Living on your boat in summer — tropical or otherwise — can be hot. Really, really hot. Many boaters cope by staying in marinas and install air conditioning.
But what about those of us who prefer to anchor out? Or don’t have the budget for long stays in a marina and installing air conditioning?
Improving your boat’s ventilation will do a lot to cool it off. And it costs less than one month’s stay in most marinas. Listen in for five things we did to make summertime cruising in the tropics possible.
Links to products mentioned:
- Caframo Two Speed Compact 12v Fan Fan, White
(Amazon; also available in black) - West Marine Replacement Fan Blade (they don’t break often, but it’s good to carry a spare)
- 4-Way Breeze Bandit Wind Scoop from Cruising Solutions
(Amazon; also available in black)Prefer to read? Check out Ventilation.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
ladonna thomas says
A favorite on mine is the “Port Booster”, it is a wind scoop for side ports. On our catamaran it brought in more air than a top breeze booster that goes onto a top hatch.