Can I retro-fit an air dam?

[toastie22]

2007 Air Nautique 236 - didn’t have an air dam from new - it has a storage pocket on the left side of the walk-through, but an air dam will be much more useful - has anyone retrofitted one into these, and might it be possible to fit one, albeit with modifying the storage pocket to make it narrower or remove it.
my preference would be a fold-out one, rather than a slide in, if possible, but a slide-in might be simpler to retrofit?
thanks for any an all suggestions!

[toastie22]

added photos

[s_kelley2000]

I think you would have to seriously modify the vinyl by the storage pocket if you wanted to do the fold out door but I think the slide in one would be a relatively easy retrofit. Don't mind my crude arrow, but that is where the track for the slide in one goes on my 2012 230 that I believe was factory installed. I can get you better pics next time I am in my boat this week but looks it is wedged between the vinyl and where the console bumps out slightly. If you don't have enough room to squeeze the tracks in there, I bet you can put just it in front of the vinyl and just make the air dam slightly narrower to account for that. I am not sure if Nautique Parts sells those tracks or not but if not you can probably find some plastic or aluminum tracks you can cut to fit. Then you can get a piece of lexan or something like that to use as the air dam. It is a great feature and makes a big difference on cold days.

[toastie22]

Thanks Shawn, really appreciate the response - yes I agree, it would be a removal of that vinyl pocket and re-design and install a narrower width, or do without it altogether to fit a fold-out air dam, so the track system would definitely be easier. I will give that some thought. Would be great to get a bunch of additional photos of your track setup too please - on both sides of the walk-through - it really looks like your vinyl document pocket is the same as mine, so maybe I will be able to fit in a piece of track there.

[Ckowals1]

may be able to retrofit the rotating side mounted air dam if the width checks out, definitely with vinyl pad reshaping. I believe the difference on the port side of the walkthrough for that era 230/236 was that the vinyl took up the rest of the space that wasnt occupied by the air **** when “locked†in olace on the port side.

[toastie22]

may be able to retrofit the rotating side mounted air dam if the width checks out, definitely with vinyl pad reshaping. I believe the difference on the port side of the walkthrough for that era 230/236 was that the vinyl took up the rest of the space that wasnt occupied by the air **** when “locked†in olace on the port side.

Thanks Ckowals, yes I'm definitely interested in determining if it's do-able to have a fold-out air dam. I have no problem removing all of the vinyl pocket in exchange for gaining the air dam, but probably would just put a narrower custom vinyl panel there to avoid people snagging on the air dam. It'll all come down to cost and difficulty in the end.

If anyone else has a similar era 230 / 236 with an air dam, I'd be very keen to see photos of that, so I can understand what the scope of modification would be - also to learn how the air dam folding sections stay latched back when not in use, and how it stays in place when it is in use - does the hinge in the middle lock so the wind doesn't push the panel back & fold, and does the air dam lock in on the starboard side or just sit there.

[Ckowals1]

Ive found some pictures from my â08 230 before i sold it - attached below. Looks like vinyl pad modifications on the starboard side may be needed if there is no slot after the vinyl for the door to lock into.

Door hinges in half to enable it to go from stored to in use position without scraping vinyl upon closing in the in use condition, there is a “lock” that rotates up or down on the door to allow it to fold in half or stay straight. There is a spring loaded slide pin to keep the door locked in either position.

FYI, found the pocket door in nautiqueparts for $275.
https://nautiqueparts.com/air-dam-do...230-2007-2008/

Looks like a different (more expensive style) was used from 2009-2012

[MN Ryan]

Interesting. That seems like a fairly intense modification. I just have a snap-in vinyl one that the previous owner had an upholstery shop whip up.

[toastie22]

Ive found some pictures from my â08 230 before i sold it - attached below. Looks like vinyl pad modifications on the starboard side may be needed if there is no slot after the vinyl for the door to lock into.

Door hinges in half to enable it to go from stored to in use position without scraping vinyl upon closing in the in use condition, there is a “lock” that rotates up or down on the door to allow it to fold in half or stay straight. There is a spring loaded slide pin to keep the door locked in either position.

FYI, found the pocket door in nautiqueparts for $275.
https://nautiqueparts.com/air-dam-do...230-2007-2008/

Looks like a different (more expensive style) was used from 2009-2012

Thanks so much for the photos and info Ckowals, very, very informative., and yes MN Ryan, it could well be a fair bit of work, but I'll definitely consider it.

[nhbouch]

Interesting. That seems like a fairly intense modification. I just have a snap-in vinyl one that the previous owner had an upholstery shop whip up.

+1 for MNRyan - 8 snaps on canvas or vinyl to block the wind - way less expensive, same outcome and takes up very little space when you need to store it.

[s_kelley2000]

I will be in my boat soon to winterize it so I will grab a bunch of pics of the slide in style air dam for you. If you want more pics of the other style door, NautiquePete has one in his 230 which is also a 2008 if I remember correctly so perhaps he can help out as well.

[toastie22]

I will be in my boat soon to winterize it so I will grab a bunch of pics of the slide in style air dam for you. If you want more pics of the other style door, NautiquePete has one in his 230 which is also a 2008 if I remember correctly so perhaps he can help out as well.

fantastic, thanks Shawn - that would be great to get those pics.