Best solar vent?

[Bigjim]

I see a lot of solar vents on sale these days. Can anyone recommend the best one for a sailboat?

How do they handle rain and water over the bow? I've seen a few on various foredecks. Is this a good location for one?

My boat also has two passive dorades that don't work very well at ventilating the cabin. Does anyone have some suggestions to improve their function?

[Bigjim]

Does anyone have an opinion or review of solar vents?

[Franziska]

Add computer fans to the dorade and wire them to a proper solar panel.
All solar fans I had were an expensive piece of crap.
Computer fans run endlessly, non stop and are replaceable for 10€

[bstreep]

My experience with the Nicro units has been terrible. We have 2 on the boat. One is at least 20 years old, and I replaced the battery a few years ago. Works great. The other one has been replaced THREE times. It's total crap. West Marine said "no more warranty on this one" on the third one. I replaced it with a passive vent. I'm not sure what happened to Nicro, but their quality is just plain terrible - nothing like it used to be. I even wrote them. No response.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by bstreep

My experience with the Nicro units has been terrible. We have 2 on the boat. One is at least 20 years old, and I replaced the battery a few years ago. Works great. The other one has been replaced THREE times. It's total crap. West Marine said "no more warranty on this one" on the third one. I replaced it with a passive vent. I'm not sure what happened to Nicro, but their quality is just plain terrible - nothing like it used to be. I even wrote them. No response.

Have to agree wholeheartedly, not sure what is better but I would consider passive dorade vents or nothing before I sent any more money there way.

[406Columbia]

After much research and reading of reviews I have taken this route: Air-Only deck ventilators – for yachts, workboats, liveboats and other small ships

If one needs to have active ventilation they have the option to power it with a "breezy" which can be run from your battery bank and solar set-up. Seems much more prudent for my use and they are waterproof when needed without you having to put in plugs, etc.

[mikedefieslife]

I have four solar vents on this boat. All are ****. They more next to no air. Better to install small hatches or equivalent

[Sos]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

After much research and reading of reviews I have taken this route: Air-Only deck ventilators – for yachts, workboats, liveboats and other small ships

Thanks for the link - they do look good

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Have to agree wholeheartedly, not sure what is better but I would consider passive dorade vents or nothing before I sent any more money there way.

I have two dorades that were built into the boat, but they seem to provide no positive ventilation. Perhaps I need to get larger scoops.

[davil]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Add computer fans to the dorade and wire them to a proper solar panel.
All solar fans I had were an expensive piece of crap.
Computer fans run endlessly, non stop and are replaceable for 10€

perfect solution
thanks

[Bigjim]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Add computer fans to the dorade and wire them to a proper solar panel.
All solar fans I had were an expensive piece of crap.
Computer fans run endlessly, non stop and are replaceable for 10€

So, do you have your fans blowing in or out?

[Franziska]

In and out. Just depends which side you face up or down.
Suggest have some blow in at the bow and some out at the stern.

[406Columbia]

anyone have pictures of computer fans mounted up in the vents?

[Franziska]

After long non-stop operation I replaced one fan and took pictures.
Housing is an ex solar vent. Now hard wired to main solar panel.

Important, add foam padding where the fan touches the old housing, to reduce vibration.

[Neptune's Gear]

The issue with the vents above is that they can’t be closed. And the air only ones don’t work if the boat is knocked down or inverted...
I’m still looking for a solution.