Replacing Nicro Solar Vent w/ Beckson Marine Passive Vent

[bahamarich]

I have not found the solar vents from Nicro to hold up that well. I currently have two that need to be replaced. I do not feel that they are worth the two hundred dollars for the few years of functional service; ours get a lot of salt spray. I have found that Beckson Marine makes a non-solar vent that will fit my 4 in hole and only fifty something dollars each; one hundred plus dollars verses four hundred. OK I'm cheap!

Has anyone used the Beckson vents? For fifty dollars was the quality ok?

I know that the batteries can be replaced on the Nicro vents, but it is more than that wrong w/ them. They do not work at all and have moisture between the layers of the solar panels. Rich

[Celestialsailor]

Have you tried replacing the "C" size Nicad battery inside?

[Tim R.]

If you can find one of Nicro's older models(N20504), they work much better. The one I have has lasted 13 years with a few battery replacements. There is a guy on ebay who has a bunch of OEM white ones he is selling.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nicro-Day-Ni...65040e&vxp=mtr