solar power vent

[coolchange]

I plan to put this on before winter...to help keep air flowing and hopefully the "funkyness" of a closed boat somewhat at bay but I am wondering what the pros and cons are of the various locations I have seen these in.

It seems putting it through one of the cabin windows is popular..how do you cut the hole?...fine blade with tape over the blade path is what I am thinkin but never made this type of cut in this material.

Seems like through the cabin roof would get in the way...maybe the forward hatch?

What about the sliding hatch?

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated.

[mastreb]

I don't have any real wisdom for you since I'm also just in the consideration phase of this and also because I have an , but I thought I'd put my thoughts out there as well to see what wisdom comes back for my model.

I know that if the vent isn't reasonably horizontal, electrical production will be cut down dramatically--however, a fan doesn't actually have to spin very fast to ventilate the cabin of a Mac, so that might not matter. If anyone has done a non-horizontal installation I'd like to hear how well it worked.

I was considering the forward deck hatch myself, because it can be replaced if I ever decided to remove the vent. However, it would be constantly beat on by the gin pole that I usually leave attached.

I think I'm settled on the window above the head because it too can be replaced whole if I change my mind about the location and because the head is often a source of "funkyness". I don't think it'll take more than one to keep a mac completely ventilated.

[restless]

i love the theory of these, until I had to jam it to stop it squeaking all day on a friends boat!
have heard it is a common issue.

[mdeane]

I installed mine in the forward hatch and it has been working well for the past three years (see my Mac mods). Air quality was greatly improved even with only one unit. If I were to install a second unit I would seriously consider locating it in the sliding hatch. Some have installed theirs through the deck window over the head. I did not see that as a good location because folks would be banging there head on it. Mounting in a side window could limit solar charging time when the unit is not facing the sun. There is the possibility of damaging the unit when moving around on the front deck while rigging. If you pay attention and take care while up there it's not a problem.

[vizwhiz]

I am assuming this is always about pulling air OUT of the cabin, not blowing air in... So is there any thought to the limited holes available for entry of air? Would it be worth adding a small louvered vent in a "strategic" place to allow more air to enter and "sweep" the boat, perhaps back near the rear berth somewhere? Just wondering...we'll be leaving our boat in a marina mast-up, and this idea is something we've been kicking around for once we get it there.

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Mine esd installed in the port skylight (26M) by the previous owners. It seems to work well there.

[Crikey]

Also considering adding venting capability, but I'm similarly unclear as to the best location and type. I'm leaning towards two possibilities: sliding hatch because you don't really walk on this area a whole lot - and it's the highest part of the cabin structure (hottest air extraction).
Rear mount push through into cabin space - intake possibly in the engine well side wall. The forward deck area, in my opinion, doesn't need an additional obstacle to interfere with sometimes important access freedom or pose an injury or damage hazard.
While the solar type fan probably will do the job in a non optimum mounting location I tend to think a bus connected fan, switchable (programmable?) and operating off a prior installed solar panel/main battery installation gives one the capability of moving air through the boat at anchor, on a hot still night, for extended periods. I'll have to check further, but a straight fan/blower minus the photocell goodies might be a quieter and better engineered product.

Ross

[Tomfoolery]

Just some random thoughts on the subject.

Putting a combo solar/battery vent in the forward hatch of my would probably be in my way, as I like to sit on it while dropping and weighing the anchor. I suspect green water over the bow may be tough to keep out, too.

Putting it on my sliding hatch (where the POs put it) doesn't work very well with my dodger, which blocks direct sunlight. Forward of the slider would be great, but that's where the slider goes, so that won't work.

Either side of center, aft of the mast, is precious walking space. This boat just doesn't have much of it, and I really don't want to clog it up with a vent of any kind.

My last boat had an opening port in the cockpit, into the stern berth. That actually worked well, and I got lucky when I found a louvered insert for it at a clearance table when the local West Marine store closed, as I didn't even know they were made. With the bimini up, I could leave the port open all season, and any rain that was driven into the space was effectively repelled by the smoked plastic louvers (internal rain shield, as Beckson calls them). Seems to me that it didn't actually stick out into the foot space, so that may be an option for my present boat, though I can't remember what it looks like in the back well enough to know if there's room. Getting swamped over the stern would let in water unless it was closed and locked, of course. http://www.beckson.com/irs.html

A louver cut into the companionway hatch board would also provide passive ventilation. The OEM hatch board is a big, one-piece jobby, which is already pretty clumsy, so a 2- or 3-piece set (my old boat had 4 sections, one of which I put a louver into) that could be stored in a holder on the head door just inside the companionway would be nice. Certainly easy enough to make, though smoked Lexan isn't cheap. Save the original for winter storage.

Up front, I just don't know what to do other than putting the motorized vent just forward of the mast. My feet like to be there, so that's not great, but may be doable.

I'll probably do nothing with motorized vents, as that's about the only thing that won't let in water, get in the way, or get smashed by my 220 lb tuchus sitting on it.

[gyroplanes]

I recently installed a solar / battery SS vent in my

I pondered the location for months and wound up selecting a locaton just abeam the mast on the port side (I'll try to load some pictures)

I have no regrets. It was very scary to drill a hole in the deck, so I measured 3 times and cut once. I located the vent right over the "stiffener" built in the liner.

I must say that I had a Nicro SS solar / battery vent in my old M25 and it ran non-stop for years (day & night). When it finally quit, I replaced the rechargeable battery with one from Ace Hardware and it soldiered on until I sold the boat, I was very pleased. Around 10 years of use.

Having said that, my new Nicro SS vent is larger than the first, but is of an entirely different design. It seems to be much more cheaply made and doesn't seem to move air like the old one. It is fairly quiet and now features a button to shut off the fan (the old one didn't). I think the new one was made in China.

I see a lot of you fear bumping into the inner part of the vent. The lower tube section is trimmable in length and mine protudes very little into the cabin.

[mastreb]

A few important points have been brought up here:
(1) These things fail
(2) You won't be able to get exactly the same model 10 years later when you need to replace it.

Considering the issue with headroom in the head, I think I'm settled on the port-side skylight as being the best for my since the Lexan can be easily replaced if the hole size needs to be smaller in future installs, which would be a total PIA with a through-deck hole. I shouldn't be stepping there anyway. Putting it on the sliding hatch would draw air in through the gap between it and the companionway hatch and vent it rather than pulling air through most of the boat it would seem to me.

[coolchange]

So, thanks for the discussion...I am leaning toward the "window" on either side..I guess I should consider what I don't care about getting wet in the way off chance that I dip that deeply into a wave...maybe the head with a louver somewhere to let cabin air flow through or over galley...

Any thoughts on cutting the hole? (without risk of cracking or otherwise tearing up the "lexan" or acrylic)

[ronacarme]

We mounted a 3" Nicro day/night solar vent in the center of our X's forehatch several years ago. Works fine. Very quiet. However, the mast raising line lightly rubs on it. Tho with no harm has been done, I suggest instead mounting enuf off-center to give a little clearance for the mast raising line.
Ron

[Bill McClure]

I just mounted a 3' Nicro Day/Night plus in the head portlight of my '98 X to vent the composting toilet. It wasn't hard to drill the Lexan. The vent requires an odd size hole saw, 3 3/4" if I remember correctly, that I paid $20 for off the shelf but that can be found for $10 online. I used a variable speed portable drill and cut the hole slowly. The holes for the securing nuts and bolts were also easy with a sharp drill. I only used the three inside holes to secure the vent and not all of the ones around the outside. It is important to gradually cross-tighten all the fasteners or you will warp the base plate and the fan blades will rub. Don't ask how I know. The instructions are worth reading-several times. I used a Silcone sealant on the gasket.

[Divecoz]

4 years forward hatch No leaks works well no sounds..

[Catigale]

I found there was a difference in snout diameter between the SS and the plastic vents from Nicro - same MFG.....WTF??

Went to upgrade the plastic one and found the SS wouldn't fit in the hole....

Choose wisely, Obiwan