How Do We Cool Our Engine Room

[Jdornick]

Hi All,
We are spending our first summer docked in Mexico for hurricane season and I’m wondering how boaters down here are keeping their engine rooms cool? We have central air for the rest of the boat so that’s not a problem but the engine room is super hot (92-99 degrees) and humid. So far I’ve been running a dehumidifier in there but that’s not sustainable because it needs to be emptied every few hours. When we’ve left the boat we’ve turned a fan on in there but that just blows the hot air around. Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[twistedtree]

Do you have any way to close off the intake and exhaust vents? Some boats have dampers, but typically only bigger boats. Without closing off the space, you will never be able to control the humidity, or the temp for that mater.

 

[O C Diver]

If the purpose is to dehumidify it, run a drain hose from the dehumidifier to the shower sump if it has a float switch to run the drain pump.

Ted

 

[kchace]

Air conditioning or dehumidifying the ER is very difficult since it is purposely well ventilated to the outside. Probably the best you can do is install an exhaust blower or 2 that blow air out of one of the engine room vents thus pulling fresh outside air in through the other. Still, you’re limited to the temp of the outside air. In a hot climate like Mexico I think anything under 90 in the ER is probably pretty good.

Ken

 

[psneeld]

Are you concerned for the equipment or too hot to work down there?

 

[The Brockerts]

We are in Corpus Christi, Texas, 90-105 degrees for 4-5 months. We have insulated covers for the intake and exhaust vents. They work good. Now the engine doesn't stay cold like the rest of the boat, but it's cool enough to go down below and do maintenance etc.

The Brockerts

 

[Jdornick]

Are you concerned for the equipment or too hot to work down there?

Both.

 

[psneeld]

Both.

I wouldn't worry about equipment if the temps stay below 110 or so.... as far as working down there.....I found a portable fan helps if you can keep it blowing on you....that's in south Florida in the summer with high humidity too.

Just reread your OP....92 degrees would be great if I could have seen that most of the time.

 

[Choices]

Before I work in the engine room I get the salon really cold. Then open the hatch and leave the A/C running. As long as it is not condensing on equipment it's ok.

 

[Comodave]

I never thought that 99 degrees was that hot for an engine room, unless you are talking about when it is shutdown.

 

[CamoPirate]

If your boat already has damper on the intakes than just Install a AC unit in the engine room.

 

[Simi 60]

I wouldn't worry about equipment if the temps stay below 110 or so.... as far as working down there.....I found a portable fan helps if you can keep it blowing on you....that's in south Florida in the summer with high humidity too.

Just reread your OP....92 degrees would be great if I could have seen that most of the time.

Works for us as well

 

[Delta Riverat]

I turn on the blowers. Makes a good breeze. Never going below ambient but the breeze sure helps.

 

[Jdornick]

I never thought that 99 degrees was that hot for an engine room, unless you are talking about when it is shutdown.

Yes while at the dock.

 

[Comodave]

In SD what is causing the engine room to heat up that much without running the boat? We kept a boat in SD for many years and the engine room was always comfortable unless we had run the boat.

 

[Mako]

I just covered the air intake louvers (not important to insulate them) then opened my watertight door into the galley and ran a fan to blow conditioned air into the ER. Worked well summer and winter both.

 

[Jdornick]

In SD what is causing the engine room to heat up that much without running the boat? We kept a boat in SD for many years and the engine room was always comfortable unless we had run the boat.

SD is our home port. We are summering in puerto Vallarta, Mexico where the humidity is 80%, temps in high 80s and feels like temp over 100 daily.