Cowl or Mushroom Vent ?

[sailfree20770]

Does anyone know if there's a mushroom or cowl vent that will fit in the deck plates on the 376 deck? Photo attached.

This is sort of a dorade type vent box. There's a rim around the interior holes so presumably it would take quite a bit of water building up before it would start to pour into the interior. I would like to leave them in for constant ventilation while away from the boat, but was wondering if a hard rain would find it's way inside if the cowls were left in place. Does anyone have experience with cowl type vents in this application? That is, will water go in the cowls and get through to the interior vents?

Perhaps a mushroom type vent would be better. I've used them before with good results, but don't know if there are any made to fit in these deck plates. To me it seems it would be ideal to just pop out the existing covers and snap in a mushroom vent. But where to find one???

 

[John T1594]

Vents

I have the same deck plates on my 2000 H340 and have used a solar Nicro mushroom vent for almost ten years with great success. They are made for the 3" or 4" size deck plates. You can get them at West Marine, Defender or elsewhere on the web.

 

[sailfree20770]

Thanks John. By the way, do they fit right in the existing Nicro deck plate, or did you remove the deck plate to install the mushroom vent?

 

[John T1594]

Same old plate

I just used the same old deck plate that was in place. Just measure the diameter and the vent just slips(wedges) right in. Mine are several years old and I just change out the battery with a re-chargeable one each season and the thing just keeps running.

 

[Steverhnm]

Battery source

Where do you get the batteries? Seems like a weak link on these things. Mine was toast in one summer in Baja.

 

[John T1594]

"C" cell Battery

The Nicro vent that I have came with a standard size "C" cell rechargable battery installed. When the battery went dead, I bought a four pack at Radio Shack and have been interchanging them ever since. I bought a small battery charger at Radio Shack and top them off before I put one in the vent. The solar panel seems to keep the battery working all year because it is always running when I remove the vent to change out the battery.

I have two ceiling vents in the main cabin liner right under the spot where the deck plates are located on the sea hood except there does not seem to be a direct connection. There must be an open Dorade box type configuration to keep the rain out so I not quite sure that the vent is actually drawing air directly from the cabin. Nonetheless, my boat never seems to have any humidity problem and seems reasonably well ventilated.

 

[Tim22]

I have a similar arrangement with two cowl vents mounted on the sea hood with some sort of built in dorade arrangement. The nicro solar vents are designed to go right through the deck with the on/off button accessible from the inside which is not possible with the sea hood arrangement. As a work around the fan can be started prior to installing the exterior top piece of the vent. You will have to remove it ( three small bolts) to turn the fan off.

I have installed one solar vent and have concluded that it is simply sucking air in the remaining cowl vent and out the solar one. I am currently experimenting with blocking the remaining cowl vent to force the solar one to draw air from the cabin.

Tim

 

[Jackdaw]

Low profile Lewmar retro vents can be installed in any 3 inch hole; in a port or in the deck. While passive (meaning they can't fail!) they let a surprisingly large amount of air through, and can be totally closed (air/water tight) as well.

 

[KZW]

I've seen several local boats with the Lemar or Nicro fitting through the acrylic on a hatch.

 

[sailfree20770]

Thanks for the input guys.

I've decided to try a Vetus UFO2 in one of the forward hatches, and a cowl type vent on one of the lift out covers in the spray hood. That way I can close both up tight if necessary.

The Nicro model sounds good, but I'd rather not be concerned about batteries and motors and such. Also. the UFO look like it's more shaped so as not to catch lines or toes.

The Nicro wouldn't be accessible from inside the boat to close it or turn off the fan if installed on the existing holes in the spray hood (dorade box), as the holes inside the boat are offset from the outer holes.