solar powered vents

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dancing bear

dancing bear

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Jun 3, 2004
309
Prindle 18, beach catamaran Chicago (North Edgebrook), IL
I am thinking of installing two Nicro 3" day/night plus solar powered vents, one for intake, the other for exhaust. Any comments on these or other brands? Did they come with trim rings and other items needed for installation (I do know I will need a sealant)? Do they have to be closed when it rains? It seems they all have dampers, closing them seems to defy the point of trying to ventilate while I am not with the boat.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Rain

They are designed to be left open in the rain. One closes them when in seas when might roll across them.
 
Landsend

Landsend

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Aug 9, 2005
772
Hunter 28.5 Palm Coast, FL
I've had three 4" Nicros in my boat for 17 years...Great

I've never closed them except when I run the A/C. Go the larger size and the stainless. Sometimes you can find them on sale...try ebay.
 
NautiDuck

NautiDuck

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Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Love our Nicros

They run just like that Energizer bunny. Just keep on going.
 
Marcia

Marcia

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Mar 26, 2007
123
Paceship Yachts PY23 Cove Marina, NAB, Norfolk VA
LOVE it!

I installed that same one (only one) on my PY23 and just love it. Yes, it has a trim ring, a bug screen and all the hardware needed for the easy install. I used Lifecaulk to seal it. I bought mine from West Marine and the batteries did not charge. I called the mfg and he told me to install a new rechargeable battery. Worked like a champ after that. He explained that sometimes the units sit so long on the shelf that the batteries run too far down to recharge. It's made a BIG difference in my boat. No more stale air.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
They are Great

I installed on in the front vee berth hatch and works great at keeping the boat smelling fresh,everything comes with it to install even gasket to seal it. I never close it even on the hard in winter,got it at Defender they have newer models and got the largest new model that pushes the most air,I got plastic and no polishing needed,I will be adding more. Nick
 
R

Randy6414

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Jun 5, 2004
72
Catalina 27 Stone Harbor NJ
Nicro solar vents

I have two on my Catalina 27 and they are great. They run continuosly and they don't leak in the rain. I have both of mine in exhaust mode since I have a passive vent in the companionway hatch board. In the hottest weather I leave one of the overhead vents in the cabin "popped" open about an inch. This allows for plenty of air to be drawn in by the pair of Nicro solar vents, and keeps the boat fresh. Randy
 
Joseph Shirley

Joseph Shirley

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Jun 13, 2005
559
Irwin Barefoot 37 CC Sloop Port Orchard WA
I have two that I were installed in 1993 and still work great

The shaft wobbles just a little on both now, so you can hear both turn, but it is not objectionable. I have replaced batteries a number of times, and now get my rechargeables from Radio Shack. They are cheaper. Joe S
 
P

Pat

Suggest setting both of them to exhaust

You probably have enough open holes (such as in your hatch boards)to draw fresh air through. I think the best place to put one, if possible, is in a hatch just aft of the mast on the cabin top. That way there is less chance of stepping on it. I installed two Nicros in 2 different boats - no problems. Always had them open.
 
S

Steve L22188

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Apr 28, 2005
274
Oday 302 Lake Perry, KS
Nicro Solar work great

I replaced two powered vents with two solar vents in my ODay 302 four year ago. I have one in the back cabin and I set it to "intake." I set the one in the head to "exhaust." My boat is pretty tight -- not much coming in from companionway hatch boards, etc. So this is about the only ventilation the boat gets when it's locked up. Both vents work like a champ. The boat never smells damp. The solar charges the internal battery and they run even if it's cloudy for a couple of days. I cover the boat with a blue tarp in the winter and I'm convinced there's enough sun light that get's thru the tarp so that they run intermittedly during the winter.
 
tcbro

tcbro

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Jun 3, 2004
375
Hunter 33.5 Middle River, MD
My 4" Nicro ran great until recently

It just stopped. I could get it to spin for a while by hand starting it. I replaced the battery this weekend with one from Defender. I didn't check to see if it was charged and it was cloudy here all weekend. I really didn't see any difference. I'm hoping that it will charge after a few days of sunlight (not today though) and will be back to it's old self. I was surprised at the resistance to hand spinning. I would have expected the motor to be fairly friction free but that was considerable drag. Enough drag that I don't know if, once charged, the battery will have enough oomph to start it spinning from it's stopped mode. I have no idea how old it is as the PO installed it. Ours was installed in a hatch. I was surprised at how easy it was to take out. Just grab it and yank up. It leaves a hole big enough to stick my arm in and unlock the hatch. While I'm sure it's much easier, if I was installing a new one I'd reconsider putting it in a hatch. For the 4 seasons I've had it I've never closed it (I don't see how I can on mine) and it has never leaked. I wish they would have supplied new gaskets with the replacement battery. Yes, it would spin during the day, under a blue poly tarp. Mine is in exhaust mode and I leave the 2 hatches under the dodger "cracked" to supply fresh air. I'm able to lock them in the cracked position.
 
dancing bear

dancing bear

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Jun 3, 2004
309
Prindle 18, beach catamaran Chicago (North Edgebrook), IL
West Marine

The 3" stainless vents were on sale at West Marine for $99 so I ordered two. One will probably be placed just behind the mast base; the other forward of the hatch above the v-berth.
 
J

J Page

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Feb 5, 2004
61
Hunter 30 Muskegon MI
Why the 3 inch???

Just bought the 4 inch. Outside housing is the same size. 4 inch moves obout 300 cf of air more an hour. Do you have an inside size constraint? BTW mine is installed and working its little butt of 24/7 Pray for Wind, Lugeman
 
Timo42

Timo42

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Mar 26, 2007
1,042
Venture 22 Marina del Rey
Because it was on sale...

same reason my wife gives me, ;D I am putting one of the 3" vents in my 222, probably in front of the mast to the right, I don't walk in that area much. My wife hates it when I break out the holesaw. Tim
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
99 dollars for one vent? Do/did you already have

passive vents on the boat? I run three 3 inch computer fans in ventilators on one 5 watt solar panel plus two interior fans for spaces that need a little help. I don't have 200 dollars in the whole system. More than adequate on the upper bay.
 
Timo42

Timo42

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Mar 26, 2007
1,042
Venture 22 Marina del Rey
I bought one because

it is self contained, almost idiot proof, waterproof, reliable, and not all that much more than a passive vent and ancillary wiring, fans, solar panel, etc. And "It was on sale" ;D Tim
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
What Timo42

Yes what timo42 said so easy no mesh or running wires, just install and never touch again, out of way and work great, done no hooking up or turning on or off. I did hear someone having fan running while away from boat and fire and boat damaged so be careful what you use,solar fan should be OK,been thinking extra solar fan in cabin for Florida my self, I will add another solar vent in second hatch this year,they really work great. Nick
 
dancing bear

dancing bear

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Jun 3, 2004
309
Prindle 18, beach catamaran Chicago (North Edgebrook), IL
Yep

Timo nailed it. I also like the looks of the nicro fan, compared to what I could craft out of a pc fan. I am not too crafty, I can cut a roundish hole though. Also, my wife is encouraging me to buy boat parts, who am I to argue? Had I known the 4" vent had the same profile as the 3" I probably would have ordered them. Regardless I rationalize smaller is better based on: It is only a 25 foot boat, two three inch models will do the job, I get to cut smaller holes in my deck, and I think the motor spinning the smaller fan might be good for longevity. I am rationalizing here, I have no facts to support any theory. Thanks to all for your encouragement!
 
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