mushroom vent

[ebb]

Oh buoy! Yeah, who wants to put holes in those expensive babies!

Mushroom vents don't keep water out with direct hits either. But they can be removed if so mounted and a plate snapped in. Don't sound strong - if you can 'snap' a plate in then obviously you snap the vent out. (?) So could a dexterious dollop of briney, wouldn't you say?

What bothers me about the solar vent is that it is a patented device, stuff can go wrong. A cowl vent could just as easy be UNSCREWED and a plate turned in. A non electric dorade box is probably the most versitile water resistant vent but it needs to be fairly large for efficiency and is rather awkward. They need to be designed well to get air in. There are pvc vents of many descriptions, but they mostly look hokey and vunerable.

Hatches can be left open in a "vent mode" but also can let in water. While sailing our forward opening hatches would have to be down. Ventilation below while sailing and sleeping is absolutely primary. I wonder if the Nicro solars actually let in enough air? Rather have too much and figure out how to turn it down. The original forward hatch on 338 could be left open an inch or so and remained dry.

Air movement is very important to me, and it's a puzzle how to introduce more on the Ariel because of its size and paucity of options. That's why using the hatch, itself a vent for double duty seems like a good idea. But choosing a gizmo that can stop working is not smart.

One exercise when visiting the boat is to imagine where a dorade can be worked in. You know, half cowls in the cabin side, the front part of the seahood configured into a dorade.

Ventilation is needed in the cockpit lockers, or in 338 in the quarter berth, so there will be an opening port in the starboard wall of the cockpit. That will be relatively protected in calm comditions. Another place to put a port hole or small hatch would be in the cockpit cabin side where the galley stove might be , or have an extra venting dropboard.

Endless possibilities. And endless work projects if you don't want to BUY something and pop it in place. Nothing pops into place, dude.


Jack Rabbit, has the upscale ss snap-in Nicro (not the ones with chrome bronze deck plate) for around $150.
Looked up Defender as Mike suggested.
They have the ss covered snap-in for $144. If you want what looks like is the same top but with a chromed bronze deck screw-in deck plate (and I assume the vent screws in also) that will set you back $265!
Creative Energy Technologies
www.cetsolar.com
(scroll to 'Marine Supplies') has a s.s./plastic "SmartVent" - a near copy in style and size, so far as you can tell from their catalog, to the nicro - for $99.

CAN ANYONE REPORT ON HOW WELL THESE NICROS WORK?
Are they meant just for a boat sleeping in the marina? Are these posh little thingies: ..... MARINA VENTS?