SANTE 230 Walk Thru Air Dam Question??????

[jaybird]

My 2008 230 does not have the hinged air dam at the bow walk thru, but it has a heater. This seems like a mistake considering how difficult it is to hold heat with the walk thru open.
I am considering installing the air darn and form the photos I have seen it looks like when installed and open it blocks access to the trash bin, is this correct? If so I’m considering installing slip on hinges so I could just remove and stow it away during warm summer months.

[Nautiquehunter]

RE: SANTE 230 Walk Thru Air Dam Question??????

They also make a air dam out of fabric. It usages snaps to attach below the windshield and to the sides of the walk thru. It works the same and is easier to store when not in use. My 210 came with this option.

[jaybird]

Air Dam

Yes, my 226 had the snap in but I was considering the ridgid folding air dam on my 230.

Thanks

[dizzyj]

the air dam is one of the nicest features on that boat. i use mine all the time. Im actually glad my 236 doesn't have a trash can there.

[robertsmcfarland]

Dizzy, Just curious why you are are glad you don't have a trash can? if you use the air dam most of the time wouldn't that keep the door from interfering with the trash can door? Just wondering, for future boat options.

[dizzyj]

Dizzy, Just curious why you are are glad you don't have a trash can? if you use the air dam most of the time wouldn't that keep the door from interfering with the trash can door? Just wondering, for future boat options.

I would say that the time Im not using the air dam is when I would use the trashcan. i.e., when its warm out, and my crew is drinking beer, I need the trashcan and not the dam. In addition, the trash can is not in a really convenient place and takes up room needed for subs .

All in all, if it was between the air dam and the trashcan, i would take the air dam no questions asked.

The 220 had the best trashcan ever.

[robertsmcfarland]

I agree with the 220, had one and the trashcan was very assessable at all times.

[NautiDave07]

I have the trash can and it has been removed since day one. Subs are there instead. Air dam is great except if you need the trash can or if you want to close it while the windshield is closed underway. You have to stop and open the windshield then the air dam and then close windshield again. Seems like I always forget to close the air dam before I take off and already have windshield closed. It would have made sense to have the doors hinged from the other side of the walk thru so that the access door in the storage area would never be blocked.

[tdc_worm]

I would sum up the 230 air dam like this:

Good idea, bad application.

---it rattles
---it blocks the trash can
---it allows seepage of air

The best solution on a boat that I have owned is a complete bow tonneau (on my 230 and on my previous Calabria). allows storage in the bow, completely blocks the wind, and allows a place for warm air to pool. The second best solution is a snap in walkway block (on my 220)

Because my 230 has a snap on bow tonneau and a seperate snap on cockpit cover (my first time w/ this setup and i will never own a regular cover again) i was able to completely remove that noise maker of an air dam. my tonneau easily stows beneath my bow filler cushion and can be snapped on in less than 30 seconds.

Agreed w/ others on the trash can. My solution was to buy a slightly smaller than stock trash can w/ lid at the container store. It is positioned behind the drivers seat just like in my 220...I only have to give up 1 or 2 clicks of leg room. That allowed me to get all of the space back under the observer's dash...so I pulled out the trash can door trim ring, built a custom bock for a Kicker L7 12, had it rhino lined, and pointed it through the hole left by the trash can door.

[tadelfio]

I have one of the snap in air dam as well and absolutely love it. It works great and folds down to a small compact size when not needed.

[Chattwake]

You can have both the trash can and the air dam door. I had the air dam on my 08. I have the trash can on my '09. I'm installing an air dam soon on my '09.

[djbartholomew]

Sounds like jaybird has already had a snap in in his 226, and I know that the 230 has a lot of storeage, but being able to just role up a vinal snap in and stick it anywhere is alot easyer than haveing to walk to the back to get it. My wife and I made the one for our tige' and saved some money.

[Laptom]

I had the snap in my previous boats, but in my opinion nothing is as easy as the air dam door in the 230!
I also have the trashcan and it works great together.
When the door is closed (nomatter in what possition the window is, like someone said before) you can access the trashcan. When the door is open and you need to access the trashcan, you simply unhook the door from the side and fold it half and open the trashcan. It takes an extra second, no more and not a single problem for me. The position of the trashcan is ideal in my opinion. It doesn't take extra room like the 220 trashcan and nobody needs to get up like in other boats, and it is easy accesseble from the rear as the front.

[NautiDave07]

You can get to the trash can when the door is closed no matter what position the windshield is in. What I was saying is that the way the door is designed the windshield must be open to get the door to close or open. Meaning I have a tendency to take off with the windshield closed and then realize I didn't shut the door so I have to stop open the windshield the open or shut the door. Not a big deal. My wish was that the door hinge from the drivers side so my trash can was always available no matter what position the door was in.

[ffmedic74]

Could someone post a few pics of their air dams cloth and rigid versions. Thanks!