Boat cover is too good need ventilation, solar powered fans?

[Commodore]

My boat cover is friggin awesome. It won't let a drop in. It's actually a heavy duty vinyl type material. Not Sunbrella or factory. This was custom made. Well it's great for keeping water out. But it also doesn't let it breathe at all.

Last weekend we got caught in a surprise summer storm. The boat was drenched driving home. Even the bilge pump came on at a stop light. Well it has been raining all week, and rather than let the entire boat just sit and continue getting drenched I covered it. Well I try and let it breath when I get home, but it's not enough to let it dry. It's just too humid in there. I need some sort of ventilation. I was thinking a fan that pulled air in from an air duct and blew fresh air in, and another pulling air out. Since I am in an apartment (hell), I have no access to live power.

Anyone done any kind of solar powered thing-a-ma-jig? I want to keep my boat in pristine shape, and having the floor wet for long periods of time is not helping.

[tmbrown]

bet you could do something like that pretty easily - I've though about similar... just do some venting that runs off 12V and can sustain long run times, and hook it to a 12V solar panel. The fan can handle fluctuations in power... I think it would work pretty well...

[jhilly8982]

uncover it?

[wakeboardin2k4]

something like this http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=VENT_SOL_AIR_Solar_Powered_Ventilating_Fan&r=view&i=72310&aID=

[Commodore]

jhilly8982, yes that would seem the reasonable option. But it has been raining here on and off all week. I have tried to get it out in the sun as much as poosible but it needs about 4-6 good hot sun exposure to dry, and right now, we don't have it. When I uncover the boat I can smell the mildew trying to form.

wakeboardin2k4, exactly!! But my cover wasn't designed for poles.....hmmm I wonder how good I am with cutting and things like that.......

tmbrown, where would you get a 12V solar panel? Off to google.

[Commodore]

Alright I think I have an idea. This will probably be more complicated than it should be.

I am gonna pick up one of these panels.
http://www.siliconsolar.com/Flexible-Solar-Battery-Chargers-12W-p-132.html

Then I am gonna get a boat blower (since it's water proof and moves a lot of air) and see if it can handle the amperage. If the blower requires too much, I'll try an old computer fan. I will hook up some 3 inch air ducting and run them out so I have one fan pumping fresh air in, and another pumping air out.

Stay tuned to see what monstrosity I build.

And I just found this, this might be better. Would someone with some damn wiring knowledge please help me before I kill myself.
http://www.siliconsolar.com/Flexible-Solar-Panel-PowerFilm-5-Watt-p-48.html

[Rhawn]

Haugy, there is a vent fan that sticks in your drain plug hole, I'm trying to locate it now. I want one for my boat as well, and solar power would be the win.

[Wakebrad]

haugy, you're in luck. A computer fan runs on 12v DC. That surprises me. I figured it would be less. A bilge blower would be a good idea though because like you said it's gotta be water proof.The problem is I'm not sure .3 Amps is going to get you much.

If you really wanted to be hardcore about it you could wire in another deep cycle battery into your system. In fact if you are running a dedicated battery for your speakers you could run it off that. You would just have to charge your battery for a bit before you blasted the tunes out on the water. Just make sure you have it isolated from your starter battery.

Actually, I just checked the specs and the computer fan only pulls .22A so that might work for you. You might have problem with durability and rust. I've had a number of case fans die on me sitting calmly inside my computer http://www.xoxide.com/ther92casfan.html

[Paul W]

You will need to vent it to the outside to get rid of the mosture. That fan at overtons shold help, take you cover and the fan to your local boat canvis shop, they do this kind of stuff all the time

[Chattwake]

Why don't you just hire a midget to live in your boat with a dehumidifier and a generator?

[Commodore]

02lightning, Little arms come flying out from under the cover anytime someone comes near it....

Wakebrad, I reallly don't want to run off the batteries. With this there is no switch on or off, and no drain on anything. No worries. So even the 5.2W won't run a blower fan? Nuts.

Paul W, yeah I was gonna run ventilation duct out the back. I don't want to cut into this cover unless I have to.

[Blue22V]

Haugy - Did you try these first? They work quick, and are available at most boating supply stores, and even Garden Ridge Stores.

http://www.damprid.dsiwebbuilder.com/index.asp?cat=56350

[Rhawn]

http://www.freshbreezeventilator.com/ <--Not helpful

[Wakebrad]

That DampRid might be the best solution. I just doubt .3A is going to do a ton of good.

[Commodore]

I am not keen on leaving chemicals in the boat. I got an email back from the Solar panel guy, he agrees with Brad. He doesn't think they'll power it. But an option is to have the panels hooked up the battery, and run the fans off the battery like Brad said. That way it's at least helping the battery, and I can install a quick disconnect switch to turn them on in the day and off at night.

[wakeboardin2k4]

I have heard of people putting a coffee can in the boat and that will do the trick of getting rid of the moisture. You should try this just as a way to either bust the myth or see if its true. I remember someone mentioning that they do it over the winter with their boat to help get rid of moisture. Not sure if it works or not.

PS my overtons solar fans are lookin prettttttty good at this point too

[Rhawn]

The damprid works pretty damn good. Starts off as a small gravel, ends up a solid crystal with the water in the bottom of the bucket. No smell, no mess. I bought refills for mine, use it, throw out the stuff and reuse the bucket. No chemical stink or anything.

[Blue22V]

The Damprid does work well for getting the last bits of moisture. And the added benefit, is cats hate the smell. You can put it out behind your screen door when you are done to keep psycho kitty away!

[Chattwake]

BAM!
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=13726
Solar Mini Vent 1000


Manufacturer MFG Part # WM Model# Price In Stock? Qty
NICRO VENTILATION N20020 183733 Only $109.99 USD YES


Description


This is Nicro's smallest diameter solar exhaust vent. It has a 100% waterproof shut-off damper operated from below. Vent attaches directly to the deck without a Nicro deckplate.

Solar powered exhaust ventilation during daylight - passive exhaust at night
No batteries or wiring required
Whisper-quiet fan operation
Durable white ABS construction
Shut-off damper to prevent water intrusion in rough seas
2-year limited warranty and 5-year qualified warranty
Mounting hardware included
Optional Stainless steel cover available
Dimensions: 7 inch diameter x 1-3/4 inches high

[Chattwake]

Not as cool as a midget, but looks like it could work!

also check out http://www.boatcovers.com/boatCovers/accessories.asp

[Rhawn]

Ok I found the contraption I was talking about.

http://www.bilgewizard.com/

I accept hugs and buds.

[Rhawn]

I gave the bilgewizard a try and man am I impressed. My boat sits outside, so I opted for the solar powered option. So what ends up happening is the fan only runs when its nice and sunny out, therefore I can just leave it out all the time. Everything is water/weather proof and can be left out 24/7. I was just outside messing with it and its moving all sorts of air, solar powered!

The guy who runs BW, Mike, sent me the adapter to fit my MB plug for free, actually sent another after the first one was the wrong size. Great company.

http://www.bilgewizard.com/

[deepcove]

dry-z-air