

Background & Design Requirements
The client came to Design 1st wanting a high-powered marine hatch fan that would deliver fast, cool comfort to boaters. The fan needed to:
- Provide air flow to cool a cabin in under 30 seconds.
- Be low-powered and quiet.
- Be simple-to-use and easy-to-install.
Product Design Challenges
Implementing Design 1st’s proven process, the team was able to overcome several obstacles to:
- Develop an optimized blade design using Finite element flow analysis.
- Differentiate air flow and ensure the fan fit universally within a confining space
- Use a rotating collar for storage and air flow directionality control.


Product Results
Through creativity and technical understanding, the Design 1st team developed an award-winning product that:
- Won the Pittman Innovation award for customer satisfaction.
- Achieved rapid turnaround from concept to production in under 6 months.
- Succesfully provides air flow to cool a cabin in under 30 seconds, is low-powered, low-noise, simple to use, and easy to install.
Award-Winning boat fan that went from idea to fully manufactured in under 6 months
“Design 1st’s designers and engineers demonstrated the right creativity and technical understanding, managing the product design and testing process. The result is an award winning product the market has really embraced.”

Mike Tettenborn
Director of Engineering, Caframo Ltd.
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