2021-02-14; 12:15:06 EST
Member Since
2016-12-14
Posts: 257
Reuben, I posted yesterday to Jesse's post, so maybe you didn't get it. Here are my drawings for the poptop hatch installation of the two Marinco Solar vent models. As I said, I preferred to keep my cowl vent on the foredeck so I can close it up for really bad weather. The following is the entry I made in my Project Journal for the Installation: SOLAR EXHAUST VENTS – MARINCO Day and Day/Night Solar Vent Modified Installation for Rhodes 22 I wanted to install a solar powered exhaust vent on my Rhodes but finding a suitable location was challenging. The obvious location was in the existing 3” anchor chain locker opening. The problem with that location is reaching the control and the removable screen. Also, keeping the Cowl Vent that can be removed and capping the port was important to me, as well as providing thru-cabin intake for the aft mounted solar vents. All other locations on the foredeck or on the Cabin Top presented problems with tripping over it when going forward, although with both roller furling and IMF main, it shouldn’t be a problem, I just didn’t want to bore a hole in the deck. I began considering mounting on the Pop-Top Slider. It’s out of the way, provides a central but far enough aft location to draw air through most of the boat. I purchased the Marinco Solar Vent and decided on the Pop-Top location. Once I had the vent I realized that the Pop-Top only allowed ¼” clearance from the cabin top when in the forward position. The Solar Vent required 1” clearance. What to do? Simple! Raise the Solar Vent up high enough to provide the clearance. To do this, I used ½” and ¼” PVC plumbing “flange spacers” plus a 1/8” neoprene gasket which I epoxied together to provide 7/8” lift, giving the clearance required. I used a 3-3/4” hole saw to bore the hole, which I placed off center in case I wanted to add a second fan. Since installing, combined with eliminating some port lite leaks, below decks has improved considerably but still has a hint of the mildew odor when opening up. One of the issues with the Marinco Solar Vent is that when the sun goes down, so does the exhaust vent. I have since purchased a Marinco Day/Night Solar vent that does just that by charging an internal battery during the day that will keep the fan operating all night. Modification for Day/Night Solar Vent As things would have it, nothing is simple. The Day/Night model does not have the same profile as the Daytime only model. It is about 2-1/2” taller and requires more spacing. For this project, I cut a piece of 3” PVC schedule 40 pipe to 2-1/4” which was epoxied to a ¼” flange spacer and bolted to the Pop-Top Slider, separated by a 1/8” neoprene gasket. Once it was in place it’s only a matter of adjusting the trim rings at top and bottom. The appearance on the Pop-Top slider is somewhat awkward because the two vents are different heights, but the extra ventilation is much more effective than with just one. As for a drain in the anchor rode tray, I also have been wanting to install one. Possibly a thru hull just aft and below the level of bottom of the tray. It wouldn't need to be a sea-cock type. Look at the water tank and holding tank vents port and starboard just below the toe rails. Deck_Vents_Fore_and_Aft.jpg Solar_Vent_Installation_PopTop_Sliding_Hatch.jpg Solar_Vent_Installation_Marinco_Day-Night.jpg ----- Joe Dempsey s/v Respite Rhodes 22 1989/2005 Deltaville,VA -- Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/See the original archive post