Modernizing a Prout Elite 37ft

[geoffr]

Nice Bling!

We have two of the Whale manual pumps - they work well so long as they are well above the waterline. (found out the hard way when we put more stuff on the boat...)

[atoll]

Originally Posted by geoffr

Nice Bling!

We have two of the Whale manual pumps - they work well so long as they are well above the waterline. (found out the hard way when we put more stuff on the boat...)

been there,done that!,once upon a time I came back from checking in, in st.lucia,to find the sex kitten furiously bailing out the bilges as I had forgotten to shut the grey water tank sea cock after pumping out

[Snowgoose35]

Originally Posted by atoll

i am still toying with the idea of fitting hatches either in the deck above or non opening windows on either outboard side in the aft cabins.

I did fixed windows in the hull on my 35 in the rear cabins and it transformed it - great light, ideal height for those in the bunks to lie there and look out at the water, very much worthwhile and as I am sure you know very simple to do...

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Snowgoose35

I did fixed windows in the hull on my 35 in the rear cabins and it transformed it - great light, ideal height for those in the bunks to lie there and look out at the water, very much worthwhile and as I am sure you know very simple to do...

I was thinking of these options

[atoll]

or this,opening ports in either the ceiling or outboard side.

sorry for quality of photos,most borrowed from brokerage websites!

these are various examples of what I would like to do,mainly to get more ventilation ,as well as light into the aft cabins before making up the headliners

[atoll]

opening hatch in ceiling

[barnakiel]

I personally like the windows in the sides better - you can look at the world outside and they are easier to curtain when you want less light to sleep.

Great job!

Always a great pleasure to catch up with your thread!

b.

[salticrak]

Good onya mate,i will be launching my tiki 26 this week.Might see you around the Indian ocean for a cup 'o tea.

[sailorcherry]

Originally Posted by atoll

or this,opening ports in either the ceiling or outboard side.

sorry for quality of photos,most borrowed from brokerage websites!

these are various examples of what I would like to do,mainly to get more ventilation ,as well as light into the aft cabins before making up the headliners

My vote, would be as follows. Using the pic with opening ports, i'd do one fixed above the pillow and the one at the shelf opening. That one over the pillow will drip condensation into someones eyeballs or perhaps some dirty salty water upon opening onto that nice white pillow!

[Buzzman]

Was halfway thru a longish response when my email quit. Teach me to do email directly into the forum instead of in Wordpad first. Doh.

Basically I was saying I had a mate with a Crowther with similar layout cabins who had fixed windows but eventually had to upgrade to hatches as the ventilation aft is poor.

The hatch in the aft-facing bulkhead/deck is crucial so make it large, but also bear in mind that at a wharf, the wind may come from somewhere else, so hatches in the ceiling/deck are useful.

And a windsock to direct air in the foredeck hatch to blow aft is also a must for venting, with the aft hatch open to exhaust the airflow.

He still gets mould if he doesn't open up and ventilate regularly, but nothing like it used to get.

[KiminAK]

I was the one whose pillow was under the ceiling opening hatch. And yes, it does drip condensation or if it starts raining during the night...I was soon aware of it.

I like the idea of the hot air venting out, but not with the problems that it caused.

[Buzzman]

Yeah, condensation's an issue in cooler weather, as it's always warmer inside the boat, but best thing to do is site hatches away from bedding, or ensure drip trays at base of windows/ports to direct condensate outboard.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by KiminAK

I was the one whose pillow was under the ceiling opening hatch. And yes, it does drip condensation or if it starts raining during the night...I was soon aware of it.

I like the idea of the hot air venting out, but not with the problems that it caused.

You might be correct in cold climates but I think you will find Atoll is building this vessel for operation in more tropical climates.

Cheers

[atoll]

Originally Posted by downunder

You might be correct in cold climates but I think you will find Atoll is building this vessel for operation in more tropical climates.

Cheers

thanks for all the great input

at the moment,due to family commitments we have to look at the possibility of a few winters spent in colder conditions ,on the east/west coast of Scotland.

so far the cat has 25-35 mm celotex and balsa core insulation throughout,with provision to fit a 2-4 Kw diesel burner in the stb cabin,with radiators in the aft cabins and shower.

I will also probably fit a blower off the engine cooling circuit in the saloon.

I have also thought about using 2-3mm clear acrylic inside the window trim for all the fixed windows to create double glazing.

the down side is it will add a bit of weight,but it does give us the option for cold weather cruising during the immediate future.

plus looking at the longer term with brexit , the fall in the value of the pound,cruising in the med and dollar linked countries has become substantially more expensive

circumstances may change and the pacific is calling but thanks to our wonderful free health care the parents are living well into their 90's but need increased levels of care from family members as cuts in social care bite

[Buzzman]

Insulating windows is a good idea, but bubble wrap is cheaper and does a better job - provided it's only light you want to get through....