Hunter 356 Vent Installation

[Tsutton]

I'm a new sailor and bought a 2002 Hunter 356 this week. I'd like to install a solar vent but am a bit confused. The boat already has a deck plate for a vent near the companion way but there is no opening to the cabin. To install do you need to cut through the headliner or does it vent by other means?

 

[seadaddler]

Look for vent inside up on the head liner.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Seadaddler is correct. There was once one installed with the original boat. You can see mine just behind the mast (2003 H356). There should be a rotatable plastic grill inside underneath where the plate is installed in your photo.

 

[chuckwayne]

That plate normally has a funnel on it-you can install a standard 4" solar vent directly in it - it feeds the round outlet in the main cabin ceiling directly under it

 

[Tsutton]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Quick follow up. My original question was because I did not see a vent/opening in the interior below the plate I see on the exterior/deck. But after looking at the air conditioning schematic, I think what I thought was part of the AC duct is actually the interior opening for the vent. The confusion or question is because the interior vent is not directly below the exterior plate but perhaps they are connected? See pics attached that show they are roughly 9" apart. Can you please verify?

 

[Jake N Eggs]

I believe that the exterior vents into the sea hood where it is mounted. The interior has a riser of some sort to keep it up close to the underside of the sea hood. This is to stop water from running into the boat. If water gets into the sea hood area it has a chance to drain away before cresting the riser. I believe that this system is called a Dorade vent.

 

[seadaddler]

It is connected for sure and have had very cold air come out of the interior grill

 

[chuckwayne]

it's connected; the exterior inlet goes into a watertrap that traps and drains any water away before it gets to the outlet - that's why the offset

 

[Tsutton]

Great, so is it easy to install a solar vent there, or does it need to be a dorade?

 

[chuckwayne]

simple - the 4" size is made to fit (it's a standard plate)

 

[chuckwayne]

get the stainless covered one though, it's much more durable - don't ask how I know

 

[Bob R.]

I removed the dorade and installed a solar vent on my 2002 H356 about 5 years ago. I bought some thin synthetic rubber gasket material at the hardware store to cut out a gasket to put under the flange on the mounting sleeve for the vent. I put the exhaust impeller on the fan, it also includes a supply impeller. The fan is not very powerful and really needs a fresh air inlet somewhere else in the cabin to provide much ventilation. I am going to move the solar vent to the V-berth deck hatch this Spring and put the Dorade vent back on. I think that arrangement will pull more air through the cabin and do a better job of removing moisture from the cabin when the boat is locked up. Without a fresh air vent in the boat, I think there is too much air short circuiting under the companionway slider enclosure. I attached a photo of the vent installed on the Dorade.

Bob

 

[chuckwayne]

Bob, I also put one in the forward hatch and it works well - just be careful drilling the hole!

 

[Tsutton]

Really helpful guys. Closing on the boat today, it just smells a bit musty and it sounds like a good approach to removing the must/mold/mildew is a solar event. Will add one for starters, then follow with another in the hatch if needed. Thanks!

 

[Ken13559]

for mine, I installed 2pairs of computer fans on the 2 inside vent port. I can switch the fans to extract air out of cabin or blow in.
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/ventilation-on-my-hunter.170604/#post-1201629