It is important to carefully
plan the location of the dorade boxes on deck. They need
to be placed where they will provide the maximum air circulation
to the cabin below. Before you start installing the dorades,
a couple of factors need to be checked.
- Will the vent opening interfere with
wiring, bulkheads or other structures below.
- Will the dorade interfere with the operation
of any equipment on deck.
- Will the dorade obstruct any passageways
or work sites.
A simply constructed cardboard
template of the dorade placed in the proposed locations
will help answer these issues.
Once a site has been selected,
trace the outline of the box to the deck. Because most decks
have some camber, you have an option to either
- Place the box on the deck perpendicular
to the angle of the camber or
- Remove material from the edges of the
box to compensate for the camber.
To determine the amount of
material to be removed, tilt the box to a horizontal position.
With the use of a compass or similar tool, starting at the
edge of the box nearest the outboard rail, spread the compass
points between the deck and the bottom of the box and move
the compass across the deck to the opposite side scribing
a line on the box. Repeat this process on both fore and
aft ends and the sides if necessary. The area below the
scribed line is the material to be removed.
As you remove material from
the box, periodically check it for closeness to the final
fit. Once the dorade box is sitting flush on the deck, you
are ready to cut or drill the vent opening into the deck.
You can use either a hole saw or jig saw to cut the opening.
You will want to make the opening at least as large as the
actual cowl vent opening. Be sure to seal the cut deck core
with an epoxy sealer or some other sealant.
If you purchased a mushroom
ventilator to be installed inside the dorade box, raise
the ventilator to it's up-most position over the deck opening.
Check that no part of the ventilator is in contact with
the dorade box. If your deck has a lot of camber, you may
consider installing a deck ring to fit the camber keeping
the ventilator horizontal.
Weep holes should be added
before final attachment of the box to the deck. Bigger weep
holes are better than smaller holes. Conversely, more weep
holes are better than fewer holes. Some boaters prefer half
rounds while others choose elongated half ovals. It is important
to have weep holes on each side both forward and aft of
the baffle. However, if your boat has enough camber for
good drainage, you may be able to cut weep holes on one
side of the box only.
There are several ways to
attach the dorade box to the deck. One method that allows
easy removal of the dorade box for maintenance is a cleat
system secured to the deck and fastened from the outside
to the interior of the box. The cleats can be 1" x
1" epoxy coated fir strips or other suitable material.
Optionally, the cleats can be glued and screwed to the box
interior and then through bolted from the deck below. This
eliminates any screw heads or plugs on the box exterior.
Before securing the box to the deck, it is a good idea to
seal the interior of the box. Also, use a bedding compound
to seat the box to the deck.
If you have any suggestions,
we'd like to hear your comments. |
