Solar powered vent location on '81 C22

[Milton.Audas]

G'day guys. Recently purchased a solar powered vent fan from CD. Question is ideal location. Initial thought is/was to install in the centre of the forward hatch. Has anyone installed elsewhere on an 'old style' C22. The hatch is an easy locale but is it too thin ? Flat surfaces seem ideal but where else ? Also, advice on vent in Otto vent out ?

 

[Barry B.]

Cabin Top

I mounted mine on the cabin top just forward and to port of the mast above the portapottie. I use the exhaust blade to pull the hot air out the top and draws fresh air in from a deck vent on the foredeck. It made a real difference especially in hot weather.

 

[jfrench]

The instructions on my Nicro brand solar fan specified a maximum amount of allowable curve to the surface the fan mounts to. The foredeck of my '86 model exceeded that amount by a little. The size of the unit would also use up most of the standing room on the foredeck, right where one stands to weigh the anchor. My hatch didn't seem to be a good spot because it sits at about a 45 degree angle and would likely let water past the guard. My solution was to leave the fan in its box. I'd love to install it if there was indeed an ideal spot for it.

If you have the original model Cat with the flat front hatch, that's probably the best spot for it. It allows you or a future owner to remove it later if you decide to, and should there be a snafu in cutting the hole during installation, a new hatch is cheaper than a new deck.

 

[GorillaToast]

I put mine on the front hatch of my old-style. Seemed like the best place, as I would never step on that hatch anyway. So therefore, it's not in the way at that location. It's and easy install; no excessive curvature to deal with, and I cut the hole with a jig saw - it doesn't have to be perfectly round.

Don't know how well it performs in that location yet, as I just got the boat out of the garage yesterday.

 

[ShotgunSlim]

I asked this same question about my '86 a while back but haven't yet gotten around to making a move on installing a vent yet. I took a $10 computer cooling fan, two screws and a small bungee cord and mounted the fan on the inside of the vented hatch board and wired it to my solar panel. It seems to blow a pretty good amount of air into the cabin and from what I can tell, it dries up any water that leaks in pretty quickly and I haven't noticed any musty smells at all. That was my cheap solution to the venting problem for now. I might change my mind after spending a night or two on the boat and go for something better....

 

[Chris Patterson]

Hey Slim, I did about the same thing, for the exception of, mounting it on a access door to the "chain locker", put a removable 4" cover on the bow, and it ventilates great. Those little muffin fans draw hardly any power, and I even found one with a high/low on it. It was TOO easy..

 

[ShotgunSlim]

Do you have any pictures of the install? I'd be interested in seeing how you did that. I'm already thinking of taking my forward hatch off, cutting the hole and then building up a level mounting surface for the fan with fiberglass epoxy.

 

[GorillaToast]

Do you have any pictures of the install? I'd be interested in seeing how you did that. I'm already thinking of taking my forward hatch off, cutting the hole and then building up a level mounting surface for the fan with fiberglass epoxy.

HI Slim.

Who were you addressing in this post? If it's me, sorry this was one of the few projects I didn't take any pics of. I can tell you, I didn't need to use a gasket or build up the surface of the hatch any to get a good fit.

We got a lot of rain in the last 2 days, and it doesn't leak at all.

If you were asking Chris, then nevermind...

 

[ShotgunSlim]

Thanks GT, although I was referring to Chris's post right above my last one, I appreciate any and all responses to the subject. My '86 has the curved forward hatch so trying to mount a flat vent on curved surface does make it interesting, but not impossible. Congratulations on getting back out on the water, sorry to hear about your thin spots in the hull.

 

[jfrench]

Slim- there's another issue with mounting the fan on an '86 hatch...the angle. I held my Nicro brand fan at the angle of the hatch surface and could see that there was little or no protection left for keeping rain or surf water from entering around the splash shield. The curved dome on that unit is designed to keep out water when the unit is mounted on a flat surface. Stand it up at a 30 to 45 degree angle and it doesn't protect much. Better check it out before you cut any holes.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Hey Slim, I think I did this right, (with the pic). But that fan is way forward of course, and in that area, I installed one of those 4" screw in deck access plates, so I can close it in bad weather, or when I leave the boat. Zero chance of water intrusion.

 

[ShotgunSlim]

Thanks for the advice, nice job on the fan installation! I would have to cut through the forepeak plywood and then through the fiberglass anchor locker well to get one in the same place on my boat and I'm not too eager to do that at this point. Think I'll stick with the fan I have on the hatch boards for now and maybe look into covering the boat with a canvas and cracking the forward hatch to keep a good air flow.

 

[Milton.Audas]

Interesting and great looking DIY jobs. Would love to have that talent !! (any of you blokes in eastern Iowa ??).

Advice that I got from CD was to mount the Nicro fan on the forpeak, just aft of the anchor rhode locker. Had a quick look today and the deck looks slightly curved. Other than the hatch, the flattest location appears to be just forward and to port (or starbord) of the mast step. Will have to consider this (ponder) awhile before committing to a permanent hole.

One other good suggestion (from CD) for increased airflow is to jig-saw a hole in one of the plastic crib boards and mount a louvered screen over the hole. Quick trip to Menards (HD would do) found a cheaped aluminium louvre (I'm not a metalurgist but aluminum may also work !!) about 12"x4". Inserted a tighter mesh (from a screen door fixit kit) and looks great. This will draw fresh air in when the fan is on 'pull' mode. Just have to get the fan installed at some point. But the warmer days will soon be upon us and it will be time to get sailing, so non-critical items may have to wait to season's end or a crappy day.

Have a great sailing season guys...

 

[jrowan]

I have a Nicro solar fan installed over the head on my boat. It's a lil bigger being a C 30 but I beleive the curvature of the deck is about the same. Over the head is the best place in my opinion, cause that's where the smells linger. I also have mine set to exhaust airflow, which by default pulls air in from any other vented area of the boat (ie: hatch board louvers, etc.) Sometimes U just gotta bite the bullet & make a cut into the deck. Just seal the permieter well with 5200, boat life caulk or butyl tape to seal it. U can't have too much ventilation on a small boat!

 

[GorillaToast]

Milton,

I'm confused. You say CD told you to put it on the foredeck, just behind the anchor locker, but in the title and your OP you say you have a '81 old style. I have an '82, and I don't have an anchor locker on the forepeak. That's why I put my solar vent on the foredeck hatch.

 

[GorillaToast]

Here's a picture.

 

[Milton.Audas]

G'day GT. Your observation is correct and our boats are the same vintage and layout, although a dedicated anchor locker accessible from topsides such as the 'new style' boats would be great !

Perhaps I provided a tad less info than needed. What CD intended, and I understood, that the vent fan be installed just aft of that anchor rhode locker right up at the sharp end of the boat. That would put the location of the hole just aft of the chain portal on deck. And the deck has a heck of a camber there.

The hatch is easiest, but I like the last post to place over the head, even though we have taken ours out for day sailing.

Appreciate the comments. Have a great sail guys...