Adding ventilation and lighting to the washboards

What is the issue?

When the washboards are in place they shut off the companionway ventilation. They also cut off any view that crew below decks have of their colleagues in the cockpit.

Why address this?

Lack of ventilation can be uncomfortable and make the boat go very stale below decks. Lack of light and the ability to glimpse crew in the cockpit can make crew anxious below decks particularly so in heavy weather sailing.

How to address this?

Cut a window in the topmost washboard and insert a vented window. Protect the aperture from rain and water splashes by adding two strips of Perspex in the stepped fashion.

Once these strips of Perspex have been added, the topmost washboard will no longer stow flat.

Adding light and ventilation to the topmost washboard
Photo: Tony Gibson

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession.

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