Vent Installation

[Lou Phillippi]

I want to increase ventilation in my boat. I am considering a solar-powered vent, and am wondering about the best location(s) and number of vents. The forward hatch cover has braces which are located dead center, so unless I want to offset the vent there, I will need to find another location.

 

[Dick Carey]

Solar Vent

Hi Lou,I put in a Nicro 2000 Solar/Battery powered vent and did install it in the hatch over the veeberth. That hatch had two side telescoping support arms though and not in the center.I got the 4 inch stainless vent. The vent is set on exhaust and runs 24/7. The solar panel runs it in daytime and charges the small internal battery. The battery runs it at night. It has workrd great. This is the third season.For input air I cut a slot in the topmost hatch board at the companionway and put in what is sold as a louvered venturi vent, and glued some fiberglass screening behind it.It makes a big difference in the boat.Dick CareyS/V Puffin1990 H-33.5

 

[Bob]

Try the smaller hatch

Our 285 has a smaller hatch just behind the mast and it seems to be at the high point of the cabin. It offers some venting when it's open, especially when we're cooking in the galley, and it might make a good location for your solar vent if it can fit there. We have a solar vent (that has a lithium battery in it for night use) in the center of our forward hatch with vents in the top wash board at out companion way. The only few reasons that I can't think of not to mount the vent in the samller hatch (if your boat has one) would be if the vent is just too big, when the vent is open it gets in the way of the boom vang (if you have one or are thinking of getting one), or you want the air flow to go from the rear of the cabin all the way to the foward hatch. The last reason would be the best to mount it foward. If it's off center would that be so bad? The call is yours.

 

[Lou Phillippi]

Thanks

I appreciate the info from both of you. Probably will mount in the forward hatch.

 

[Jim McCue]

what about any deckwash

Since this has been such a damp Spring I am finally thinking about putting in a solar vent. I was wondering if wave deckwash is likely to come thru the forward deck hatch??? Is their a (internal to the solarvent unit)shunt or vent cover that would protect the vent when in sloppy water???Jim

 

[Rich Macal]

Solar Vents

I have an 85 28.5 and have had a vent in the smaller vent for the past 8 years. Up until 2 years ago (when I replaced the forward hatch) I had one in one of the quadrants there also. I sail in a reasonably protected area and never had any issues with deck wash. The purpose of all of this venting is to allow air flow primarily when the boat is not moving. In addition to cutting louvers in the next to the top board I also attached a cover to the port opening from the rear berth into the cockpit. This "cover" is nothing more than a plastic cover normally used to re-direct air flow in hot air furnace systems and generally fits onto a register and is held magnetically. I simply glued it in place and can now leave that rear port open without any worry about rain getting it. This has definitely improved the overall air quality in the boat and reduced my annual mold/mildew clean up to something very reasonable.