Solar vent location on 23-2?

Mar 5, 2014
45
Oday 23-2 Oriental
My 23-2 gets pretty humid during the week all shut up, so I decided to get a Nicro day/night solar vent. The question is, where to mount it? Highest point would be on the sliding main hatch but that is also right beside the louvers in the drop boards so I don't think the air flow would be real good. My forward hatch has a tinted Lexan insert, I was thinking of mounting it in this, as I can replace the whole insert if it doesn't work out. Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions?
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,360
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Why occlude the Lexan hatch? Keep it clear. Find a place on the top of the cabintop that you don't walk on to tend to the sails.
 
Mar 5, 2014
45
Oday 23-2 Oriental
Stu -

Well, honestly, the thought of drilling that big of a hole through the deck, coring & liner scares me. Second, there isn't a whole lot of space between where the front of the main hatch is when it is open and the mast step, or between the front of the mast step & the front hatch, so pretty much all of it gets stepped on. Third, I am not worried about tthe amount of light coming in, there is plenty there even with the vent. Fourth, I want it fairly far forward for air flow through the cabin.
 
Mar 5, 2014
45
Oday 23-2 Oriental
Stu -

Well, because I am hoping to get some thoughtful agreement or suggestions of a better place (like yours).
 
Mar 9, 2013
4
Catalina Capri 26 Rainy Lake
I have the same boat; when I purchased the boat about 10 years ago it came with a solar vent mounted on the deck between the forward hatch and pulpit, slightly off-center on the starboard side. I used to remove it for sailing because I was afraid of tripping or stepping on it. I found that it was not a problem and just worked around it. Now I leave it in place, unless I expect rough seas. I have recently noticed a few drips of water on the v-berth after a hard rain and suspect the gasket needs replacing.