air scoop sailboat

Best Wind Scoops: How to Use Them Properly

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Wind scoops are an excellent passive ventilation tool for use at anchor or when moored at the dock.

The best wind scoops are the Plastimo Ventilated Sail, the Dorcap Hatch Vent, the Breeze Booster Hatch Ventilator, the Breeze Booster Port Ventilator, and the Breeze Bandit Hatch Ventilator.

In this article, we'll cover how to use wind scoops effectively for ventilation. We'll also discuss the best situations in which to use wind scoops, and we'll feature five of the best on the market today.

This article is based on information sourced directly from wind scoop manufacturers and sailors who use wind scoops as an alternative to air conditioning.

Table of contents

What is a Wind Scoop?

Wind scoops are a lightweight and stowable alternative to air conditioning. They require no electricity, and they draw large volumes of outside air through the hatch or porthole of a sailboat.

Air scoops aren't as effective as regular air conditioning, but they're more affordable than fans, and (under the right conditions) they can provide significantly more ventilation. They're also highly compact when stowed and made of lightweight sail-like materials such as nylon and polyester.

Wind scoops are sometimes confused with deck cowls. While standard deck cowls can perform the same function, modern wind scoops are much larger and more efficient at ventilating a sailboat cabin.

How do Wind Scoops Work?

Wind scoops work the same way that traditional deck ventilators do, but on a larger scale. These large tent-like ventilators point towards the wind and channel it through the boat. Wind scoops are completely passive, and they take advantage of even the smallest breezes.

And while they're not as effective as air conditioning, they can easily add effective cooling and keep the air in your sailboat from becoming hot, stuffy, and stagnant.

How to Use a Wind Scoop Properly

Wind scoops can be somewhat tricky to use, but most people find the right alignment fast enough. The first step in using a wind scoop is to learn the circumstances in which it is most effective. Most wind scoops aren't designed to be used while underway. This is because of their lightweight construction and position on the boat. The ideal time to use a wind scoop for ventilation is when you're at anchor.

As most sailors know, an anchored sailboat will naturally turn and point into the wind, which is perfect for wind scoops. Wind scoops can also be used when in the marina as long as you orient the induction end towards the wind.

The primary purpose of a wind scoop is to simply redirect an existing breeze into and through a sailboat. The wind scoop is generally mounted over the front (forward) hatch, which must be open completely for it to be effective. This works best as it directs air from the narrowest part of the boat out into the wider spaces.

Remember that wind scoops are most effective when they move air through the boat. Since they don't actually cool the air, the best way to utilize them is to replace the existing air in the boat as often as possible. The best way to ensure that this occurs is to open the rear hatch, as it will allow the most efficient flow of air through the boat.

The same rule applies to other types of wind scoops, such as porthole scoops. In the case of larger wind scoops, you can use the companionway hatch or portholes to finely tune how much air flows through the cabin. Think of the companionway hatch as the thermostat or throttle.

Are Wind Scoops Weatherproof?

So, what should you do with your wind scoop if it rains? Many sailors ask this question, and the answer depends largely on what type of wind scoop you buy.

Standard wind scoops aren't rainproof at all. This is a problem in tropical climates, as it rains frequently, and excess moisture can easily cause mold in your cabin.

If rain is a frequent issue, consider a weatherproof wind scoop. Unlike traditional wind scoops, which are tall and thin, rain-resistant wind scoops are short, bullet-shaped, and elongated lengthwise to reduce the amount of rain that falls or blows into them. These models are also treated and waterproof, similar to a tent rainfly.

Traditional wind scoops move more air than most weatherproof models, which is why many sailors use them in tropical climates regardless. The best way to prevent rain-related problems is to be vigilant and simply close the forward hatch whenever it starts to get stormy outside.

Best Wind Scoops

There are dozens of wind scoops on the market today, including several made by the Windscoop brand. Here are the best sailboat wind scoops available today from several top marine brands.

1. Plastimo Ventilated Sail

Plastimo is a well-known manufacturer of marine ventilation equipment. If you have a newer sailboat, chances are you have a plastic ventilation cowl made by Kastimo. In addition to standard vents. Plastimo also offers a large wind scoop which they call a 'ventilated sail.'

The Plastimo wind scoop  is omnidirectional, which makes it somewhat unique in the industry. That means that this wind scoop will efficiently funnel air down into the forward hatch regardless of what direction the wind is blowing.

Omnidirectional wind scoops are ideal for most situations, and they're particularly useful when you're docked at a stationary marina. The Plastimo wind scoop is shaped like a pyramid and held up by a line that usually runs up the mast. The eyelet at the top of the pyramid is ideal for attaching to a halyard, so this wind scoop is easy to deploy and requires no bulky poles or separate rigging.

The wind scoop itself is made from polyester, which is lightweight and durable. Polyester is also soft and flexible, which prevents annoying whistling and flapping sounds. The primary drawback of this design is that it isn't particularly water-resistant, and it will readily funnel rainwater down into the cabin if the hatch is left open during a rain squall.

In other weather conditions, the Plastimo wind scoop shines. Thanks to its durable stitching and halyard-hung design, it can stand up to strong wind gusts without tearing or coming off. It also fits most standard sailboat hatches.

2. ATN Dorcap Hatch Vent

Here's a unique all-weather wind scoop designed to hold up to rain, wind, and spray. The ATN Dorcap wind scoop  is self-supported and fits most standard boat hatches.

The ATN Dorcap wind scoop is essentially a large stowable sea cowl designed to mount sturdily to the hatch of a sailboat. Unlike most wind scoops, this ATN model is stubby and low-profile. These design features make it resistant to water and wind gusts, as there's less of an opportunity for weather influx.

The scoop itself has rigid supports and doesn't need to be Leathered to a halyard to stay upright. It has adjustable airflow settings for maximum airflow and maximum rain protection. This air scoop features a 'dam' in the base of the inlet, which helps prevent water that runs along the deck from getting into your cabin.

Despite its small size and air dam, the ATN Dorcap wind scoop moves a remarkable amount of air through the cabin. It can be operated from inside the cabin as well, which means you won't have to scramble on deck during a rainstorm to close the hatch or disassemble the air scoop. This is ideal for anchoring in tropical and subtropical climates where heat and rain often accompany each other.

The primary disadvantage of the ATN Dorcap wind scoop is that it is not omnidirectional, and it can be tricky or impossible to reposition-,if the wind direction changes. However, at anchor, this is rarely a problem.

3. Breeze Booster Hatch Ventilator

The Breeze Booster Hatch Ventilator  is the wind scoop equivalent of a supercharger, and it's well known for moving an enormous amount of air through sailboat cabins. This self-supported wind scoop is ideal for medium and large sailboats in areas where the wind is usually insufficient for other smaller wind scoops.

The Breeze Booster is a large cowl-shaped wind scoop. It is self-supported and does not require a halyard. This means that it's taut as useful on powerboats. This wind scoop is about as tall as it is wide, which allows it to efficiently harness slight winds and channel them throughout the cabin. The scoop itself is very easy to set up, and it can be oriented in any direction without much trouble. This makes it ideal for use at anchor or when docked in a marina.

Another advantage of the Breeze Booster wind scoop is that it allows sailors to adjust the hatch independently. This means that you can fine-tune the airflow from inside the boat or close the forward hatch completely in the event of a rainstorm. The scoop itself provides little protection from the elements, though it offers shade and doesn't impede the user from closing the hatch.

As far as its application is concerned, the Breeze Booster ventilated hatch is comparable to the Plastimo Ventilated Sail. It works well at anchor or in the marina, though it doesn't stand up to high winds as well as the Plastimo. That said, it's easier to set up at the expense of size.

It stows larger than the Plastimo, as it's self-supported and requires some rigid parts. The manufacturer states that, when stowed, this wind scoop takes up about the same amount of space as a traditional umbrella.

4. Breeze Booster Port Ventilator

Sometimes, a giant air scoop over the hatch isn't necessary, and an extra ventilation boost over a port will suffice. That's where the Breeze Booster Port Ventilator  comes in. This smaller wind scoop is designed to mount over a traditional sailboat porthole or portlight, and it works well as an additional source of passive ventilation.

The primary advantage of the port ventilator is that it's mostly weather resistant due to its size and location on the side of the cabin. It can keep the air inside flowing even when you're not aboard, which allows you to lock up or button up your hatches. It also works well while you're on board and at anchor, as you can point it forwards towards the wind.

The Breeze Booster Port Ventilator is designed for use with inward-opening ports, which means you can adjust the airflow from the cabin or close it when it rains.

The Breeze Booster port vent air scoop is constructed of flag stock nylon, which is durable and lightweight. It also includes a screen, which is a necessity in areas with mosquitos and other insect pests. And like the standard large Breeze Booster, the port vent wind scoop is also self-supported with PVC framing.

This model is highly affordable and compact, making it a great option to start with if you're new to wind scoops.

5. Breeze Bandit Hatch Ventilator

Here's another durable wind scoop designed to stand up to gusts and windy weather. Like the Plastimo ventilated sail, the Breeze Bandit wind scoop  is omnidirectional and capable of harnessing wind from all directions without adjustment.

The Breeze Bandit wind scoop is essentially four wind scoops sewn together back to back. It has four panels that harness wind from all directions simultaneously, and it channels the wind downard and into the hatch. It's tall, thin, and lightweight, making it ideal for use on sailboats.

Interestingly, the design of this four-paneled wind scoop is not new. It was rediscovered in a centuries-old British Navy manual, as similar canvas designs were once used to cool and ventilate tall ships. In other words, it's a proven and highly-effective design.

Unlike the originals, the Breeze Bandit is manufactured from durable and lightweight polyester. Like the Plastimo Ventilated Sail, polyester was chosen to provide longevity, tear-resistance, stretch-resistance, and to eliminate flapping and wind noise.

The sides of the Breeze Bandit are reinforced with 1" webbing, providing rigidity when deployed but allowing it to collapse and stow in a compact package. The webbing is also double-stitched, which provides much more durability than some competitors. The Breeze Bandit fits hatches up to 21 inches square.

It mounts at the base with stainless steel snaps, which are durable, unobtrusive, and easy to install. The Breeze Bandit rigs up with a halyard connected to an eyelet at the top, and it stands 6 feet tall when deployed.

The primary disadvantage of this design is that it's not rainproof, and you can't close the hatch while it's deployed. That said, it's easy to simply unbutton the base and close MOB the hatch in the event of foul weather.

6. Davis Instruments Windscoop

We can't forget to include name-brand wind scoops on our list. The Davis Instruments Windscoop  is one of the most popular passive hatch ventilators on the market today, and it's the namesake of products in this category.

The original Windscoop rigs up like the Breeze Bandit and moves a large volume of air into the cabin. It must be pointed into the wind to work, but its tall and wide design makes it the most effective wind scoop on our list. It's also almost universally compatible with sailboat hatches and companionways. It fits any opening up to 4 feet wide, which makes it an option for sailboats such as the Catalina 30 that have unusually large and non-square forward hatches.

The original Windscoop is compatible with screens and mosquito nets, making it ideal for bug-filled areas. Installation is easy, as it doesn't require tie-downs. Simply feed it through the hatch and rig it up to a halyard.

The original Windscoop is affordable, and it makes a great addition to your standard cruising gear lineup for warm weather. Due to its quick and easy install, it's also great for clearing the cabin after cooking or working with fume-producing chemicals such as paint, varnish, stain, or epoxy.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Capture the Breeze with our Wind Scoops for Sailboats!

Ventilate your boat naturally with the wind using our breeze catcher. NEW! Gray color now available.

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Catch the Wind and funnel it down the hatch with our Wind Scoops for sailboats. Available in Royal Blue and NEW color Gray! Our wind scoop boat ventilator is 170 cm (66 inches) long and 132 cm (52 inches wide) this large windscoop catches lots of air and it's adaptable to almost any sized hatch, Hang it from the boom or a halyard or anything overhead and secure it to an open hatch with the included ties (there are 4 strong 2mm paracords, with velcro hooks attached at the ends and included opposite velcro loops with adhesive backing to attach to the interior of your boat.) There are nylon rod battens sewn inside the wind scoop to hold it open. You will instantly feel whatever breeze is available amplified down below deck. Even if your boat is facing away from or sideways to the direction of the wind, the Blue Dot windscoop can catch the breeze and get more ventilation down below where it's needed. Made from light weight rip stop nylon fabric. The wind scoop can help keep you cool. It comes with a one year warranty. Available in Royal Blue Medium Gray.

We offer our large wind scoop at $69.99 regular price and currently at our discount price of $59.99  each. 

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When it gets too hot then you need a windscoop from Blue Dot Enterprises.

As soon as the weather starts to heat up think of us.  A Windscoop can catch 10 x more wind and funnel it down below deck for better ventilation. Also available in Medium Gray. 

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The Seamless Sailor

Self-reliant sewing for sailors, wind scoop 2.0 – blowing in the wind.

“The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind”*…so if we scoop up lots of air we’ll have all the answers to life’s questions? Or we’ll just have happy husbands who like to nap under a big breeze at anchor?  I’ll be glad when I have found the perfect wind scoop (WS) design.

I’ve made two wind scoops with different designs.  Sure I could have bought a kit or copied a design from a book.  Or heaven forbid – bought one**.  (There are several styles on the market that you’ve probably seen deployed, but they can be pricey.)  But noooo I have an engineer for a husband.  He draws plans on napkins at dock bars and says “here make this”.  (The more wine, the more complex the design.)  So why have I made two different designs if he came up with the idea?  Because an engineer is never satisfied.  Wind Scoop 2.0 is  bigger and better and scoops more wind (and thus more answers, err better naps?).  I’m not worried though.  I know Wind Scoop 3.0 is coming because we didn’t build in the baffle to keep rain out (or some Phifertex screening to reduce rain intrusion).  Actually I can foresee Wind Scoop 1.1 might make a debut because the first WS was the design that caught air from all directions – just not enough of it.  WS 2.0 is a really big box open on one side.  Isn’t it great having your own sewing machine and being a Seamless Sailor with plenty of time?  You just keep trying till you get it right!

Wind Scoop 1.0:  This was a multi-directional, triangular design to catch wind from any direction.  Secret trick:   The base had casings for two 1×1 wood lengths attached with a nut so they would open to form an X to hold it open and down inside the hatch opening. The casings were open at the X to allow for the nut.  The nylon from the local fabric shop was too light and not easy to work with and the triangular  sides weren’t deep enough, although it was tall enough.  I used simple hems on the edges.  At the top I sewed a loop for a line with a bowline attaching it.  I liked this design.  It was enough air for me, but I don’t need gale force winds blowing into the cabin.  This one may be worthy of a remake.

Wind Scoop 2.0:   I liked the  8 ounce nylon  I used on Wind Scoop 2.0 better.  It is easy to sew as it isn’t as slippery as lighter nylon.  It didn’t pucker in the machine either.  It is wearing well in the wind. I used UV thread (V46 or 69).  (Sunbrella or similar fabric would work also.) This design has a casing on the top for PVC pipe to hold open the top WS square.  It’s basically a big rectangular box with one side open (about 54″ high). If there was a wind shift we’d need to turn and resnap it. We ran line from the corners of the pipe up to a hook that attaches to a halyard or end of the boom, etc.  There are snaps at the bottom corners that attach to the inside corner snaps on the square hatch.  Secret trick :  attach at least the two front snaps on the WS to short pieces of elastic sewn to the hem to allow some give with the wind.  This is my husband’s favorite design because it can produce almost gale force winds rushing into the cabin.

Or maybe one of you has found the perfect wind scoop design? Preference for multi-directional, canopy or box?  Please do tell!

*Apologies to Bob Dylan

**The Boat Galley has a post on good wind scoops for sale. But really for a Seamless Sailor this is a pretty easy sewing task!

Resources for wind scoop designs:

Sailrite – offers hatch canopy kits and instructions

Jim Grant’s book, The Complete Canvasworkers Guide and these websites talk about his and Terry Sargent’s wind scoop designs with an inner flap, baffle or “fence” to keep rain out.   http://phoenixketch.blogspot.com/2013/10/squall-proof-wind-scoop.html    http://yachtvalhalla.net/articles/windscoop/windscoop.html

Karen Lipe’s book Big Book of Boat Canvas has a four way wind chute with a “lid” making it more rain averse.

Rainproof design here  https://cindysisland.wordpress.com/category/boat-projects/canvas/

Another blog idea here.  http://www.controlledjibe.com/2012/04/10/how-to-build-a-windscoop/

Design similar to Wind Scoop 2.0 with a “skirt” to hold it open.

Clever, simple low profile design using grommets and bungees here

Cruising World blog pos t on cooling including wind scoops

Just about all the books listed on the Books Resources page have wind scoop, wind catchers or hatch canopies.

Several online forums have discussions on wind scoops to include ideas using tarps and old sails

Updated July, 2016

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4 thoughts on “ wind scoop 2.0 – blowing in the wind ”.

Uhhhh, I only see 1 picture and it isn’t helpful. I realize this is an old post, but could you update it or email me pix?

I’m trying to come up with a windscoop design that: 1. collects wind from any direction (yes, I have a feature that will do that – the 3-leaf or 4-leaf vertical design that “funnels into” a tube that directs air into the hatch); and 2. doesn’t let rain into the boat if I leave the windscoop up while its raining (haven’t figured this out yet).

Got any ideas?

Regards, Jeff

You are right the pix wasn’t helpful. Hopefully the one I’ve added helps show my design.

I’ve added some resources with other books and blogs that have better info on making a rainproof wind scoop. I think the one you may be looking for is in “Big Book of Boat Canvas”. You need either a lid over the multi-directional style or some type of baffle and canopy that is lower over the hatch.

Good luck and send a pix if you come up with yet another design.

Hello and greeting from South Western Ontario Canada, I have a 36’ Gozzard Sailboat that consists of a large forward deck butterfly hatch, I was wondering if you would be willing or if you have someone in mind that would be interested in manufacturing a wind scoop for our boat ? Bob

First, Gozzards are lovely boats. I have two friends with Gozzards. I don’t currently sew for others and I’m afraid I don’t know any shops in Canada to recommend. You could check with Gozzard or a local sail loft or canvas shop for recommendations. Sailrite does have a video and it’s not a very complicated project if you have an inclination to try it yourself!

Regards, Annette

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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Make a 4-Way Windscoop for Your Boat

Published on June 21, 2013 ; last updated on January 21, 2023 by Carolyn Shearlock

I love a 4-way windscoop for really improving the ventilation on a boat.  Hook it up, and it just doesn’t matter how the boat swings with the tide in relation to the wind — you’ll always catch the breeze.  Ditto if you’re at a dock.

And I’ve pointed out a few places where you can buy one .  But what if you want to make your own (or the fact that you need a weird size means that making your own is the only option)?

I’m ashamed to admit that nearly a month ago, Tami Shelton sent me this photo of one she had made and I’m just now getting it posted.  Her note said, “I fabricate these 4-way windscoops as per the directions in Karen Lipe’s great book, The Big Book of Boat Canvas .”  The book is older (from 1991) and available on Amazon .  Tami highly recommends it if you want to make your own windscoops!

I’ll admit that while I do sew, I never tried making a wind scoop and haven’t checked out the book.  But from Tami’s photo, it looks like a great design and that Tami was well able to follow the instructions, so it looks like a winner.  The design is slightly different from the commercially made ones that we used and appears sturdier.

Tami notes that it’s a little different to hang a 4-way scoop on a catamaran — on any boat, the basic design is to hang it from a halyard and then use a stabilizing line from the top of the scoop to keep it from falling towards the mast.  On monohulls, this line is usually led to the forestay.  On her catamaran, she led it to a stanchion to get the correct angle to keep the scoop upright.

If you’re in a climate that even the slightest bit warm in the summer, I just can’t recommend the 4-way wind scoops enough if you have an opening hatch to use one with.  The added air flow makes a HUGE difference in keeping the inside of the boat cool.  And if you can keep the air moving — and hence the hot air flowing out — it makes life in the galley an lot nicer!

Despite cruising in the Sea of Cortez in the hottest part of the year, I rarely changed my cooking habits to “keep the heat out of the boat” since I had such good ventilation.  The value of good ventilation just can’t be overstated!

UPDATE: Tami made one of these for us as a boat-warming gift for Barefoot Gal! It is absolutely gorgeous and we can’t wait until we’re back aboard and can use it!

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Reader Interactions

Cheryl Geeting on Facebook says

June 21, 2013 at 9:12 am

Thanks for the info!

Debbie Weiss Luitweiler on Facebook says

June 21, 2013 at 11:34 am

I also have made one out of rip stop nylon for windbreakers. Works so good. I also made a half moon piece of nylon to go on the bottom from the inside and use it as a directional flow. On the aft captains quarters it would blow straight down to the floor. With the directional scoop added I could direct the flow across the bed and out the transom port holes. Or for the forward one I could direct the flow to the galley when cooking. 🙂

Nancy Maurer Rieckmann says

May 21, 2014 at 3:13 pm

Wow, thats great.

Beti O'tan says

May 21, 2014 at 3:15 pm

You do a lot for your readers!

Steve Bryant says

May 21, 2014 at 3:19 pm

wish you could tell us a bit more about its construction

The Boat Galley says

May 21, 2014 at 4:01 pm

Here’s the link: https://theboatgalley.com/make-a-4-way-windscoop/

Grace May says

May 21, 2014 at 3:24 pm

That’s awesome and a great gesture.

Cindy Hodgins Smith says

May 21, 2014 at 3:52 pm

Would love to have directions to make this….. Think you can get her to share?

Here’s the info — she shared it last year 🙂 See, I said she was amazing! https://theboatgalley.com/make-a-4-way-windscoop/

Erik Nystuen says

May 21, 2014 at 4:11 pm

I would sure like one of these! =)

Stephanie Hamilton says

May 21, 2014 at 5:01 pm

That is sooooo cool! Het it? Cool? I crack me up…

Jane Jarratt says

May 21, 2014 at 5:21 pm

I love Boat Galley! Could they send me one too!!

May 21, 2014 at 6:15 pm

Tami got the pattern from The Big Book of Boat Canvas: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0070380007/?tag=theboagal0a-20

Dianne Luttrell says

I would love to try to make one for our boat . Could you post or pm the how to’s ?

May 21, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Link: https://theboatgalley.com/make-a-4-way-windscoop/

Patty Makowski says

June 13, 2017 at 12:36 pm

This is the best book ever. I always try to have 3 or 4 copies on board for gifts – everyone can find something in here. I also gave it to a store owner on Great Guana Cay many years ago, he was talking about making carry alls, and boat related stuff for the boaters that came in. You should have seen his smile! You can usually find gently used copies Thriftbooks and other sites. I. Love. This. Book!

Hans van Dam says

November 2, 2017 at 10:58 am

I dont understand this, people ask for the ‘how-to’, you send the link, but its the link to this article, which lacks the how-to 😀 Am I missing something? Greetings, Hans

Carolyn Shearlock says

November 2, 2017 at 11:08 am

This article provides a link for the book that contains the directions for the 4-way wind scoop plus many other things.

September 3, 2018 at 10:33 am

I hope someone here can point me in the right direction. I made the scoop from the book. The only change I made, is that it is smaller in the top and bottom, because our hatches are only 22″. I made the other pieces correspondingly smaller, but it is the same height.

It doesn’t work. The air goes in, the scoop fills, but it doesn’t come out the bottom. Even with 10 knots of wind, you have to put your hand up to it to feel any air flow.

My husband thinks that maybe the lower sides (sorry, I don’t have the book here and don’t remember what she called the parts) are too tall and need to be cut down. I have no idea.

If anyone has any ideas, I am open to all suggestions!

michelle says

May 15, 2019 at 1:46 pm

Hi all! I am curious on why there are walls at all. I don’t understand what the side panels on the bottom do, it just seems it would block air coming in. I can assume it creates a funnel maybe, but wouldn’t it work without the outer box on the bottom? If you’ve made one, can you comment on what they do and why the design works with them? Thanks!

May 17, 2019 at 12:00 pm

Originally, I had the same question. Looking at it in use, I think without the walls, the back side would be outside the hatch and you’d lose a lot of the breeze.

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Get Air Down There: How To Improve Ventilation On Any Boat

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Good ventilation inside your boat is a must for comfort and safety. Here's how to get the cooling breeze flowing.

A wind chute installed over a hatch can help channel airflow below and can even keep light rain out if positioned correctly. (Photos: Fank Lanier)

Nothing enhances the quality of life belowdecks during the heat of summer, or when cruising hotter latitudes, like plenty of cool, fresh air. Good ventilation provides a multitude of benefits including preventing odors, condensation, and mold growth as well as eliminating minor carbon monoxide buildup and its negative effects on crew health (such as headaches and seasickness). Here's a look at ventilation basics and how to make them work for you.

Passive Or Active

There are two types of ventilation systems : passive and active. Passive systems rely on the wind blowing over them to move air belowdecks. They either direct air inside or exhaust it (depending on their type and orientation to the wind). Examples of passive vents include traditional cowl vents, clamshell or scoop vents, louvered hatch boards, and low-profile discs (aka mushroom vents).

Passive vents work best when installed in opposing pairs. While they can move a surprising amount of air on a breezy day, they don't perform well on days with little or no wind.

A solar-powered mushroom vent is ­convenient and easy to install.

Active systems are typically mushroom vents outfitted with a small electric fan installed in the vent body. Some are powered by your boat's 12V DC system; however, most are solar-powered. Many of the solar-powered units contain a rechargeable battery (to facilitate nighttime operation) as well as interchangeable fan blades, which allows them to be used as either an intake or an exhaust.

Ventilation Basics

Efficient airflow requires not only an intake, but also an exhaust. A single intake can't force air into a boat against pressure any better than a single exhaust can remove it against a vacuum.

Assuming a boat is oriented head-into-the-wind (as is typical while at anchor or on a mooring), it's pretty intuitive that opening a forward-facing hatch channels air belowdecks, much like an air ram. Conversely, an open companionway door or aft-facing hatch acts as an extractor, pulling air from belowdecks as the wind passes over it.

Adding a wind chute to your hatch provides even greater funneling ability. The same goes for portlight scoops, which help deflect those cooling breezes down below through vertical portlights.

If your boat has limited or no portlights, consider swapping out some of the “deadlights” (non-opening portlights). Portlights (which open to allow airflow) come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and frame materials (e.g., plastic, bronze, aluminum, stainless steel). As such, it is typically easy to find units to replace existing deadlights. When buying portlights, be sure to match the material of the new units to the remaining deadlights or existing boat hardware to prevent the nautical equivalent of an eyesore. Installing portlights , exhaust vents, or even additional hatches over cooking areas can also make a big difference in air quality belowdecks.

Boats at the dock face additional ventilation challenges as they can't orient themselves to the wind. Wind chutes can be repositioned to the sides or rear of a hatch to help funnel air belowdecks, while some traditional hatches are hinged or pinned so that they can be opened to face any of their four sides (a boon in this situation).

Other airflow challenges occur during rainy or stormy weather, which can prevent boats from leaving hatches and portlights open while in port or underway. A tarp or canvas cover rigged over a partially opened hatch keeps rain out and provides ventilation, although the airflow will be less than that of a fully opened hatch or one using a wind chute (which typically can't be used in conjunction with a tarp). The best solution here is a unit that combines the protection of a hatch awning and the functionality of a low-profile wind scoop.

How Much Is Enough?

A well-designed ventilation system should exchange the air belowdecks roughly once every hour. Let's say you have a mid-sized boat with an interior volume of around 1,400 cubic feet. Airflow ratings for passive vents range from 350 to 600 cubic feet per minute (cfm). Intake volume should equal output, so based on the above we would need a minimum of four similar sized vents (two intake, two exhaust) to provide adequate ventilation.

If using two active vents, they should be matched with two passive vents. If four passive vents are installed, they will automatically adapt to intake or exhaust mode as needed (with the exception of improperly aligned cowl vents).

Vents should be arranged to provide as much cross flow inside the cabin as possible. Passive vents should be mounted in pairs at opposite ends of the boat (to the extent possible) with one facing forward and the other facing aft, which provides an intake and exhaust, regardless of wind direction. A combination of passive and active vents provides the same effect with varying wind directions (or in the case of no wind at all).

More 'Cool' Ideas To Beat The Heat

• Use awnings, side curtains, and biminis to provide shade and reduce temperatures belowdecks during the heat of the day.
• Replace heat-producing halogen and incandescent bulbs or fixtures with cool-running LEDs.
• Avoid cooking belowdecks during the heat of the day. Plan around the heat by cooking galley meals in the morning or later in the afternoon while grilling or serving cold meal items for lunch. Barbecuing abovedecks will also keep the cabin cooler at night.
• For boats without an air conditioner, anchor out or take a mooring ball.
• End the day's run early enough so the engine won't be radiating heat well into the night.

Move It Around

While getting fresh air belowdecks is important, it's only half of the ventilation battle. In our example above, four vents may technically provide enough fresh air, however the interior will be broken up into separate cabins or compartments that can restrict airflow throughout the vessel. So simply installing the correct size and number of vents may not be enough to get the ventilation job done. Equally important is moving that fresh air into all the low ventilation spaces.

Drawers, hanging lockers, and other closed storage compartments will benefit from louvered doors or vent grilles. Just remember these spaces require a way for air to both enter and exit in order to provide good cross-ventilation.

Cabins and heads should also have some kind of ventilation installed, particularly if they can be closed off from the rest of the boat. For these and other such living areas, nothing improves ventilation like a few well-placed electric cabin fans . They make a hot bunk bearable, remove heat from the galley, and help reduce odors and keep moisture down in the head/shower area. Unlike the noisy, power-hungry units of yesteryear, today's fans are both quiet and energy-efficient.

My recommendation is that every bunk have a dedicated fan — two if needed due to size. It's almost as if just the soft whirring sound of the fan alone makes the bunk feel cooler. Although many boats suffer from less-than-ideal ventilation, improvements can be made to most any vessel fairly easily and at minimal expense. The effort spent constructing a hatch hood or installing a few fans will pay cool dividends for years to come.

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Capt. Frank Lanier is a SAMS Accredited Marine Surveyor with more than 40 years of experience in the marine and diving industries. He’s also an author, public speaker, and multiple award-winning journalist whose articles on boat maintenance, repair, and seamanship appear regularly in numerous marine publications worldwide. He can be reached via his YouTube channel “Everything Boats with Capt. Frank Lanier” and website captfklanier.com.

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I just finished rebuilding my my first jet pump, with good results, a berk 12jg. It has a 400 hp 454 BBC bolted to it, Im wondering If I could add an air scoop to the carb would that make any difference... Ive got a new Holly 870 on it... Im getting almost 60 mph out of it. Don't know a ton about engine performance and wondered about a scoop. Any llittle bit would help. Would a scoop do any good or would it just look cool... Thanks  

if the air scoop was attached to a blower it would make a lot of difference. will you notice anything on the butt dyno from just a scoop? nah. but they still look cool. the only thing i notice when i turn mine forward is that it gets louder.  

It will just look cool  

I used to run a velocity stack, and had to fatten the jetting. I just recently switched to a scoop, and the motor didn't like it on the top end. I'm guessing that the carb wasn't designed to have air blowing into it. I turned it around and she runs like a bat out of hell ,pulling in the air.  

Should have cut a hole in the back and "tuned" it in!  

Maybe a velocity stack and a scoop?  

:lmao1:  

They just "look"cool, Some look like CRAPOLA....lol The Flame arrester you use can be restrictive depending on what you use. you won't notice a difference. Facing forward or backwards depends how much spray you have hitting it! If you race in a CIRCLE or drive in rough water backwards is best! 400 hp it won't matter as far a feel whichever way it faces.  

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if its facing forward you need to have a coast guard approved flame arrester on it. well in ca. you do. so i have been told. not a bad idea anyways a good backfire could ruin someones day.  

I got checked by the coast guard a few years back on one of our local North Carolina lakes, I had a scoop facing forward with a flame arrestor. I was told you could not have anything that could direct fire toward the passenger compartment of the boat, they made me turn it around, they were nice about it, they loaned me the tools and even helped. Now I run the K & N coast guard approved velocity stacks. I love the look of the scoop, but always worried about one of my jet boat buddies filling the scoop full of water if it were facing forward, if I could only stay in front of the jet boats it would not be a problem.  

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VESSEL REVIEW | Sinichka – Electric commuter boats designed for Russia’s Moskva River

A series of three new electric monohull commuter ferries have already begun operational sailings on the Moskva River in the Russian capital Moscow.

Built by Russian shipyard Emperium, sister vessels Sinichka , Filka , and Presnya – all named after rivers in Moscow – are being operated by the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development (Moscow Deptrans). They are the first units of a planned fleet of 20 vessels that will serve the capital city and other nearby communities. The new ferry system will be the water transport system to be operated on the Moskva River in 16 years.

Each vessel has a welded aluminium hull, an LOA of 21 metres, a beam of 6.2 metres, a draught of only 1.4 metres, a displacement of 40 tonnes, and capacity for 80 passengers plus two crewmembers. Seating is available for 42 passengers on each ferry, and the main cabins are also fitted with USB charging ports, wifi connectivity, tables, toilets, and space for bicycles and scooters. The cabin layout can be rearranged to allow the operator to adjust the distances between the seats and to install armrests of varying widths.

An open upper deck is also accessible to passengers and is the only area on each ferry where smoking is allowed.

The ferries are all of modular construction with each ferry’s wheelhouse, main cabin, and other structural elements being built as complete, separate components. This enables the ferries to be easily dismantled for transport to anywhere in Russia by rail and then quickly re-assembled within seven days.

The ferries are also ice-capable. Recently completed operational trials on the Moskva showed that the vessels can also easily navigate under mild winter conditions with broken surface ice, though year-round operations are planned for the entire fleet.

The ferries are each fitted with 500kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that supply power to two 134kW motors. This configuration can deliver a maximum speed of 11.8 knots, a cruising speed of just under 10 knots, and a range of 150 kilometres.

Emperium said the transfer of rotation of electric motors to the propeller is carried out by direct drive. As a propulsion installation, a pulling rotary propeller-steering column with double screws is used. The installation of double pulling screws, with similar power, allows an operator to increase the efficiency of the propulsion system to deliver a slightly higher speed or to reduce energy consumption. This arrangement also provides the ferries with enhanced manoeuvrability necessary for navigating in close quarters.

The batteries themselves have projected service lives of 10 to 12 years and are fitted with safety features such as built-in fire extinguishers and gas vents. Quick-disconnect features allow the batteries to be easily removed for replacement or maintenance.

Some of our readers have expressed disquiet at our publication of reviews and articles describing new vessels from Russia. We at Baird Maritime can understand and sympathise with those views. However, despite the behaviour of the country’s leaders, we believe that the maritime world needs to learn of the latest developments in vessel design and construction there.

Click here to read other news stories, features, opinion articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.

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Tags: Emperium Filka Moscow Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development Moskva River Presnya Russia Sinichka WBW newbuild

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Fiberglass Air Scoops

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Boy do these look good on top of the engine cover! These are lightweight hand-laid fiberglass scoops that we designed that really work. You simply cut out the front of the scoop and mount it onto or from the under-side of your engine hatch cover, and they will provide plenty of air intake. We mold them in white GelCoat so they can be used out of the box, or painted to match your boat. A large flange is provided that can be trimmed or even removed depending on how you intened to mount the scoops, we will leave that up to you.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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Fabric Hatch Vents: The Breeze Booster Outdraws Windscoop

On still nights, a hatch scoop can bring in much needed air to the cabin. our test of four different designs measures wind velocity and ease of installation..

Theyre not for use underway, but hood-shaped fabric air scoops can be a godsend when theres but a slight breeze stirring the heat.

Theres no secret to their effectiveness. Theyre just big. They grab a lot of breeze and build it into a bit of wind to funnel belowdecks.

Sailmakers have been known to cut and stitch custom versions of these devices. However, there are apparently only four ready-mades on the market.

The Windscoop Davis Instruments makes the original Windscoop, which lists for $45 and discounts for $33.

Made in China of nylon, reinforced where needed and double-stitched or zig-zagged, the Windscoop is advertised as being 30″ wide and 67″ tall, but that height measurement includes the triangular piece on top. It still intercepts a lot of air with a frontal area that measures 30″ x 50″. Thats more than 10 square feet of exposed sail.

In a prior PS test, with 5 knots of air over the deck, the Windscoop directed air below at between 8 and 12 knots.

The Windscoop is fairly easy to rig, hoisted with a single overhead line and held down in a hatch by a wooden dowel into which are screwed two brass eye hooks. The dowels length usually can be trimmed when youve settled on a rigging system. If done craftily, with just the right tension, the scoop can be induced to swing with the wind. Owners sometimes pad the dowel to reduce the clattering. The bottom of the Windscoop contains another batten to prevent the back edge from curling.

(Davis used to make a more complicated scoop called a Foresquare. It was clever…in theory. It had a four-element scoop with two dowels to position the flat top and supposedly was omni-directional, which would be helpful for boats stationary at a dock. Instead, it was just a lot of fabric. Davis gave it up. Also no longer made, because there are so many sizes of hatches, is the Hatch Scoop made by Creative Marine. A combination scoop and screen, it required custom fitting.)

Windscoops competition now is from the French firm, Plastimo, which calls its version the Ventilating Sail and West Marine, which offers two fabric devices-the Down-the-Hatch and the Breeze Booster.

Both the Plastimo and West Marines Down-the-Hatch are like the Windscoop in that each has a sewn-in batten at the top, are rigged on an overhead line and secured with the top tilted to windward with a piece of small stuff led to the forestay. The three have quite different methods of securing the bottom in the hatch.

The Plastimo The Plastimo version is made of what appears to be less substantial material. It has two grommets in tabs sewed to the bottom leading corners, which are supposed to fit over two plastic hooks attached with two screws (not furnished) somewhere on the hatch or overhead. If you wish to rig it in a different direction, additional hooks placed in other positions would be needed.

There is no bottom batten and the entire device does not take a good firm shape.

If you buy the Plastimo, the first step would be to buy a dowel and brass eye hooks to rig it like a Windscoop. There is not much you can do about the wretched sewing.

If you can get it rigged and working, the Plastimo, 26″ wide and 54″ tall, with a frontal area of 9.75 square feet, should move almost as much air as the Windscoop. But it doesn’t, mostly because the shoulders do not open in a good position and the bottom end flaps.

You also would need to make or buy a long cloth bag; the Plastimo comes in a clear plastic bag that might be intended for stowage but is clearly inferior to those furnished with the other scoops.

List price is $66.38.

Down-the-Hatch West Marines Down-the-Hatch is described in the West catalog as 4′ x 6′. Actually, its frontal area measures about 31″ x 50″, nearly identical to the Windscoop. It also has a lower batten to keep the bottom back edge straight.

The material and sewing (lock and chain stitching) is equal to the Windscoop.

But instead of using the Windscoops dowel, the four bottom corners of the Down-the-Hatch must be secured by long ties with adjustable cords with plastic snap hooks. If theres nothing to which the ties can be secured, West suggests that you install screw eyes or small eye straps.

Securing the bottom end of this Taiwan knockoff of the Chinese-made Windscoop is easier than with the Plastimo, but unless a loose dowel is used the Down-the-Hatch will not weathercock like the Windscoop.

The bag in which it stows is only 30″ long (compared with 48″ for the Windscoop), but thats only because theres no dowel.

The Down-the-Hatch sells for $30. Unless youre interested in saving $3, buy the Windscoop.

Breeze Booster Compared with the three long cowls described above, the Breeze Booster is quite different. Its something like a pup tent.

Slipped over a hatch (opened 90), it makes a hood shaped by flexible plastic inserts bent into shape by a pair of ties led below and secured to a wooden stick. For different types of hatches, the lower back edges width can be adjusted with metal snaps, which are properly made of stainless and brass.

The result is a nicely tensioned fabric cowl with its lower back corners held by the hatch and its forward face held open in a vertical plane by stiff plastic struts. The sewing is well-done.

This apparatus, which is not as complicated as it sounds, initially requires some patient tinkering. However, once set up for a given hatch (with the strings knotted and snaps right), it can be rigged quickly.

Although not as large as the others, the Breeze Boosters principal advantages are that it can be oriented in any direction, remains open in any breeze and requires no overhead support. It can, of course, come loose and tumble off the boat, so a lanyard is a good idea.

Most importantly, it collected and concentrated air a bit better even than the Windscoop. Though a bit smaller in its dimensions, we attributed its excellent performance to its wider, bowed opening and cleaner, curved shape.

Because its far more complicated to make and must have adjustments to fit different styles of hatches, its also more expensive. There are three sizes of the Breeze Booster available, costing from $57 to $70. There is a choice of six different colors. An insect screen is optional.

The Test Enough of this. Off to the boat, with a couple of anemometers. One instrument was the new, very sensitive Skymate anemometer (from Speedtech Instruments, 10413 Deerfoot, Great Falls, VA 22066, 800/760-0004); the other was an older Skywatch Elite, from the same source. The latter was ideal for the purpose because it has a max reading window.

Each air scoop was rigged carefully, per the instructions and tweaked where necessary.

The Breeze Booster is the easiest to rig. Takes but two or three seconds…after you get the hang of it. Of the three hang-it-on-a-halyard versions, the easiest is the Windscoop. The West Marine Down-the-Hatch and Plastimo require fussing about with ties. If one had small brass eyes in the proper places, both would be better but still not as easy as the Breeze Booster and Windscoop.

After each hood was rigged, the breeze across the deck was read and recorded frequently. A series of simultaneous readings from just below the hatch lip (at whatever position the wind seemed greatest) indicated how much the deck-level breeze was amplified by each device.

Averaged and rounded, these readings gave a fair indication of how well each scoop worked. The simple results are contained in the captions under each photo.

The Breeze Booster and Windscoop were best, with the West Down-the-Hatch third and the Plastimo a poor fourth.

The Bottom Line How do they compare overall?

Message to Plastimo: It shouldnt be that difficult to imitate Windscoop; West Marine did it fairly well.

Message to West Marine: The strings and hooks are okay, but a dowel seems better.

Message to Breeze Booster: Very nice contraption and it stows well.

Message to Davis: Your old Windscoop is a Best Buy but the Breeze Booster just passed you as the best fabric hatch vent.

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Intense video from aboard a French frigate shows the combat kill of a ballistic missile in the Red Sea

• A French warship intercepted at least three Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday.
• Intense footage shows the moment a surface-to-air missile launched and hit one of the threats.
• It marks the latest engagement between Western navies and the Houthis.

Newly released footage from a French frigate operating in the southern Red Sea shows the warship shooting down a Houthi ballistic missile on Thursday. 

The frigate, which is deployed to the region as part of the European Union security mission Operation Aspides, destroyed three ballistic missiles during the incident, marking one of the latest engagements between Western navies and the Iran-backed Houthis. 

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In the video, shared to social media by the French military, sailors can be seen working on the bridge. A surface-to-air missile is then fired from a launcher. A short time later, it intercepts a target in the air. 

EUNAVFOR ASPIDES 🇪🇺 Interception de 3 missiles balistiques en provenance du Yémen ciblant la position de la frégate 🇫🇷 et du porte-conteneurs qu'elle accompagnait. De Suez à Ormuz, notre engagement au profit de la liberté de navigation et la sûreté maritime se poursuit. https://t.co/bTfrFx24ee pic.twitter.com/gODY0YifZn — Armée française - Opérations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) March 21, 2024

France is one of several countries working alongside the US Navy to protect international shipping lanes from the Houthis, who have spent months relentlessly firing drones and missiles at vessels sailing off the coast of Yemen.  

Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, or CENTCOM, told lawmakers on Thursday that French forces destroyed two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles earlier in the day, likely referencing this incident, which at the time had yet to be confirmed by Paris. 

The Houthis started firing anti-ship ballistic missiles at the end of 2023, marking the first time that such weapons have been used in combat. The rebels have since fired these missiles regularly, recently using them to sink their first vessel and stage their first fatal attack — both occurred within the past few weeks.

Beyond anti-ship ballistic missiles, the Houthis have also launched anti-ship cruise missiles, one-way attack drones, and unmanned surface vehicles, or USVs, which are essentially drone boats packed with explosives.

While the Houthis have not managed to hit US or coalition warships , engagements between the two sides are happening on a near-daily basis.

Alongside the French action on Thursday, for example, German and American forces each destroyed a Houthi drone boat, Kurilla said during testimony to the House Armed Services Committee.  

US forces also routinely conduct preemptive strikes in Yemen, destroying Houthi missiles and drones before the rebels have a chance to launch them into the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden.

Meanwhile, the EU's Operation Aspides — which has now been active for more than a month — said on Wednesday that a French helicopter shot down a Houthi drone that posed a threat to commercial ships.

Watch: See the hectic flight deck of a US warship fighting Houthis in the Red Sea

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