I'm considering adding a solar powered (NiCad battery equiped) vent to the boat this summer to try and keep some air movement while the weather boards are in place. Does anyone have any experience with these? Are they worth the effort? Thanks in advance. Geof
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
David
My experience
My C30 has one the vents you are referring to in the head. It's mounted in one of the lexan hatches. My last boat did not. I use the same maintenance for the head on both boats, but my 30 seems to have less head odor--basically none. I think it does help to change the air out and keep it moving ever so slightly which has to help with humidity, however, it will not move volumes of air that can be felt.
My C30 has one the vents you are referring to in the head. It's mounted in one of the lexan hatches. My last boat did not. I use the same maintenance for the head on both boats, but my 30 seems to have less head odor--basically none. I think it does help to change the air out and keep it moving ever so slightly which has to help with humidity, however, it will not move volumes of air that can be felt.
D
David
Yes
I have had one of these vents in the forward cabin hatch for 3 years. It runs all the time still with the original battery. It does'nt exhaust great volumes but it does help keep the boat dry.
I have had one of these vents in the forward cabin hatch for 3 years. It runs all the time still with the original battery. It does'nt exhaust great volumes but it does help keep the boat dry.
J
Jim Cook
Pleased with mine
I have had a "Day & Night 2000" in my forward hatch for 2 years. All my neighbors complain of mold, but the only mold I have found anywhere is on the galley counter under the starboard portlight (where it leaks a little). It doesn't move enough air to significantly cool the interior (note: heat in South Texas, where the last week was over 80 every day) but I think it would be much worse without it.
I have had a "Day & Night 2000" in my forward hatch for 2 years. All my neighbors complain of mold, but the only mold I have found anywhere is on the galley counter under the starboard portlight (where it leaks a little). It doesn't move enough air to significantly cool the interior (note: heat in South Texas, where the last week was over 80 every day) but I think it would be much worse without it.
T
Tim Leighton
GOOD MEANS OF EXHAUST
Jim: I've had solar fans on both my sailboats for a number of years. I'm not sure I'd buy the "day/night" version again (and in fact my new Catalina 400 only has the solar version) since I had quite a bit of trouble with the batteries. I wish I'd had those fans when I sailed from the "T-Heads" in downtown C.C. while at the air station in the early 80's. Would have kept the mold problem at bay! Just remember that solar (or varients of) fans are best used to EXHAUST air rather than push air into the boat. If you are going to install 2 fans (recommended) then one should push air in and the other pull it out. The idea is to set up circulation and allow fresh air to move around the boat. That will go a very long way in preventing mold formation. Especially if you remember to open all lockers when you are not aboard. If you only have one fan, then I'd set it up to exhaust since most boats have enough "leaks" around the cabin to pull in fresh air to be pulled out by the fan. Good luck! Tim Leighton (S/V "Magic")
Jim: I've had solar fans on both my sailboats for a number of years. I'm not sure I'd buy the "day/night" version again (and in fact my new Catalina 400 only has the solar version) since I had quite a bit of trouble with the batteries. I wish I'd had those fans when I sailed from the "T-Heads" in downtown C.C. while at the air station in the early 80's. Would have kept the mold problem at bay! Just remember that solar (or varients of) fans are best used to EXHAUST air rather than push air into the boat. If you are going to install 2 fans (recommended) then one should push air in and the other pull it out. The idea is to set up circulation and allow fresh air to move around the boat. That will go a very long way in preventing mold formation. Especially if you remember to open all lockers when you are not aboard. If you only have one fan, then I'd set it up to exhaust since most boats have enough "leaks" around the cabin to pull in fresh air to be pulled out by the fan. Good luck! Tim Leighton (S/V "Magic")
G
Geof Tillotson
Thanks all
Thanks for the input, you've pretty much helped me make the decision. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to mount the fan through the deck or the forward hatch, though my first choice will be to mount it on the top weatherboard for the companionway. I know it will make the weatherboard harder to stow when we're using the boat, but I hate the idea of cutting a hole in the deck. As to the flow through of air, the deck pipe for my anchor is an opening and I'm considering rigging something on the head ports to allow one of them to remain open a little when we're off the boat. 33 days until there water under the keel, I can't wait!
Thanks for the input, you've pretty much helped me make the decision. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to mount the fan through the deck or the forward hatch, though my first choice will be to mount it on the top weatherboard for the companionway. I know it will make the weatherboard harder to stow when we're using the boat, but I hate the idea of cutting a hole in the deck. As to the flow through of air, the deck pipe for my anchor is an opening and I'm considering rigging something on the head ports to allow one of them to remain open a little when we're off the boat. 33 days until there water under the keel, I can't wait!
R
Rick Webb
P
Peter Brennan
Watch them batteries
We have two day/night units on our center cockpit O'Day 37. Both are set to exhaust and both run all the time. They keep the atmosphere clean and sweet and were an excellent investment, though, like everything marine, vastly overpriced. The batteries are not removeable. They are soldred in and you have to take the unit apart to get at them. This voids your warranty. battery failure is considered under warranty but after a year it costs you 40% of the purchase price to send the unit back and have a new battery installed. Batteries on both my units failed in less than two years. The batteries are "C" cell Ni-Cads (1,700 mAh, I think). You can get larger capacity "C" cell Ni-Cads (2,200 mAh) from Radio Shack and with a little care and ingenuity replace the existing ones and make your new ones easily replaceable. The larger capacity will also keep the units running longer in sunless weather.
We have two day/night units on our center cockpit O'Day 37. Both are set to exhaust and both run all the time. They keep the atmosphere clean and sweet and were an excellent investment, though, like everything marine, vastly overpriced. The batteries are not removeable. They are soldred in and you have to take the unit apart to get at them. This voids your warranty. battery failure is considered under warranty but after a year it costs you 40% of the purchase price to send the unit back and have a new battery installed. Batteries on both my units failed in less than two years. The batteries are "C" cell Ni-Cads (1,700 mAh, I think). You can get larger capacity "C" cell Ni-Cads (2,200 mAh) from Radio Shack and with a little care and ingenuity replace the existing ones and make your new ones easily replaceable. The larger capacity will also keep the units running longer in sunless weather.
J
Jim Cook
Place in well lighted area
I didn't want to cut another hole in my deck either. I considered mounting in a hatch board, but I decided that the solar cells would not get nearly as much power as if it were mounted horizontally.
I didn't want to cut another hole in my deck either. I considered mounting in a hatch board, but I decided that the solar cells would not get nearly as much power as if it were mounted horizontally.
J
John Van Stone
S
Stanley J. Rogacevicz
Powervent 3000
If you are going to install a Nicro 24hr vent in the forward hatch I would reccomend the Powervent 3000. I used the Day/Night Nicro's on 4 different boats over the years in the forward hatch for sucking air in and even in driving rain and quartering large waves I had no leakage problem. BUT - when motoring directly - 90 degrees into steep 5 footers the waves would break on the anchor locker and roll right up to and UNDER the vent hood and into the forward berth. The Powervent 3000 has a sliding sleve that totally seals the vent which can be used from the inside and also has an electrical switch for shutting off the fan when you close it up. The Day/Night 24hr vents have deck plates but you have to go outside, pull out the vent, and replace it with the deck plate. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
If you are going to install a Nicro 24hr vent in the forward hatch I would reccomend the Powervent 3000. I used the Day/Night Nicro's on 4 different boats over the years in the forward hatch for sucking air in and even in driving rain and quartering large waves I had no leakage problem. BUT - when motoring directly - 90 degrees into steep 5 footers the waves would break on the anchor locker and roll right up to and UNDER the vent hood and into the forward berth. The Powervent 3000 has a sliding sleve that totally seals the vent which can be used from the inside and also has an electrical switch for shutting off the fan when you close it up. The Day/Night 24hr vents have deck plates but you have to go outside, pull out the vent, and replace it with the deck plate. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
- Status
- Not open for further replies.