For many years now, the cockpit has been the busiest living area on board a cruising catamaran. On board the Lady, the installation of the solar array had already significantly increased the comfort of this space, which had become impervious to downpours since the staircase was condemned.
Side panels to keep out the tropical rains
The installation of translucent side panels completed the transformation of this area into a living space that can be used in almost any weather, at anchor or at sea. Only heavy rain coming from astern can deprive the crew of the tranquility of this space.
We almost doubled the surface area of the "square" by adding this "veranda". With only a handful of euros and a few hours of labor, the result was spectacular.
Ventilation now mandatory
This time, however, a slight inconvenience added a few lines to the "must-do list": we were running out of fresh air.
The temperature climbed in our super veranda, at exactly the same time as the sun rose into the sky, making it the hottest place on the boat.
The veranda was becoming a greenhouse, and that made my heart squeeze.
Recover fresh air circulating under the nacelle
To remedy the situation, I decided to capture the cool air circulating permanently beneath the cockpit. This air is cool for two reasons: firstly, it's in the shade, and secondly, it accelerates as it passes under the nacelle, lowering the perceived temperature.
The Lady has two large lockers opening onto the deck, just forward of the windshield. These volumes provide an ideal front surface for mounting two small deck hatches, salvaged from the cockpit remodeling.
So, even in heavy rain, a lot of fresh air, but never water, enters through these obstructible openings, and this air is then distributed throughout the boat through judiciously placed vents. Of course, these "under pod" openings are hermetically sealed before setting sail.
Cockpit ventilation
The fresh air intake in the saloon is therefore quite substantial, but still insufficient to cool the cockpit area, which is too far aft. I completed the system by making a snorkel out of plastic tubing, with an erectile part that extends under the nacelle at anchor and is retracted before setting sail.
The final "ventilatory" refinements, two aeronautical-looking side scoops in the roof area, complete a system that is now giving great satisfaction.
In the next episode, the author concludes on his choice of motor catamaran .
