I took the side panels off my project 32' cleaned them for painting and took them to the auto guys that painted my flybridge. The engine air intake was exposed. It was a rectangular hole in the cabin side with a piece of screen glued over it. The hole looked like it was a little smaller that a sheet of notebook paper. One side was 1/2 clogged with spider webs, dirt and leaves. The other was almost completely plugged. I suggest that it wouldnt hurt to make up some kind of dusting pole slender enough to fit into the side scoops to keep this intake clear. Maybe staple a terry cloth rag to a wooden slat. I'll measure how far the hole is from the front of the scoop panel and post it when I get back to the boat.

Thanks! I'll be looking into this. Not only is that a safety issue--the ventilating air comes in there--it might affect gas mileage.

Jeff

Here is a picture with the cowl off of my 1988 32'. As you can see the hole is directly across from the rail support and starts on the front edge of the window post. A rain washed some dirt off. But it is still plugged up. Also dead bugs check in.. but they never check out.

Karl,
The only reason I took the cowl off was because the painters helping me won't come to the boat. I would suggest always taking the heavy trim extrusion than has the stripes and runs down the center of the main stamping. It is attached with about four screws. It is much easier to paint on the stripes working waist high on some saw horses. The rest is tougher.

It seems that someone from the old fourm had the idea of putting a air duct hose from the side vent to the carb for better engine performance. Kinda like coul induction. Remember Jeff? Wonder how that worked? Would not be a good idea for salt water. Wayne

Correct! Though water is ten times more compressible than steel, it wouldn't matter in this case.

Jeff