Station Wagon effect

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king5899

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I read the article/video on the recent deaths due to CO by a generator, but was wondering about the station wagon effect. I have a cabin cruiser and small children. Is it safe to have my wife and a child in the cabin with the door open if you also have the deck hatch open while you are cruising?

I was assuming if you are moving the air would be forced into the cabin through the open hatch and out the door. Would anyone more knowledgable have more info on this?.
 
if you leave a forward hatch open to bring fresh air in , it will be fine. also, leave either windshiedl vents or a forward enclosure panel open. the idea is to keep positive pressure in teh cockpit/helm/cabin.
 
Awhile back I'm cruising back across the lake with a bunch of my buddies....mid-lake I hear an alarm going off....hmmmmm....what's that???? CO detector in the salon...one of my buddies left the salon door open...got the station door effect....no hatches were open (heater was running).
 
If you leave the forward hatches open it breaks the station wagon effect.
 
I have set off my Co detector with all hatches open and the right tailwind. Be careful.
 
I have a flybridge convertible style boat with a flag/pole flag at the stern. While under way at cruise speed the flag is usually flying in towards the cockpit and sliders to the cabin, sure evidence of the station wagon effect. I have been making sure the cabin slider is closed while under way, even if noone is in the cabin. My question is there is also quite a bit of spray mist that wraps into the cockpit area and I am wondering what can be done to eliminate that. It makes it quite "wet" to ride there. Would opening the forward hatch and the slider door eliminate both the station wagon effect and the mist spray.
 
Lots of conflicting ideas. I got a notice a few years back from my boat manufacturer regarding the station wagon effect. They warned against running with the forward deck hatch opene as they felt it increased the station wagon effect. Bottom line is to have a functioning CO detector and believe it when it goes off.
 
Greg, does you hatch have hinges forward, mine is hinged aft and becomes a scoop when open, forcing air into the boat while running. The hatch open breaking the station wagon effect only applies when underway moving fasten than the wind.
 
quote:
Originally posted by New2Me34C

My question is there is also quite a bit of spray mist that wraps into the cockpit area and I am wondering what can be done to eliminate that. It makes it quite "wet" to ride there. Would opening the forward hatch and the slider door eliminate both the station wagon effect and the mist spray.
Click to expand...

I think it is best to experiment regarding the wet ride back there. If water spray can get in, obviously CO can get in too.
 
Noi, opens as yours does. They were pretty adamant about not running with it open. They even gave some drawins showing fumes being sucked in the hatch.
 
My Tiara sucks CO big time with the windshield vent open. Close it down at curise and the smell goes away.
 
Our Co detector has gone off a few times in different conditions , The small amount we paid for it was money well spent, Ed
 
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