We're off to the Med in the spring and it seems as if a wind scoop is an essential of life.

Looking on the net, it seems that pretty much the only manufacturer out there is Plastimo with two models - uni and omnidirectional. Force 4 seem to rebadge the Plastimo. Unfortunately, all the reviews I can find seem to say that both are too flimsy and that the omnidirectional one catches such a pathetic amount of air that it is essentially useless.

I have come across an omnidirectional scoop from a company in the Canaries called Sunshine Marine. They call it the Four Winds Winscoop.

It is considerably more expensive than the Plastimo ones - which isn't too much of a problem if it really works and outlasts the first force 4 to hit it. Of course they say that it is "The best winscoop of all" but then they would wouldn't they.

Does anyone out there have any experience of the Sunshine Marine one - or for that matter of any other scoops. What works, what doesn't and what are the pratt-falls I should look out for?

I wrote something about this not long ago on another thread about ventilation. If anchored, the boat will lie bows to wind, when a uni-directional windscoop will work extremely well. In a marina or port the wind may come from any direction, when it is tempting to believe that an omni-directional scoop will be useful. My experience is that this is not so because the scoop needs to be sited in a high pressure area relative to a low-pressure one.

Using this as an example, if the wind is coming from dead astern, the cockpit will be at higher pressure than the forecabin. Your omnidirectional scoop will not direct air into the forecabin because this is now a low-pressure area and air will be coming out of the hatch. With wind on the beam it depends on the boat layout, but getting air below can be difficult.

In no circumstances can I see any benefit in an omnidirectional scoop. You are far better off being able to direct your uni-directional one at the hatch that gives the best flow. I don't really understand how a windscoop needs to be very strong. Any light cloth will be sufficient. Here's mine, its slightly heavier than spinnaker cloth.  

Many thanks Vyv,

The insight on pressure difference is really valuable - I hadn't thought of it that way! Looks like you've saved me a pile of money!

As far as strength goes, I'm thinking of a Bora or Meltemi coming up suddenly overnight and shredding a very light scoop before I can get up on deck to rescue it. Do you feel I'm being over cautious here?

Your's obviously isn't a Plastimo. If it's a bit heavier than Spinnaker cloth - I guess  it should stand up to a force 6 gust or so which should enough unless we're very unlucky . Did you make it / have it made or is it a commercially available product?

Hi Dave,

Our windscoop is quite elderly, you can just about make out a Sunsail logo on it. It was dumped by them many years ago and rescued from the skip by my son.

We see many commercial scoops on boats in Greece, I don't think the likelihood of them blowing out in a gust is very high. I have a tent with a flysheet that's made of ripstop nylon, same as spinnakers. It has survived Force 6 winds many times although it is far bigger than a windscoop.

Vyv

Many thanks again Vyv,

Sounds like cheap and cheerful will be the order of the day. If it ends up failing, we can then fix and/or buy again in a mediterranean country where they understand what is needed.