Pete Verdon d wrote:

Rosalie B. wrote:

Our boat was made for the Caribbean and we sail on the East coast of
the US, so it is frequently hot, humid and airless

Don't have any wind scoops though.

No? Most of the boats I've sailed on in hot places have had one for the
fore-hatch, and they make a big difference down below if there's any
breeze at all. It's a small triangle of sailcloth, about three feet tall
and with the bottom edge long enough to go round three sides of the
hatch. There's a cord from the point which you tie to something above
the deck (often one of the jib sheets[1]) and a drawstring arrangement
at the bottom which fixes it around the hatch. You set it up facing into
the breeze, and it deflects air downwards through the hatch.

I remember seeing an X-shaped one recently which looked quite good as it
wouldn't need to be pointed into the wind.

Pete

[1] Assuming roller furling

We've never felt the need for wind scoops. If we are at anchor, the
boat usually points into the wind and the hatch popped up acts as a
wind scoop. I've seen some boats where the hatch can be hinged on
either side in case the wind or breeze isn't coming from the bow.

grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id1.html