Solar Vents

FourPoints · Apr 25, 2011

I have seen the solar vents installed in the hatch covers many times before, so you shouldn't have a problem, but I think you need a bit designed for plastic.

Victoria28 · Apr 25, 2011

I installed a "Day/Night"solar vent in the small midship opening vent on our 1992 Catalina 28 - drilling the hole was easy with the right size hole saw, just go slow to keep the plastic from melting.
Works great, no smell or mold in our damp west coast winter.

moehorenfeldt · Apr 25, 2011

Solar powered exshaust vents

I have 3 solar vents - day only - I don't need the damn fan running over my head at night when I'm trying to sleep - yes they make noise after several years.

Have them all exhaust - you have all sorts of "holes" in the boat which allow air to enter. I have one in the V Berth, one in the galley and one in the head - all cut throught the cabin and cabin liner.

The hatch plastic may shatter when you tru to "cut" it. I have never had a leak in the cabin with a properly installed vent.

DO IT! Your cabin will stay sweet smelling.

Scott T-Bird · Apr 25, 2011

I thought about installing mine in the hatch and decided against it. I figured that it would be doing no good when the hatch is opened and we sometimes lay a cushion across the hatch when lounging on the bow. I put mine just in front of the mast instead and cut a hole in the roof ... no regrets. It serves the head better this way and is out of the way.

Ron20324 · Apr 25, 2011

mcrow33 said:
Can I cut the lexan using a hole saw, if I can find one big enough? My plan is to put one in the V-berth hatch blowing out and one in the main cabin hatch blowing in. This should give me good air flow. Thanks

I have cut maybe a dozen of mine and friends with a hole saw. Some people might use a jig saw, but I think a hole saw will give you a nicer finished hole. Use a backing board to support the cut. Get the 4-inch vent, as there is never TOO MUCH ventilation. Some of them have a switch to cut them off at night./// I think if you blow out the vee, you'll lose some, if not all the effect as you'll be blowing against the breeze that would be on the bow if anchored. I'd have the front blow in, the aft blow out. Of course there should be 2 blades in the kit so you can reverse flow if you want to./// When locating for the hole, be sure to put the cover in it's final place to make sure hinges do not interfere.

FastOlson · Apr 25, 2011

Aeolian ventilator benefits

My experience aligns with the posters that advise to have them all exhaust. Our boat was musty when we bought it in the 90's and after thoroughly cleaning up the interior I installed two SS Beckson vent-o-mates, one for the aft cabin and one for the head.
No more odors, to the present day.

The non-solar ones work fine, with no motor bearings to turn noisy or seize up and no batteries to die. The Beckson bases keep out rain and spray, unlike the press-in Fico style, too.

L

Steve Dion · Apr 25, 2011

Yes, day/night solar vents. I think that using them both to exhaust will be better. There is enough air that enters through the companionway and other areas and your purpose is to exhaust moisture.

You can find the hole saws at Home Depot/Lowe's that will do the job. I think they are 4 3/4" or so. Going slow is good because the acrylic will be melting if you go too fast. They have on/off switches so you can turn them off if you do not want the air.

I think that they come with two fan blade (intake/exhaust) so you can decide which way you want to air to flow. You may want to price them out on this site, they have the best prices most of the time. If you cannot find them, give Dave a call and he can helpl you out.

Deadhead · Apr 25, 2011

Hole Saw

I cut through the hatch w/ a 4" (I think) hole saw as required for the Nicro Solar Vent I installed. I snapped a couple of chalk lines to find the center of the hatch then drilled a starter hole.

Run the hole saw backwards, at least to start, and lube it with plenty of water from a spray bottle. It makes a nice clean cut.

jtm · Apr 25, 2011

I have the H28.5. I have a SOLAR 3" diam Nicro 1000 (no battery) which only exhausts in the daytime- It is mounted on the ~9 inch square mid cabin hatch. I used the same size ( its not 3" but slightly larger) Milwaukee hole bit that I used to bore a hole thru the deck just forward of the mast. That second solar vent is a Nicro Day/Night - also 3"diam vent(bit is larger - check the instructions for exact hole bit diam about $30@ Sears) This Day/Nite has a rechargeable battery which will support the fan for 48 hours AND there is a on/off switch in the housing. Also it comes with 2 propeller blades - one exhaust one intake. You can get the Day/Night vents in 4inch diam (you need and even larger hole bit)but I didn't need "larger holes". I forget if there a switch in the Nicro 1000 as I rarely fool with it. but They are both very quiet fans.

You buy "special plastic boring bits" for the initial pilot hole and then enlarge it with the larger center bit of the hole saw(I bought 2 plastic bit sizes to do this). You don't put weight on the bit- let the bit do the work "slowly" boring thru. Same goes for when the outer teeth of the hole saw engage the plastic/lexan. Slow does it and not much weight/loading very slightly rotating the boring seemed to help the cutting edge - clean out the shavings as you go. Slow, not forced and steady works. You'll need to drill the mounting holes (4) and hit it with a drop of silicone to seal it.

For the Day/nite on the deck forward of the mast, I sealed it with 3M 4200 and also sealed the cylinder/airshaft liner between the liner and the deck.

I'm very pleased with the setup. It(the Nicro1000) keeps the boat dry and fresh thru the winter and I can use it in tandem as exhaust in the summer. I wish i had done it years earlier. BTW- I got a S/S outer shell on it- just in case I might forget and step on it- which hasn't happened .....yet.

Jim
s/v SafeHarbor

mccauley13 · Apr 25, 2011

I bought a "RotoZip" tool from Loe's to cut access panels. Works great. Just like a Dremel on Steroids!!!!!

jtm · Apr 25, 2011

one for feature- the day nite hase a cut out to shut the vent completely- you simply push the shaft liner up about 1/2 inch and your sealed.

Steve Dion · Apr 25, 2011

Just let me say, you do not want to screw up cutting a hole in these hatches. They are expensive to replace the acrylic.

Using a hole saw is a good investment and you may be able to rent one from Marinco if you don't want to put out the money.

med2463 · Apr 25, 2011

mcrow33 said:
Hi all, I'm thinking about installing a couple of solar vents to keep the musty smell away during the time the boat is closed up between usage. Since I rather not cut into the fiberglass, I'm thinking of installing them in the lexan hatch covers. Can I cut the lexan using a hole saw, if I can find one big enough? Or is there a better way? My plan is to put one in the V-berth hatch blowing out and one in the main cabin hatch blowing in. This should give me good air flow.

Thanks

I replaced the dorades on our boat with two solar mini vents bought on SBO store.
http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?17329

Ron20324 · Apr 25, 2011

You want to make the vent-mounting bolt holes a bit larger than the bolts/machine screws.