duct to the galley and return grill in the aft cabin, it
required no other ducts and no cabinetry work. The removable panels in the
v-berth bulkhead allow free flow of conditioned air through the v-berth.
After seeing a few other AC installations in the port locker, I can say with
confidence we have the cleanest looking installation of the bunch.

Our overriding objective were: to maximize the space left in the port
locker; and, to minimize the loss of space in the bread box. We needed to
reduce the height of the bread box by only 2 inches and the unit fits
entirely under the bread box up against the galley bulkhead. We constructed
a plywood enclosure around the unit which is necessary to enclose it. To top
it off, I installed a shelf in the locker that aligns horizontally with the
top of the AC enclosure.

I have lots of pictures and considerations we made in doing the project. I
haven't taken the time as yet to do an article for the web site; but, I'm
happy to share both with you or anyone. Since we are only 3 hours away
across the Bay, you are welcome to come here or meet us on the bay for more
on the story.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

[CHARLES DICKHUT]

I am heading to the boat Friday afternoon. I will check it out for you.

Captain Chuck Dickhut
S/V Obsession #114

-----Original Message-----
From: dprudden <dpru...@comcast.net>
To: C320-List <C320...@Catalina320.com>
Sent: Thu, Jun 6, 2013 7:04 pm
Subject: [C320-list] Flag pole socket

Would anyone have an idea of how many degrees the flag pole socket on the aft

ulpit is canted? I'm an hour from the boat so I can't measure mine. I picked up

n ultrasonic bird repeller that I want to mount on a stainless steel pole in

he flag socket, but I need to bend it to stand vertically so the repeller will
aim" in the right direction.
Thanks,
David Prudden

787

[Warren Updike]

Allan, I used some thin sheet insulation (mylar reflective with plastic
honeycomb inside,) and made hatch covers with corner elastic straps to hold
the sheets on the hatches. I put these on when I leave the boat. They help
a lot in reducing the inside heat load, especially when I leave the AC on
which I do a day before we are planning on arriving at the boat. They do
cut down the light inside the boat; but, most things in life present a
trade-off.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----

From: Allan S Field [mailto:allan...@verizon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 3:10 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com

[dprudden]

I tried that.....

He doubled the bread on my boat

Sent from my iPhone

[dprudden]

Thank you.

David Prudden
#787

Sent from my iPhone

[Warren Updike]

Whatever Allan paid was a fraction of the cost today. Bruce Stumpp and I
kept good records and agree that it cost us $3,300, including all the parts,
hoses, etc. If we had the installation done by others, it could easily have
cost $6,500 or more including the equipment. If you don't intend to do it
yourself, you might want to consider how much you can do and what you need
others to do for you.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----

From: Kirk Mueller [mailto:kirk...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 3:55 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com

Subject: Re: [C320-list] Air Conditioning

Hey Alan,

Do you just have the one supply (outflow) vent? I'm surprised that supplies
enough airflow. Rock Hall is our home port and Annapolis CrusAir suggested
Millers Marine to do the installation. I imagine having the return at the
foot of the aft cabin bunk causes the air to be drawn into that part of the
boat. Seems like a real simple/clean installation. If you don't mind
sharing do you remember how much you paid?

Thanks,

Kirk

Sent from a tin can with a very long string. :-)

[Warren Updike]

12k vs 16k? I have to admit the 16k will handle high load conditions better
than the 12K, stands to reason. It is simply a judgment call. The 16
Cruiseair unit is about an inch taller than the 12k and we didn't want to
give up that in the bread box. Also, as was brought to our attention by
Denny at Annapolis Cruiseair, many AC units don't deliver their rated output
- a problem well known with many products we buy. He assured us that this
unit had been completely redesigned by Dometic to perform to specs. There
are also other points such as the non-metallic condensate pan designed to
deliver nearly all of the condensate to the drain. It won't rust, it won't
spill.

We installed a venturi type valve that pulls the condensate from the pan and
incorporates it into the overboard discharge. I tested this recently by
pouring a cup of water into the condensate pan. The water was quickly pulled
out by the venturi action leaving the pan nearly dry. Of course the innate
port list helped encourage the water to leave the pan. (:>)

Only time will tell if we made the right choice. Denny was quite confident
that the 12k would do the job.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"


-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Mueller [mailto:kirk...@gmail.com]

[Diane]

Annapolis Cruisair originally installed the 12,000 unit on our boat, bought new, and it simply did not do the job. The boat broker had the 16,000 unit installed at no cost to us. The boat was purchased new in July 2005 so the AC got an immediate workout.

We used Ocean Air shades insde to keep out heat and two years ago purchased the Zarcor peek a boo hatch inserts. These seem to work very well but we still have one Ocean Air shade on the main cabin hatch.

Diane

[Allan S Field]

That is hilarious! Practical Sailor did a piece on bird repellant some time
back and basically concluded that most solutions are no better than
witchcraft. But Colin, you really should submit this one to them!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

[twosa...@bigpond.com]

Thanks Allan
Not rocket science

Colin Evans
Sent from my
reasonably smart phone

[Allan S Field]

I have seen pix of the Warren/Bruce install and can assure that it is much
cleaner than what Annapolis CruisAir did to Sea Shadow, I lost more of the
locker but none of the breadbox; would have much preferred to lose more of
the breadbox. These guys really thought this install through very well. If
our current 12K unit was ever to give up the ghost, I would buy the same one
again. But 11 years later and 9 months per year usage on the hot and humid
Chesapeake Bay, absolutely never an issue so far.

[Allan S Field]

Warren - I am quite anal about keeping boat-breath out of the boat. We do
many tricks to prevent this. There are Nicro solar vents installed in the
mid and fore hatch (one brings air in, the other takes it out). Of the 8
cabin fans on Sea Shadow, 3 are left running at low speed when we are not on
the boat. We don't leave wet sponges or towels on board when we leave, the
3 drains have large flat rubber stoppers covering them, the bilge is
wet-vac'd when we leave (our A/C does drain to the bilge), I put an ozone
machine in the bilge about every 2-3 months, we only flush with fresh water,
the head door is propped open with a reverse hook-and-loop, the bimini and
connector between the dodger and connector are deployed through the summer
when we are not sailing, we have never pulled the speedo as it lets sea
water in (and have never used it), the hatches and port lights are always
dogged closed when we leave the dock and stay that way until our return, and
the port shades are down during the summer when we leave. So the mylar idea
would not work for us but might for others!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com

[mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike

[Kirk Mueller]

Hey Warren,

I'm familiar with the marina. A friend of mine has a Freedom 25 that has
been on the hard in that marina for about 8 years. A real shame. I would
love to come over and see your installation. It is always enlightening to
see what creative people such as your self have done with their
boats.

Thanks for the offer.

"Sail Fast, Live Slow"

Cheers,

Kirk

Second Chance #361
Rock Hall, MD

[Tim Fleming]

Flying 3+5 padres flag during baseball and a Packers Flag in Winter. About 80% up the halyard, then a Halloween sock flag with tentacles flys off the starboard flag line, and big black rubber snake on the bimini the prev owner left... Seem to help. But nothing prevents the fly overs ... we get birds moving trough who eat purple berries off trees (stupid marina move to play them). So a dab of softscrub with bleach for a min does the trick.

-Tim
#928

[John Frost]

We have Alabama sun so this was a big deal for me. I went to Home Depot and
bought a 4 by 8 insulating foam panel covered in aluminum foil on both sides
and a roll of the shiny aluminum foil tape used for sealing ducts. I used a
knife to cut out "plugs" that fit snugly inside each overhead hatch. I
wrapped the edges with the tape to protect the foam and used the tape to
make a pull tab in the middle of one side of each plug to make removal easy.
The shiny foil reflects the sun and the insulation stops the heat. It
dropped my temps about 10 degrees.

Happy Sailing!

John
2007 C320MKII
Hull 1118
Guntersville, AL

[Kevin]

Greetings,

You could fit my knowledge of electrical matters in a thimble. I'm hoping this is a simple matter that one of you smarter-than-me folks will recognize.

On my '95 C320 the circuit breaker flips immediately when I flip the switch for the main cabin lights on the panel (the ones that run around the cabin over the shelves). This turns off the fridge, too, as they seem to be on the same circuit. See this photo: http://kevjot.com/boat/c320_panel.jpg

Any thoughts on what I need to do? 

Thanks in advance.

Kevin
S/V Cecilia Ann, #211
Deale, MD
http://kevjot.com/boat/

[Colin Evans]

I was under the impression that on ALL Catalinas the cabin light breaker is
always top left. It looks like an additional circuit has been added to one
of the AUX locations.

*************************
Regards
Colin Evans
Watermark
2000 C320 # 774
Lake Macquarie, Australia

[William Ott]

Kevin,
Sound like you a dead short in one of your lights that's tripping the breaker. I would check all the light fixtures for tell-tail signs of arcing and burn spots. Check the bulbs as well.
Good luck.
Mike Ott
'Amanda Lu '
508

Sent from my iPad

[Scott Thompson]

It does look like there are two cabin light switches on that panel, one
on the upper left in the usual location, and the other sharing the
breaker with the fridge. Possibly the panel has been rewired in such a
way to cause an overload, perhaps only when the fridge is working hard
in hot weather. What is the history?

I notice that the fridge is on in the photo. Does the breaker trip even
with the fridge turned off and all of the individual lights turned off
at the fixture? If not then the problem might be with an individual
bulb, which you can isolate by turning them on and off one at a time
until the breaker trips. If the problem occurs only with the fridge
turned on in addition to some lights then there is probably an overload
situation caused by creative wiring or a failing fridge. Or you might
have a bad breaker. Assuming the fridge is OK, you can test for that by
turning on only the fridge.

If the breaker is OK but trips when you energize the lighting circuit
even though everything else on the circuit is off AND all of the
individual lights are turned off then you have a short circuit in the
wiring itself, which is potentially dangerous, and can be very hard to
track down. Since I haven't ever had to do it myself, and since the
wiring in your boat is probably different from mine due to differences
in vintage, I will defer to others about making specific suggestions for
tracking it down. However I would start by thinking about whether any
recent changes to the boat could have caused a pinched or nicked wire,
or chafe in a wire.

[wfl...@aim.com]

Sounds like an interesting project. I assume you have to remove the screens to fit them into the opening?

Thanks for sharing.
Bill
#1146

[John Frost]

Yes. The screens are easy.
One tip, cut the insulation a hair bigger than the opening so friction will
hold it in place. It compresses so accuracy is not requires
BTW, I leave the insulation in while we are away from the boat to keep temps
down then too.

[Irving Grunes]

An idea just occurred to me.

If you were to attach fabric straps to the plug, you could put the
insulating plug on to top side of the hatch with the straps under the
hatch so that if in evening, you could open the hatch to let air in.

Just an idea
Irv Grunes
2001 #851

[Warren Updike]

Irv, that's exactly what I did; and, am able to open the hatches and leave
the screens in-place. I leave them on when away from the boat and it helps
cut the heat load and temps in the cabin.