Hatch Fan wins sailing innovation award

by Sail-World Cruising on 1 Feb 2013 A product which was made a new Product of the Week by Sail-World Cruising back in October has just won a 2013 Pittman Innovation Award. It is the Caframo Taku Hatch Fan.

While wind scoops work wonderfully in a breeze in an anchorage, and some of the better ones even work to the wind in a marina, if there's no wind and you don't go to air-conditioning, this hatch fan could be your answer.

The 12-volt Taku is designed to provide both powerful ventilation to remove hot, stale air from the cabin and quiet circulation to move air throughout. A unique locking suction cup mounting system allows the fan to be installed directly on hatch glass in seconds with no hole drilling or fasteners required. This means you can store it away when sailing and simply put it up when in a marina.

The pivoting fan head can be swiveled to allow the Taku to exhaust stale air out of the cabin or to draw fresh air in through the hatch. The fan head can also be swung down into the cabin, allowing a cooling breeze to be directed wherever it is needed.

In powerful Air Blast Exchange mode, the Taku will circulate air in or out of the cabin at a rate of over 500 cubic feet per minute (CFM). At the medium Comfort setting, the Taku can re-circulate fresh air in a 36’ boat eight times per hour – the optimum air volume change rate recommended by the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology.

Easy to use, push button controls operate all fan functions and the built-in LED cabin lamp. When not in use, the Taku can be folded up out of the way and locked into its yoke against the hatch glass.

Powered by an ultra-efficient, long-life, fully sealed, brushless motor that draws less than one amp at Comfort mode settings, the Taku has been specially-designed for the marine environment, with ball bearings, stainless steel shaft, UV- resistant plastic and EPDM suction cups.

For more information about the Taku Hatch Fan and other Caframo products, visit their www.caframo.com/marine!website.