Tri;-Cab louever orientation

David Kane · Post by **David Kane** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:36 am

On my '75 Tri-cabin, I have 2 sets of louvers on each side of the boat hull. From fwd to stern, they face: aft, fwd, aft, fwd. It seems to me that to provide 'flow' through ventilation while underway, they should be reversed in order: fwd, aft, fwd, aft. Looking aroung at other boats in the storage building, most of the rearmost louvers face aft, but this is not always the case.

Anybody have knowledge on what is the proper orientation sequence?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:55 am

Not clear on that but Trojan had a recall, I think, where the some vents were facing forward. This was also speculation on a possible famous boat sinking in the Great Lakes, years ago from waves and water coming in through the vents. Additional bilge pump was also added.

Anyone have the link to that story?

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:30 am

same on my F 36. I've always assumed it was to cut down on water from bow-wake/splashes entering the bilge...would also be interested in the link...

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:54 am

The vents that have the opening facing aft create a vaccuum when air is rushing across them. These should be connected to the ventilation tubes that run down to the bottom of the bilge where they will draw out vapors from gas, propane, etc. This is where these vapors gather since they are heavier than air . In my Trojan these are located forward in the engine bay. The vents with the forward facing openings tend to scoop air as it rushes across them. These introduce air into the engine bay at a higher piont at the back of the engine bay to replace the air drawn out by the forward vents.

While under way, this system contantly replaces the air in the engine bay.

Hope this helps

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:59 am

I found the story!

http://www.michiganshipwrecks.org/seamar.htm

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:50 am

great read...thanks....[will check the orientation of my louvers on the weekend...]

Mac32 · Post by **Mac32** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:09 pm

Hey, you found my friends website..... Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates. They keep their boat in my garage when not out shipwreck hunting.. What a small world huh.

Small story that everyone with a f32 should be aware of (or other trojans???).
I don't think the website goes into detail about the recall and I am sure some one knows more than we do, but from what I understand is there were baffles added to the lower 1/2 on the aft vents facing forward to restrict the possibility of water entering. My 1976 had this recall done to it.

Regarding the bilge pump in the stern (or lack of), this may be a part of the recall also but I a really am not sure. BUT if you dont have a bilge pump in the stern of your f32 then make sure to have one installed. I have had my aft one go out in bad weather and have had water enter in through the aft vents which is not normally a problem for the bilge pump to take care of but with out it I would have to stop every 1/2 hour or so and bring the bow down to empty using the forward pump.

For example With the bow up she would accumulate water over the tops of the stringers under the aft deck, and set the boat lower in the water, thus lowering the vents closer to the water, and letting more water in. Kinda of a snowball effect. This is probably what happened to the seamar, and I could see how it may have snuck up on them.

So be aware of the problem, but don't be scared of it because all vessels have something that can bite you (be happy about the ones you know, and pratice being a good boy scout), this is a easy one to manage if you are aware of it. So there is no more work to keeping it at bay than something like monitoring your fuel consumption vs how far it is to shore.

Also it took quite the bad seas for this to happen, I call it a bath tub effect when wave and wind are clocking around so wave direction isnt always apparent so you get allot of rouge ones slapping you around. Typically this is beyond what 80% of the boaters would be comfortable handling.

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:50 am

hi guys, aaron here. as many of you know, dad had a 1972 tri cabin for almost 37 years. the side vents were never ever touched and if you guys need to see the 'correct' orientation of the vents take a look at the pics on photobucket. picture number 5 has a great view of the starboard side and shows the orientation. remember, this model, until 1979, had the engines aft, under the bunks with v-drives. http://www.photobucket.com/bubala3 (dave, any luck with walter gear for your situation?) anyway, the correct orientation is as follows starting from the STERN and working towards the bow......vent aft, vent forward,vent forward, vent aft. believe it or not, he actually has notes from the factory to explain the orientation!! 'engine room' sucked into then out, generator vents in and out...... i hope that clears it up. if you all have any questions, just give me a shout.
aaron

TOP VIEW LOOKING FORWARD STERN TO BOW------------->

vent orientation.....

PORT SIDE GOING FORWARD---------------->

vent aft vent fwd vent fwd vent aft

vent aft vent fwd vent fwd vent aft

STARBOARD GOING FORWARD-------------->

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:37 am

Aaron, you're so dramatic! LOL...

Thanks!

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:49 am

My Dad had a 76' F-32 with the same vent configuration. The boat still has them in the same configuration with it's new owner a few docks away from us.

That's a sad story.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:56 am

You should print the story and give it to the boat owner on the dock. You may be doing him a favor...

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:02 am

Stripermann2 wrote:You should print the story and give it to the boat owner on the dock. You may be doing him a favor...

Yea, Don't know that our lake would ever get that rough nor do I think he would be out in a storm.... He rarely takes it out at all.

David Kane · Post by **David Kane** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:00 pm

Thanks for the feedback! Sorry you haven't heard from me in a few days. My boat went in the water Thurdsay!!!!!!!!! Played hookie fro work quite a bit this past week to paint the bottom, wax (2 coats-1 cleaner/wax, the other hard/UV wax) the hull, go over the engines, etc.

Yes, Aaron, I was able to find the name plates on my Walter vee-drives & get the serial #'s. Haven't contacted the company yet, but will soon.

We've had absolutely gorgeous weather in western Lake Erie Thursday through today. I was at the well when they dropped my boat in. Backed it out & had a nice run (short-less than 1/2 mile) to the marina. Just myself. I asked my son to come over about 4:30 to catch the lines, but the air was dead calm. Pulled into my slip, kicked the stern in a little, grabbed the stern line, hopped off the boat & tied her up myself. Turned off the engines, walked up the docks to the parking lot just as my son pulled in.

Dianne has been cleaning up the inside of the boat. I washed the canvas pieces yesterday & today we put the cleaner wax on the topside. rain coming 'till at least through Tuesday night, so will put the hard wax on later next week. Another boat beat us to our dock by just a few hours, but that was ferried over by their storage people. We've stayed on board since Thursday evening & have been the greeting committee for other returning dockmates.

We're on the same dock as last year but moved from the south to the north side, which has nicer water views. Hopefully I will do this right & get the pictures of the sunset Thurs. night & sunrise Fri. morning"

Sunset

Sunrise

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LSP · Post by **LSP** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:17 pm

Beautiful shots Dave ....The D.A.M boat looks great in the sunrise too. Take care....