Jump to content

I'm too hot!

Doodlebug

By Doodlebug
in General Boating

 Share

Featured Posts

Doodlebug Rising Star

Doodlebug

Posted
Posted

Hi everyone,

 

Any tips on keeping the boat cool this summer, its too hot for me already and the boat is like an oven.

 

I know it should be painted a light colour (our roof is cream although the sides are blue) but what else can I do to make it cooler than outside?

 

Any tips greatly appreciated.

 

Also as a side note, we have loads of excess power from our solar array. Can you buy air conditioning units? :P

 

Thanks

 

Doodlebug

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nightwatch Veteran II

NightwatchDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted

When it gets really hot I just open up bow and stern doors, side hatches and all the windows and put a mains desk fan on to get some airflow through the boat.

Ditto.

In answer you can buy small air on units. Not sure of the power usage or effectiveness. I'd expect you will need to keep all your openings closed.

 

I'm at home and I'm hot as well. It's not just you lucky people on your boats that are effected you know. Smiley here.

 

Martyn

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chagall Experienced

Chagall

Posted
Posted (edited)

close the curtains on the sunny side, or all the curtains if you don't need to look out.

 

 

and a cheap floor standing fan that oscillates is good for a short while, but after a bit they end up just moving the air about ineffectually. Good for a brief respite though.

Edited by Chagall
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Pykebird Rising Star

Pykebird

Posted
Posted

It's on days like this that you find out just how good you insulated the boat! (only feeling slightly smug at those who said I went OTT).

As said, try to increase the air flow, if you can take glass out of window.

A net of some sort will let in air but keep direct sun out, I use voile on my side hatches for this reason. Another way is to fit Houdini's as warm air rises.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Doodlebug Rising Star

Doodlebug

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Both the curtain idea and the net curtain thing I will try.

 

The air conditioners I have seen all involve using ice, which doesn't help since even if I had a freezer it would heat the boat as well.

 

One idea I quite like is to pump canal water up to the roof and let it run over the boat cooling it down a bit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
blackrose Veteran II

blackrose

Posted
Posted (edited)

I have a friend on a narrowboat who experimented by running a hose down one side of the roof and back down the other, blanked off at the end with holes every ft down its length. The idea was that the water would cool the steel on the roof and the sides of the boat and that would make it cooler inside the boat. He ran it from the waterpoint at his mooring with the intention of buying a pump and using canal water if it worked.

 

After running it for a day, he said it didn't make a blind bit of difference to the internal temperature. At least he only wasted a cheap hose (and a bit of water!).

Edited by blackrose
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Naughty Cal Veteran II

Naughty Cal

Posted
Posted

Buy a white boat with small tinted windows!

 

Just retreated to our very cool cabin to get out of the heat for a few minutes.

 

Bimini over the cockpit is doing a great job of providing shade also.

 

Loving the sun. Hopefully it is going to last for us. The Broads will be great in this weather. Roll on next Saturday....

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Doodlebug Rising Star

Doodlebug

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Cover your roof with top boxes, I think someone on here has mentioned making some.....................

 

Great idea, any idea where I can get one from? :P

 

 

I have a friend on a narrowboat who experimented by running a hose down one side of the roof and back down the other, blanked off at the end with holes every ft down its length. The idea was that the water would cool the steel on the roof and the sides of the boat and that would make it cooler inside the boat. He ran it from the waterpoint at his mooring with the intention of buying a pump and using canal water if it worked.

After running it for a day, he said it didn't make a blind bit of difference to the internal temperature. At least he only wasted a cheap hose (and a bit of water!).

 

That would suprise me, if the metal surface is hot, the heat will filter through to the inside of the boat. if you run water over it it will cool down, and not heat the boat up so much.

 

 

Moor under a tree

I can't believe I didn't think of that :P I'll go find one :D

 

I also vaguely remember someone saying they put a computer fan between the bilge and the boat, to bring cool moist air up into the boat. Does that really work? Anyone tried it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wanted Experienced

Wanted

Posted
Posted

I don't think we have enough hot weather to bother with an expensive solution, it's all about the through draft, thankfully we have doors front and back but in our last boat we had to take the hopper windows out and put a desk top fan blowing inwards by the front doors.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.