Engine Compartment Ventilation?

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   I sail in South Florida and the Bahamas.  Air temperatures in the summer are commonly 35 C, with water temperatures about 29 C.  When cruising, we almost always are on the hook, rarely in a Marina.  To handle battery charging we have replaced the standard alternator on our 371 with a high output alternator (100 Amp) with smart charger.

Now we are having alternator overheating problems, additionally, the remaining heat from running the engine makes the aft cabin uncomfortably warm.

Has anyone added more ventilation to the engine compartment?

I am thinking of adding a 4" duct from the engine area to a vent near the stern, equipping the duct with a 230 cfm blower.  The vent can be positively closed, when the blower is not in use.  Plans would be to run the blower when running the engine, and then for a few minutes after shutdown to force ventilate and cool.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Tom

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371-#122 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 03 June 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 50	Post Options Post Reply Quote 371-#122 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Engine Compartment Ventilation? Posted: 26 April 2007 at 16:03
	I sail in South Florida and the Bahamas. Air temperatures in the summer are commonly 35 C, with water temperatures about 29 C. When cruising, we almost always are on the hook, rarely in a Marina. To handle battery charging we have replaced the standard alternator on our 371 with a high output alternator (100 Amp) with smart charger. Now we are having alternator overheating problems, additionally, the remaining heat from running the engine makes the aft cabin uncomfortably warm. Has anyone added more ventilation to the engine compartment? I am thinking of adding a 4" duct from the engine area to a vent near the stern, equipping the duct with a 230 cfm blower. The vent can be positively closed, when the blower is not in use. Plans would be to run the blower when running the engine, and then for a few minutes after shutdown to force ventilate and cool. Any suggestions? Thanks. Tom

John Allison Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 23 November 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote John Allison Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2007 at 04:26
	Hi Tom, THe 461 has a very small engine space and is therefore equipped with a blower as standard. It vents into the lazarette, which in turn has vents out of the transom. This gives the bonus that anything wet stored in the lazarette is well aired. Cheers JOHN
	No longer a Hanse owner - but loved the one we had!

colincooper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 23 October 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 562	Post Options Post Reply Quote colincooper Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2007 at 07:29
	The 370 as a similar arrangement to the 461. It operates when the engine ignition switch is on via a relay.
	Colin (owner of Hilde - a 370)

Towed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 16 March 2007 Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Towed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 April 2007 at 08:12
	The engine ventilation fan in my brand new 370e is extremely noisy (I can't hear the engine when running at < 2000 rpm). Does anyone know if the fan is strictly needed (and why)? Have anyone tried to replace it with something quiter?

Charlie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 06 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 62	Post Options Post Reply Quote Charlie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2007 at 18:31
	hi I too had a problem with a noisy fan on my 470, after some investigation discovered that it was not the fan but the fact that it was screwed onto the engine room side wall, hence setting up a bad vibration. I put two eyelets into the engine room roof and (securely!!) suspended the fan unit with cable ties which isolated the vibration and now it is quiet as a mouse! the 370 does not have the same engine room shelf as the 470 but if you look at isolating the mounting it should solve the problem. Charlie,



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