We're looking to add ventilation to our O'Day 31, none of the previous owners did and we're considering purchasing nicro solar vents. First, does anybody have any comments on these vents? Second, I can't find any info. on the cubic foot area of the inside of our boat (I know it's height, width and length, but that doesn't take into account storage and engine area under the cockpit). I used 2/3 of the boat's H x W x L and came up with 1200 cu. ft. which would require two of these vents (I suppose more air exchange is better than less), any comments? Third, we're considering mouting both of these on the plexiglass for the main cabin hatch and the v-berth hatch instead of drilling through the fiberglass cabin top, does anybody have any comments about this idea? Thanks. Jim
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K
Ken
Nicro great
I had a Nicro on my last boat, it worked wonderfully. I never had a moisture problem. It was mounted through the deck near the head and never leaked. I'll be mounting one on my new boat soon and will most likely go through the deck, reason being they make some noise (very little) anyone sleeping in the V birth might be bothered by it. I might shoot for two this time, my friend has two in his boat and it's bone dry, he doesn't have to use anything else to keep his boat dry. Also, at night with the boat shut up tight you breath gives off moisture, the vent eliminates the moisture on interior that collects from that.
I had a Nicro on my last boat, it worked wonderfully. I never had a moisture problem. It was mounted through the deck near the head and never leaked. I'll be mounting one on my new boat soon and will most likely go through the deck, reason being they make some noise (very little) anyone sleeping in the V birth might be bothered by it. I might shoot for two this time, my friend has two in his boat and it's bone dry, he doesn't have to use anything else to keep his boat dry. Also, at night with the boat shut up tight you breath gives off moisture, the vent eliminates the moisture on interior that collects from that.
V
Virginia
What type of ventilation
Jim: What type of ventilation are you looking for? Do you want to vent the boat when you are not there? Do you want more air circulation when you are there. The Nicro vents are great for a closed up boat. I would only install one to begin with and see how that does for you. Then you can install another if you find that it is necessary. The information you may be looking for on these vents can probably be found on the Marinco web site (http://www.marinco.com/). They do not seem to do much when the boat is all opened up. If you are looking for ventilation when you are aboard, there is nothing better than a 110 VAC fan at the dock. When you away from AC power you can't beat the Hella Turbo 12VDC. These Hella fans can also be left going while you are not aboard to provide more air circulation which helps keep the boat much fresher when used with the Nicro vents too.
Jim: What type of ventilation are you looking for? Do you want to vent the boat when you are not there? Do you want more air circulation when you are there. The Nicro vents are great for a closed up boat. I would only install one to begin with and see how that does for you. Then you can install another if you find that it is necessary. The information you may be looking for on these vents can probably be found on the Marinco web site (http://www.marinco.com/). They do not seem to do much when the boat is all opened up. If you are looking for ventilation when you are aboard, there is nothing better than a 110 VAC fan at the dock. When you away from AC power you can't beat the Hella Turbo 12VDC. These Hella fans can also be left going while you are not aboard to provide more air circulation which helps keep the boat much fresher when used with the Nicro vents too.
G
Greg aboard BlueBerry
great results with..
their solar powered vents. They look good (SS), easy to install, are reversible direction so you can pull in or exhaust, are quiet and do a great job. I have a total of 4 on my L-37.
their solar powered vents. They look good (SS), easy to install, are reversible direction so you can pull in or exhaust, are quiet and do a great job. I have a total of 4 on my L-37.
D
Doug Thom
Nicro work great
We have three Nicro fans on our Legend 35.5. One in the forward hatch set for intake, one in the head for exhaust and one in the stern cabin for exhaust. They work great. Yes, they make a quiet whirring noise which might disturb some. If its a problem the unit can be removed and a small cover inserted. I think that the intake fan is important and the Nicro people recommend it. They say that the secret to controlling the moisture in the boat is to equalize the atmosphere outside with the atmosphere inside the boat. We put the two in the stern through the cabin which has not created any problems.
We have three Nicro fans on our Legend 35.5. One in the forward hatch set for intake, one in the head for exhaust and one in the stern cabin for exhaust. They work great. Yes, they make a quiet whirring noise which might disturb some. If its a problem the unit can be removed and a small cover inserted. I think that the intake fan is important and the Nicro people recommend it. They say that the secret to controlling the moisture in the boat is to equalize the atmosphere outside with the atmosphere inside the boat. We put the two in the stern through the cabin which has not created any problems.
J
Jack Tyler
We've used them for several purposes...
Jim: I'd encourage you to read Steve Dion's comments a second time; he's asking the right questions and seconding what everyone seems to think about the Nicro vents. We installed 3 day/night units in our 3 opening hatches; we too did not want to cut up the deck nor saw a reason to. Our motivation was the hot/humid weather in Florida and, at the time, our inability to spend much time aboard. The boat came from Annapolis, loaded with mold, and the vents were one way we overcame that infestation. The difference in 'stuffiness' was immediately noticeable when we'd come below and, using the Nicro catalog (they hadn't been bought out yet...), we figured out where the best 'in' and best 'out' vents should be placed. They worked so well that I decided I should use one for day/night, non-stop bilge ventilation and that has worked well, also. I removed one of the 2 clam vents on the transom and mounted a Nicro vent with the exhaust prop on it. The supply is provided by a dorade-type vent up at the bow and the entire (quite large) bilge volume is replaced every couple of hours, if I did the computation correctly. Suggestions: 1. We've been offshore for the last 26 months and found little water penetration in some (fortunately, rare) big seas. But I'd keep the vent covers close at hand. We've found rain is the bigger problem - I'm talking *downpour* here. 2. Contrary to 1. above, you have to ask yourself how you maintain boat security if you install a vent anywhere near the hatch dogs or a companionway (inside) release, as the bad guys can pull the vent out and slip thru the hatch they can now unlock. To defeat this, I installed some self-tapping screws thru the throat of the vent and into the housing you attach to the deck or hatch lid. Now the vents are not easily removeable...which could ultimately be a problem offshore. But prep for removing them can be done from below, with the hatches closed and vents in. 3. The mfgr of the vent feels extraordinarily proud of their replacement batteries; the price when purchased thru WM e.g. is absurd. Buy replacements at Radio Shack for 1/3 the cost. We've had one go bad (out of 4) in 6 years. More often, it's the contacts in the battery housing that corrode over time, even tho' they are 'stainless' steel. Plan on servicing them annually. Good gear; don't overlook all the applications available to you. Your boat will appreciate it. Jack Aboard WHOOSH, lying St. Pete, FL
Jim: I'd encourage you to read Steve Dion's comments a second time; he's asking the right questions and seconding what everyone seems to think about the Nicro vents. We installed 3 day/night units in our 3 opening hatches; we too did not want to cut up the deck nor saw a reason to. Our motivation was the hot/humid weather in Florida and, at the time, our inability to spend much time aboard. The boat came from Annapolis, loaded with mold, and the vents were one way we overcame that infestation. The difference in 'stuffiness' was immediately noticeable when we'd come below and, using the Nicro catalog (they hadn't been bought out yet...), we figured out where the best 'in' and best 'out' vents should be placed. They worked so well that I decided I should use one for day/night, non-stop bilge ventilation and that has worked well, also. I removed one of the 2 clam vents on the transom and mounted a Nicro vent with the exhaust prop on it. The supply is provided by a dorade-type vent up at the bow and the entire (quite large) bilge volume is replaced every couple of hours, if I did the computation correctly. Suggestions: 1. We've been offshore for the last 26 months and found little water penetration in some (fortunately, rare) big seas. But I'd keep the vent covers close at hand. We've found rain is the bigger problem - I'm talking *downpour* here. 2. Contrary to 1. above, you have to ask yourself how you maintain boat security if you install a vent anywhere near the hatch dogs or a companionway (inside) release, as the bad guys can pull the vent out and slip thru the hatch they can now unlock. To defeat this, I installed some self-tapping screws thru the throat of the vent and into the housing you attach to the deck or hatch lid. Now the vents are not easily removeable...which could ultimately be a problem offshore. But prep for removing them can be done from below, with the hatches closed and vents in. 3. The mfgr of the vent feels extraordinarily proud of their replacement batteries; the price when purchased thru WM e.g. is absurd. Buy replacements at Radio Shack for 1/3 the cost. We've had one go bad (out of 4) in 6 years. More often, it's the contacts in the battery housing that corrode over time, even tho' they are 'stainless' steel. Plan on servicing them annually. Good gear; don't overlook all the applications available to you. Your boat will appreciate it. Jack Aboard WHOOSH, lying St. Pete, FL
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