Solar Vent on a head hatch.

[Cat36Amoore]

I would like to install a solar vent on my head hatch. Is it possible to drill the hole using a hole saw with out cracking the lenses? I have a new hole saw bit. Plan on masking tape the lenses and going slowly with the drill. Does anybody have any tips?

 

[markwbird]

Yes. I’ve done it. No problem

 

[Mark Maulden]

Drill backwards to start with little pressure

 

[Cat36Amoore]

Thank you!

Drill backwards to start with little pressure

\

 

[Cat36Amoore]

Yes. I’ve done it. No problem

Thank you

 

[Justin_NSA]

How did it go? I've been thinking of adding a second one. The head hatch would be about right. A PO installed one thru the forward hatch and it came out fine, although it's old and should be replaced.

 

[thinwater]

And obviously, drill from both sides.

 

[jviss]

A bit off-thread, but wondering: what is people's long-term satisfaction level with solar vents?

When I bought my boat it had two, in both main overhead hatches. They were ugly and no longer worked. I replaced the NiCd batteries in them, still nothing. I read up on them, there was no longer any support from the manufacturer, and folks had gone to great lengths refurbishing them with quite a dose of MacGyver. I ended up replacing the Lewmar hatch lids at a cost of about $900. Now I have beautiful, clear hatch lids! So, my long-term satisfaction with them is very low.

I would be more interested in servos that would keep my Dorade cowls pointed into the wind! (We're on a mooring and the direction of the boat is determined by the current in the river, not the wind.)

 

[Justin_NSA]

Speaking for myself, it's the only cabin ventilation we have when we close her up. And it's still hot whenever we come out. I run a tiny dehumidifier that doesn't help. Also the refrigeration runs .

 

[jviss]

Speaking for myself, it's the only cabin ventilation we have when we close her up. And it's still hot whenever we come out. I run a tiny dehumidifier that doesn't help. Also the refrigeration runs .

Are the fridge and dehumidifier condensers exhausted to the outside air, or into the cabin?

I'm fortunate that I have four Dorades that work pretty well.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Are the fridge and dehumidifier condensers exhausted to the outside air, or into the cabin?

I'm fortunate that I have four Dorades that work pretty well.

Inside. Dorades look great on a classic boat.

 

[Benny17441]

Only if you never venture offshore. Borrowed an h34 which had some vents installed by the front cabin hatch and we had some unsettled weather approaching Cape May and buried the bow under a swell and had Niagara Falls inside the cabin.

 

[jviss]

Only if you never venture offshore. Borrowed an h34 which had some vents installed by the front cabin hatch and we had some unsettled weather approaching Cape May and buried the bow under a swell and had Niagara Falls inside the cabin.

The solar vents I had on my boat had a way of closing them.

 

[Ron20324]

Drill backwards to start with little pressure

.... save the slug for Justin, he has some holes he needs to cover

 

[Ron20324]

Place a piece of wood on the back side. I think I drilled at least a little bit from both directions to help eliminate chipping on the exit side. You said "hole saw",not a jig saw?

 

[Justin_NSA]

.... save the slug for Justin, he has some holes he needs to cover

now that's funny

 

[markwbird]

A bit off-thread, but wondering: what is people's long-term satisfaction level with solar vents?

When I bought my boat it had two, in both main overhead hatches. They were ugly and no longer worked. I replaced the NiCd batteries in them, still nothing. I read up on them, there was no longer any support from the manufacturer, and folks had gone to great lengths refurbishing them with quite a dose of MacGyver. I ended up replacing the Lewmar hatch lids at a cost of about $900. Now I have beautiful, clear hatch lids! So, my long-term satisfaction with them is very low.

I would be more interested in servos that would keep my Dorade cowls pointed into the wind! (We're on a mooring and the direction of the boat is determined by the current in the river, not the wind.)

Th Nicro solar vents are overpriced crap. Really cheaply made and they do not last vey long. Not many other choices out there.

 

[19thol]

I got a couple on Amazon, work very well, and were pretty inexpensive.

 

[Mr Fox]

I’ve had 2 Nicro solar day and night fans, first one was original to my ‘82 boat, still going strong when I replaced it 2 years ago with a newer model (early version could not close, new one does). New one works perfectly but I put a higher capacity battery in it (mine sits about 2 feet below the boom, in shadow for a lot of the day). Runs non stop 24/7 even when cloudy for days on end. I close the fan when it’s snotty out, taken waves over the bow no leaks.

Not sure why people say they are bad, I haven’t seen any competitors model that’s nearly as good. Whether you want passive vs active ventilation is another issue.

 

[Cat36Amoore]

I would like to install a solar vent on my head hatch. Is it possible to drill the hole using a hole saw with out cracking the lenses? I have a new hole saw bit. Plan on masking tape the lenses and going slowly with the drill. Does anybody have any tips?

I install the vent today. No issues. I followed the advice to tape of the lense, both top and bottom. Drilled in reverse, allowed the bit to work. Seems as it took a while to drill through , it successfully worked. Thank all for the advice.


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