vents
 

i own a 1984 23cc it has the standard 4 vents to up front towards bow 2 stern corners what where the purpose of these?
do most people patch them over or leave them.

They are to let the bilge breathe and help prevent the decks from rotting. I think the general consensus is to leave them be, but if your replacing the deck with a composite i dont see the need for them as the composite wont rot.

The vents are there to ventilate the bilge in case you have a fuel leak, whether from a corroded tank, leaking sending unit, hose, etc. Obviously critical on an I/O or inboard, for which vents are a USCG requirement. Early Potter literature also claimed that it was required because they didn't foam in the fuel tanks, but don't know how true that is. (Foaming in fuel tanks is always a bad idea because wet foam helps the tank corrode faster, so one more data point on why SeaCrafts were built right!) One other advantage to a ventilated bilge in addition to reducing rot tendency, is less mold/mildew and odor accumulation below decks.

If it were my boat, I would NOT close up the vents!

thanks for the replies and for one more ? regarding them.

i would think the fins would face forward so that more air would enter while running but if they face forward and your in a heavy sea wouldnt more water enter them. maybe someone reversed them

They should face the rear.

Capt Chuck is biting his hand right now!!! :)

strick

Ouch, Chuckles will post. Jason, we miss Spidercrab. Is the new server better?

Thanks,
Us Boo

From the factory, the front vents face forward and the Rear ones face backwards. Some people have changed the front ones to face backwards to reduce the amount of water due to spray that can come in. Although, the aluminum box frame that came standard from the factory that surrounds the front vents does an adequate job of keeping water/spray from entering.

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