I need to improve the ventillation in my 1979 H33 and have decided to replace 2 of the existing mushroom vents with 4" Nicro solar powered mushroom vents. The problem is that the existing vents have a 4-1/2" hole but the Nicro vents require a 4-3/4" hole. I can think of 2 ways to enlarge the existing holes, both of which have advantages and disadvantages. First option is to temporarily cover the hole with a piece of wood and recut the holes with a hole saw. The wood would allow the saw to bite into a solid surface, although making sure it is centered above the existing hole could be a challenge. The other option I can think of is to enlarge the holes using a sanding drum chucked into a portable drill. No worry about making sure the new hole is centered over the old one, but this could take awhile. Which method is better? Are there other methods that are even better? Thanks for the help.
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3rd option
Tom: As another option, how about putting the solar vent in the opening hatch/hatches. This way you still have the ventilation from the mushroom vents plus you have added the additional ventilation. You will need to use a hole saw or a saber saw to cut these hole. The hatch plastic will melt and reform and you cut the hole if you use a saber saw, so a variable speed one running a slow speed will work best.
Tom: As another option, how about putting the solar vent in the opening hatch/hatches. This way you still have the ventilation from the mushroom vents plus you have added the additional ventilation. You will need to use a hole saw or a saber saw to cut these hole. The hatch plastic will melt and reform and you cut the hole if you use a saber saw, so a variable speed one running a slow speed will work best.
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Mark Johnson
How about a router?
Unless you are real good, you may have to make a template to cut the circle perfectly round. MPJ
Unless you are real good, you may have to make a template to cut the circle perfectly round. MPJ
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Greg Estep
plug the whole
Try cutting a 4 1/2" hole out of a piece of plywood and glue the plug into the existing hole. You will now have no problem drilling your larger hole.
Try cutting a 4 1/2" hole out of a piece of plywood and glue the plug into the existing hole. You will now have no problem drilling your larger hole.
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Terry Arnold
H 33 solar vents
I installed two of the Nicro solar vents about a year ago. I simply drew on the deck with the proper sized template and carefully cut it out with a sabre saw, no big deal. Just make sure that your hole is at least the size the template calls for all the way through the deck. Better to be a little big than a little small. Nothing I have done for my boat has made as big a difference. Mildew is gone (Florida Panhandle) and the boat just smells better after being shut up. The only problem with these vents is that they are simply pressed into place. I have already catapulted the forward port one into Choctawhatchee Bay by catching an errant Jib sheet coming about. should have plugged it before sailing. Don't have this problem with one at the aft cabin location although you still have to be careful not to step or sit on it, same as the old static ventilators
I installed two of the Nicro solar vents about a year ago. I simply drew on the deck with the proper sized template and carefully cut it out with a sabre saw, no big deal. Just make sure that your hole is at least the size the template calls for all the way through the deck. Better to be a little big than a little small. Nothing I have done for my boat has made as big a difference. Mildew is gone (Florida Panhandle) and the boat just smells better after being shut up. The only problem with these vents is that they are simply pressed into place. I have already catapulted the forward port one into Choctawhatchee Bay by catching an errant Jib sheet coming about. should have plugged it before sailing. Don't have this problem with one at the aft cabin location although you still have to be careful not to step or sit on it, same as the old static ventilators
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Thomas FitzGibbon
Terry, have you tried the clips...
that Nico makes that supposedly prevent removal of the vents? I would think that would solve the problem of an errant jibsheet flipping the vent overboard. As far as the sabre saw is concerned, I am just concerned that using it to, in effect, shave the existing hole a little bigger is not going to work. I think I'm going to try Mark's idea of using a router if I can get a portable inverter for my car since the boat's in storage with no battery or shore power.
that Nico makes that supposedly prevent removal of the vents? I would think that would solve the problem of an errant jibsheet flipping the vent overboard. As far as the sabre saw is concerned, I am just concerned that using it to, in effect, shave the existing hole a little bigger is not going to work. I think I'm going to try Mark's idea of using a router if I can get a portable inverter for my car since the boat's in storage with no battery or shore power.
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Michael Cohn
Same Problem
I had the same problem when I had to replace a foot switch for my anchor windlass - the old hole was large, but not large enough, and there was no way I could hold a hole saw steady to make the new, slightly larger hole. A kind neighbor brought over a set of nesting hole saws and a special mandrel. You can fit multiple hole saws into the mandrel, and what we did was to mount one that was the size of the existing hole, and another that was the size of the new hole. The smaller saw fit exactly inside the old hole and acted as a guide, while the larger saw cut the new hole. It was an easy task and went very quickly. I thin you can get these saws at any good hardware store. Hope this helps! MC
I had the same problem when I had to replace a foot switch for my anchor windlass - the old hole was large, but not large enough, and there was no way I could hold a hole saw steady to make the new, slightly larger hole. A kind neighbor brought over a set of nesting hole saws and a special mandrel. You can fit multiple hole saws into the mandrel, and what we did was to mount one that was the size of the existing hole, and another that was the size of the new hole. The smaller saw fit exactly inside the old hole and acted as a guide, while the larger saw cut the new hole. It was an easy task and went very quickly. I thin you can get these saws at any good hardware store. Hope this helps! MC
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