Hack to silence Marinco solar vents?

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patrickkidd

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Nov 15, 2015
271
J J/30 Seward, AK
Hi there!

I have a relatively new 3" Marinco solar vent, and am trying to think of a way to fully silence the motor. When I installed it I was a little surprised to find that it made any sound at all, considering how quiet PC fan technology has become. At any rate, has anyone had any success with any kind of bushing lube or other optimizations to the motor?

Thanks!
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,184
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Check some other boats with them fitted. It may be defective and you may want to make a warranty claim. My 4" goes all the time and is nearly silent. Good luck!
 
P

patrickkidd

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Nov 15, 2015
271
J J/30 Seward, AK
Rick D said:
Check some other boats with them fitted. It may be defective and you may want to make a warranty claim. My 4" goes all the time and is nearly silent. Good luck!
Click to expand
Yeah, I already returned the first one I bought and got another one and they both were the same. Either they have a limited shelf life (particularly at my West Marine) and both of mine were very old, or they just make this much noise. My father just bought a new 4" for his boat as well and it makes even more noise than mine.
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,097
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Motor noise on many of this class of vents on many boats persuaded us to install Beckson "Vent-O-Mate" vents when we added 24/7 ventilation to our boat. They have been working wonderfully for a couple of decades.
(Model No. - C-6SS - Vent-O-Mate® Ventilator with stainless steel cover.)

No motor and no battery to fail. In any (little) breeze at all they silently remove a lot of air from the interior. We have one over the head and another over the aft cabin.
 
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P

patrickkidd

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Nov 15, 2015
271
J J/30 Seward, AK
FastOlson said:
Motor noise on many of this class of vents on many boats persuaded us to install Beckson "Vent-O-Mate" vents when we added 24/7 ventilation to our boat. They have been working wonderfully for a couple of decades.
(Model No. - C-6SS - Vent-O-Mate® Ventilator with stainless steel cover.)
Click to expand
Wow, that's an interesting design if it performs as advertised. I imagine it would do well here in San Francisco bay where there is always plenty of wind.

Rick D said:
Well, if it is that annoying, I'd ask for a refund and install one of their 3" passive units. Certainly better than nothing. Also, if you missed it, take a read here: http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/nicro-solar-vent.131897/
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That's a good thread, thanks.
 
D

DAVA390

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Jul 13, 2010
1,097
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
When i bought the current boat,first visit to the P.O. house,crawling around the boat,the sun hit the vent and started it up. The bearings were roaring ,(since disconnected). I jokingly asked the owner " how am i supposed to sleep with all that racket?" He looked at me (correctly) Like I was a damn dummy.."well, it won't run at night" Doh! Head slap!
 
Sefuller

Sefuller

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May 6, 2010
472
1984 Oday 39 79 Milwaukee
Ken13559 said:
Change it for Nicro solar vent. It's really very quiet.
Click to expand
I have had several Nicro solar vents, the last few have lasted 2 - 3 years before the bearings start making a lot of noise. Since it is in the v-berth we end up turning it off at night. The first one I bought lasted several years - lately I am not impressed. At almost $150.00 they are not a very good value in my opinion.
 
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A

alexco38

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Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
Actually if you carefully pull the fan blades out on the shaft a little bit, the noise goes away.
When the fan blade pushed in too close to the bottom of the shaft, it hits the casing ever so lightly thus causing the noise.
 
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Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,184
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
alexco38 said:
Actually if you carefully pull the fan blades out on the shaft a little bit, the noise goes away.
When the fan blade pushed in too close to the bottom of the shaft, it hits the casing ever so lightly thus causing the noise.
Click to expand
If I had a brain, which I obviously don't I would have remembered exactly what alexco38 suggested! Good catch!
 
Sefuller

Sefuller

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May 6, 2010
472
1984 Oday 39 79 Milwaukee
alexco38 said:
Actually if you carefully pull the fan blades out on the shaft a little bit, the noise goes away.
When the fan blade pushed in too close to the bottom of the shaft, it hits the casing ever so lightly thus causing the noise.
Click to expand
When the bearings go, it makes noise even if the blades are removed!
 
Ken13559

Ken13559

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Oct 29, 2005
2,362
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
Can try dripping abit of oil to the motor spindle. My Nicro vent has been >10years and still go strong. Changed the NiMH couple time over the years. Sometime the fan can't grip the spindle as it ages. Put a small cable tie to better the grip and it works great.
I bought a new Nicro vent as standby replacement several years back and its still on standby.
 
Sefuller

Sefuller

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May 6, 2010
472
1984 Oday 39 79 Milwaukee
Ken13559 said:
Can try dripping abit of oil to the motor spindle. My Nicro vent has been >10years and still go strong. Changed the NiMH couple time over the years. Sometime the fan can't grip the spindle as it ages. Put a small cable tie to better the grip and it works great.
I bought a new Nicro vent as standby replacement several years back and its still on standby.
Click to expand
Automatic transmission fluid helped my original one through a couple of extra years, but the last 2 or 3 I have had only make it 2 or 3 years - the current one is ending it's second year and is noisy.
 
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