who's got a wind scoop? Cheap and cheerful vs expensive

ChattingLil

ChattingLil

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Do you get what you pay for? I can get something like this for £23 from fleabay,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/3806...f11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0


or pay more from the swindleries for something like:
http://www.force4.co.uk/9543/Plasti...kA4z_eFaMN2KoSsjlVC87Q4HHUS0_md1gcaAlem8P8HAQ


or saw this in a previous thread:
http://www.westmarine.com/breeze-booster--breeze-booster-hatch-ventilating-system--P024_720_003_006


Am I better to spend more money? I'm pretty nifty with a sewing machine, but with no pattern and not having actually seen one in real life, I would be inventing it as I went along.
 
I have two that look pretty much like the ebay one. Both made by one of the sailmakers and bought at a boat show. They work fine, no need for much sophistication, before that we have used a towel, not as easy to rig but worked OK.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I find, with hatches open and washboards out, that the sprayhood is pretty effective.
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No doubt when anchored by the stern; like I am in Kos.

I had one made in Perpignan - it cost €24 - works but requires rigging.

PS Mr Jordan always reckoned boats should anchor by the stern - amybe he had a point.
 
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If I hadn't seen one seen I wouldn't try to make one, we had on the boat and used it every day when we were in tropics and in the Summer here. The West Marine one is possibly more effective but we had the ebay type and it worked well
 
My forehatch is on a curved, sloping coachroof facing forward; in defiance of received wisdom I mounted it with the hinges aft.

This means it acts as a moderate wind scoop, is a shelter from rain, and one doesn't have to clamber over the knee-crunching lid when going in & out of the hatch.

It's ' ocean ' grade so I reckon can put up with what I throw at it; if planning to actually cross oceans or maybe winter sail in the Channel I suppose I could fit a webbing strap across it, but it and the catches seem pretty strong to me

As a scoop, at least for weekend / holiday cruise sailing, it works fine; if going further and staying aboard longer I've always planned to do something with the storm jib and/or sea anchor.

View attachment 43955
 
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I'd go for one that will pick up some wind irrespective of its direction. We have one of the eBay type ones which is great when anchored in a steady breeze, it doesnt cope well with shifty winds. We recently bought some thing like the Force 4 model, for €18, and are experimenting with ways to fix it in place as the plastic tubes that fit inside the hatch tend to bend and escape in gusts - but it does cope better with shifts or wind not coming over the bow.
 
There was a test in PBO and little difference in terms of efficiency between them only the ease with which they are rigged and whether they need to be oriented to the wind. Of course, on a swinging mooring or at anchor you're likely to be head to wind most of the time anyway but moored alongside you would benefit from a multi-directional design.

Rob.
 
charles_reed said:
No doubt when anchored by the stern; like I am in Kos.
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No. We always anchor by the bow.
Our forehatch, like Seajet's, is hinged aft but we find we have never needed any additional scooping. If the wind is coming over the bow it sweeps over the sprayhood and sucks the breeze through the boat. I've aways assumed that it is a venturi affect. It's fine in the UK. It may not be enough in the Med.
 
Further to the aft hinged forehatch - which can be left locked on ' vent ' position - I have a portlight in the aft cocpit bulkhead, so with those two open the boat has through draft ventilation while remaining intruder proof while we're away for the day or evening.

I realise this is not sufficient for the Med', but works well in UK conditions; when I finally get my wish to do the French Canals I'll have intruder-proof steel rod grids welded up so as to be able to leave the hatches open.

When I worked on the French canals on a hotel barge we might find the shower tray ankle deep in dead midges, but I never got bitten.
 
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Seajet said:
Further to the aft hinged forehatch - which can be left locked on ' vent ' position - I have a portlight in the aft cocpit bulkhead, so with those two open the boat has through draft ventilation while remaining intruder proof while we're away for the day or evening.

I realise this is not sufficient for the Med', but works well in UK conditions; when I finally get my wish to do the French Canals I'll have intruder-proof steel rod grids welded up so as to be able to leave the hatches open.

When I worked on the French canals on a hotel barge we might find the shower tray ankle deep in dead midges, but I never got bitten.
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Ah. in protection against les c**tes Francaises. I think I got the gender correct.
 
Border Terrier said:
Ah. in protection against les c**tes Francaises. I think I got the gender correct.
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Border Terrier,

I worked for a season as deckcrew / engineer on a 38metre hotel barge in Burgundy, never had the slightest hassle from any French, quite the opposite; I met British yotties passing through on 18 & 23' boats who never had problems.

However I have heard of people who did have problems with burglar/intruders on the French and for that matter a lot on the British canals.

As a simple precaution and a duty to companions / girlfriends I think an intruder proof set-up is obligatory.

As for your insults on another thread I'm ready for your apology...
 
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I've got one of the cheap and cheerful ones and it works fine. Rather than tie it off at the base, I have it tied to a piece of dowel slightly longer than the width of the hatch. That way I can turn it into the wind if I'm alongside
 
Always made my own. About 5 ft high. Batten the width of the hatch, can be a little wider at the top. . Bungee onto hatch or fit eyelets and hooks on the hatch.

I needed one on the last boat as it only had one hatch. This one has seven all front opening. Bliss breeze on hot days and nights.
 
I made ours out of proofed ripstop nylon, because that has a bit of body to it rather than the unproofed stuff which is to light. Essentially, it goes round three side of the hatch, held in place by bungee cord, an on long up the back tapering to a point and two triangles forming the sides. Top has a loop held up by the spinnaker halyard, two sides have short cords to the guard rails. Works fine, took about an hour to make and cost pence. Works best at anchor, when the boat always faces into the wind.
 
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