Dorade Box

[Bruce Ebling]

I would like to construct several dorade boxes for my friends Crealock 34. I have been doing some searches for the design/construction of the boxes and have so far come up empty. Can anyone steer me towards a website/book/magazine article that would cover all aspect of the design and construction?
Thanks so Much!
Bruce Ebling

[formerlyknownasprince]

We put a couple of temporary dorade boxes on Grantala a couple of years back to get air in while we were doing the restorations.

We're about due to replace them, but I dont' reckon on using a plan. Just some nice shaped boxes with half lap joints.

Ian

[Bruce Ebling]

I'm no expert but I believe to do it correctly there are formulas to determine the right amount of air capacity in the box. There are also baffles inside to prevent any water from getting inside the boat. There must be more information available somewhere.
Bruce

[Rick Tyler]

Here is an article about dorade design and construction. I have no idea if the author knows what they are talking about, but it sure sounds convincing.

[formerlyknownasprince]

If you use a pipe to line the hole into the cabin, you don't need a baffle - the pipe becomes the baffle. All you are trying to achieve is separation of the water from the air into the cabin.

Ian

[Cosmo Lengro]

[Wiley Baggins]

Bruce,

There was, I thought, a cover (and presumably elsewhere in the book) illustration of a nice dorade vent with a lexan top to allow for light as well as ventilation in the "The Hinckley Guide to Yacht Care." Jim Skoog's "Cruising in Comfort" has illustrations of a similar unit as well as one that also serves as a small deck box.

[joejapan]

.
Bruce, I don't know if it's the kind that you're looking for, but there's a kit available from
Bertram31 .

They also give some tips and a dorade box drawing on their website as well.

CyberBridge Marine sells a more technical type of dorade box as a sailboat cowl and they're not as expensive as most.

Good luck on finding plans.

[Dave R]

You might also pick up a copy of Fred Bingham's Boat Joinery & Cabinetmaking Simplified. There's some information about makiing dorade boxes in there. The book is available from the WoodenBoat Store.

[paladin]

dorade boxes will move air in the cabin....you really need a better air exchange, as in some nicro solar vents with the actual air plumbed into the bilge, then fresh air will be pulled thru the cabin, into the bilge, and out of the boat....