Recommend a fan for the helm

S

SWF340

New Member
Dec 26, 2013
129
Florida
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2005
Engines
Horizon 8.1S
There are only two things about the 340 that I wish were different...I wish the door to the head opened wider, and I wish the helm were shaded more. Okay, I realize I wish there were more room in the engine room too, but on the 340...who doesn't? Well, probably the guy who doesn't wish the door to the head opened wider. :thumbsup:

Since there's wiring running through the radar arch, I've been thinking of having fans installed on both sides of the arch. Another less-permanent thought is something more portable powered by the DC outlet at the helm.

What are your ideas?
 
I don't know if this will help you at all but we have been through a comprehensive search for a 12vdc fan that will move enough air to create a slight breeze in the cabins of our small boats. We've spent muchos dollars on supposedly "high end" products from expensive chandlers that have ended up in the garbage can because they have either rattled themselves to pieces or they have been so loud that you can't hear yourself think, let alone read a book while they're running. We finally stumbled on a quality product that is reasonably inexpensive and is available at most commercial transport dealerships throughout North America. It's a small steel fan that the truckers mount on their dashboards or overhead consoles to circulate the air inside the rig. They are well made, quiet, and inexpensive (I think we paid around 20 bucks CDN each where I work). Drop by a local "Freightliner", "International", "Kenworth", or "whatever" dealer and they should have one on display, usually in behind the parts counters. They're chrome, have a very stable mounting base, and about a 8-10" fan cage. We've got two of them on our boat now and I use them regularly at work in the used sales restoration department. I leave them on for days at a time, unattended, to circulate air off chemical deodorizing trays. If oyu think these may work for you and you can't find one, PM me and I'll send you a pic and some mfg info when I get to work on Tuesday. Good luck.
 
I have an endless breeze box fan and in my opinion is one of the best 12v fans on the market.
 
I'd recommend you not pay $70 for a Hella Turbo fan. Very overrated. Could of bought 3 gallons of Captain Morgans instead.
 
Chris Nowell, do over, and hifirush...that's the style I'm considering if I mount them on the radar arch. Thanks for the link and the rec.

Magstang the reviews for the endless breeze box fan on Amazon are outstanding! I'll definitely have to give it consideration. I can see using that in the cockpit. I'm at a loss as to where I'd put it at the helm.

searay40dad...Green Turtle Bay marina is awesome!!
 
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I have two of these and am really surprised how well they work, and how much air they move. In the cabin I suction one to the galley counter and point toward the forward berth, and one to the braker cabinet door for the aft berth. I have also suctioned them to the underside of the radar arch, or to the window next to the helm. Under the arch works great if you get a 12v splitter, and 12v extention cord to reach down to the 12v outlet below the helm with the wire tucked out of the way.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/caframo--two-speed-compact-12v-dc-fan--P012_361_002_511
 
That chrome one... do you think that will survive a marine environment?

I've had an Endless Breeze for years and it absolutely great, but of course it's not meant for your original purpose as it's too big. I once ordered (I can easily send things back through my suppliers) about a dozen fans, in search of a low-amp draw, quiet fan that moved a lot of air. The Endless Breeze was it. I also have a small, white, cageless (rubber blades) fan that uses a suction cup (came with a permanent mount) and that one is surprisingly good. I've used that one for quite a while, too. My 10-year old son loves to stick his tongue into the blades... My 7-year old daughter just looks at him in wonderment... and it's not a "wow, you're so cool" wonderment... quite the opposite!

Jim... nice job! We were typing at the same time, but you saved me from trying to find a link. That's the one my son likes.
 
Dennis, you bring up a valid point, chrome in a marine environment could be problematic. However, they will take the abuse of a commercial truck, by that I mean a constant beating, but they would rust over time even in a cab. Granted, these trucks were used by many different people, used 24/7 and were in all kinds of weather. Just like a boat. It will rust.......

Matt
 
You're right, Matt, from a vibration standpoint I'm sure they're fine. It's the corrosion issue I was curious about. Keep in mind that a 24/7 water environment, where there's more humidity in the air is quite different than on land with occasional rain (and a cab that can be air conditioned, which lowers humidty). Add into the mix that the OP is Florida, which is not only a high-humidty area, but also a salt-water humidity area, and it makes for a very rough environment. Not just for the chrome, but also the electrical connections.
 
JimFromMD said:
I have two of these and am really surprised how well they work, and how much air they move. In the cabin I suction one to the galley counter and point toward the forward berth, and one to the braker cabinet door for the aft berth. I have also suctioned them to the underside of the radar arch, or to the window next to the helm. Under the arch works great if you get a 12v splitter, and 12v extention cord to reach down to the 12v outlet below the helm with the wire tucked out of the way.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/caframo--two-speed-compact-12v-dc-fan--P012_361_002_511
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Thanks Jim. Are you satisfied overall with the performance of the suction cup bases? We tend to be near idle speed cruisers anyway so shake, rattle and roll isn't likely to play a part.

Besides Lazy Daze, that fan has been recommended to me by others, yet until your post I didn't realize it came with a suction cup base. That sort of portability for the helm and cockpit area seems very useful. I like the low amp draw, too. Point taken about the splitter, extension, and tucking wire out of the way. I probably get obsessive about keeping things neat but boats can quickly get messy and cluttered without attention to organization and order. I put that burden on myself and not my passengers/guests, although my wife, a nurse, is very much the same. It just feels better aboard when it's tidy.

Matt et al that's a great point about rust.

Thanks guys!
 
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It might be more hassle than it's worth, but you could install new 12V outlets where you need them (they come in white, too). Sort of a 'point of use' outlet. If you have inspection plates in your tower, that's a great place to install them since if you ever wanted to get rid of the outlets, you're just getting a new plate (cheap).
 
SWF340 said:
Thanks Jim. Are you satisfied overall with the performance of the suction cup bases? We tend to be near idle speed cruisers anyway so shake, rattle and roll isn't likely to play a part.

Besides Lazy Daze, that fan has been recommended to me by others, yet until your post I didn't realize it came with a suction cup base. That sort of portability for the helm and cockpit area seems very useful. I like the low amp draw, too. Point taken about the splitter, extension, and tucking wire out of the way. I probably get obsessive about keeping things neat but boats can quickly get messy and cluttered without attention to organization and order. I put that burden on myself and not my passengers/guests, although my wife, a nurse, is very much the same. It just feels better aboard when it's tidy.

Matt et al that's a great point about rust.

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

Overall I'm pleased with their suction capabilities. Obviously its harder to suction to a curved surface, but it is possible. Also you sometimes have to wipe and wet the suction cup to be sure its clean, and also the flat non-porous surface you are suctioning onto. Only once have I had one pop loose while operating, and that was in a non-horizontal position. Luckily it was on low speed and I noticed the slight motor heat smell really quickly. That fan still works, but it was a good lesson, and I try to keep them to flat surfaces unless within sight.

I'm pretty sure you can take the suction cup base off if you decide to fix-mount it somewhere too. Drilling holes is traumatic for me, so suction was perfect!
 
Lazy Daze said:
You're right, Matt, from a vibration standpoint I'm sure they're fine. It's the corrosion issue I was curious about. Keep in mind that a 24/7 water environment, where there's more humidity in the air is quite different than on land with occasional rain (and a cab that can be air conditioned, which lowers humidty). Add into the mix that the OP is Florida, which is not only a high-humidty area, but also a salt-water humidity area, and it makes for a very rough environment. Not just for the chrome, but also the electrical connections.
Click to expand...

Dennis, you are absolutely right, much different environment. The humidity would probably kill it......

Matt
 
JimFromMD said:
Overall I'm pleased with their suction capabilities. Obviously its harder to suction to a curved surface, but it is possible. Also you sometimes have to wipe and wet the suction cup to be sure its clean, and also the flat non-porous surface you are suctioning onto. Only once have I had one pop loose while operating, and that was in a non-horizontal position. Luckily it was on low speed and I noticed the slight motor heat smell really quickly. That fan still works, but it was a good lesson, and I try to keep them to flat surfaces unless within sight.

I'm pretty sure you can take the suction cup base off if you decide to fix-mount it somewhere too. Drilling holes is traumatic for me, so suction was perfect!
Click to expand...
Amen! Although I've done it a few times and I still don't feel comfortable.

I'm thinking place one right behind the steering wheel on that flat section, and then for my wife put one just forward of the grabrail on the port console. I wonder if it would fit into one of the port console cupholders and then suction to the surface without inhibiting the fan blades.

Anyway, thanks Jim. I like the portability. Some of the recent reviews at WM aren't very good. I'll see if there are more reviews at Amazon.It seems there are some questions about QC with the newest model.

Thanks again!
 
I wanted to give a short review of the fan model I wen
t with, it's the Caframo two-speed 12v fan with suction cup base.

I started the thread because in SWF it gets blazing hot and depending on the direction I'm motoring and the position of the sun the relatively tiny bimini provides inadequate shade. Even when I'm in the shade the helm dash usually isn't and the gauges take some terrible exposure. A towel handles that problem.

The fan performed well this past weekend. I was very pleased with all aspects. Both speeds put out a lot of air, the fan is quiet, and it can be adjusted to suit most any angle. The suction base performed well, never lost seal, and we had a typical 2' gulf chop going. The length of the power cord was excellent. I bought two of them so my wife could enjoy one on her side of the boat. We used a 12V dual receptacle and both fans operated without any problems.

I think I paid about $50 for each one and they're worth it.
 
I bought Caframo 3 speed and not happy. It initially felt ok, but the more I used it the more I realized that it's worthless.
 
+1 on the West Marine open blade fan. No issues 2 seasons. gets the job done.
 
Alex F said:
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Yeah but your boat is sure sweet Alex! My wife and I have been looking a lot and we keep coming back to the 420/44/ Sedan Bridge just like yours. White hull, screened canvas...nice.
 
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