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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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where to find a 3.25" solar vent?

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limey156
1st Mate

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89 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/20/2010 : 09:32:27

hello all,

i have a hole cut into my deck just aft of the mast that accepts an old 3.25" dia solar vent that came with the boat. the vent fan is dead and i want to replace it, but i cannot find a matching replacement. you all have any ideas, or am i going to have to enlarge the hole to 4" to accept that common size i can find?

-Sam

Sun Dancer
1980 C25 SR/SK #1992
Hammock Island Marina, Chesapeake Bay.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 13:35:12

I bought a Nicro Day/Night Plus solar powered vent on Ebay, 3" vent size, that was a drop in replacement after removing the sleeve from the old vent., mfg p/n N20703W. It's worked very well for us.

Edit: sorry to be so short previously, I was in an online conference.
While installing the new vent, I found that I could not use the old teak trim ring and screen on the inside from the old vent's installation, but the new one came with it's own screen. A 3" vent should work for you. Just search ebay for Nicro vent and watch for a 3" vent. The one I replaced was up on the foredeck.

Edited by - dmpilc on 12/20/2010 15:45:11

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 14:04:38

WM and Defender have 3" Nicro solar vents, but the cutout size is listed as 3-3/4". WM has them on sale.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/20/2010 14:06:27

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3478 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 15:51:19

Agree with above posts regarding 3" solar vents also available from Nicro. I suspect the difference in the dimensions mentioned above is probably not in conflict. The cutout hole is 3 3/4". However, since your boat already had an existing fan installed (the one that no longer works), when you pull the vent off, the dimension you indicated, 3 1/4" is probably the inside dimension of the Nicro deck plate that is secured to the deck. My recommendation is to buy a 3" Nicro from your local WM store or order one from them. Then you can easily take it to your boat and see if the top works simply fit snug into the existing base plate. If it does, then your done. if it doesn't, well then you have one of two issues:
1) We are all wrong and you have an unusual dimensional non-Nicro vent fan that was installed...but then you can just locally return the 3" fan to WM and no harm done. or
2) You bought a 3" Nicro solar Vent to replace a 3" Nicro solar vent but they are different configurations.

How can that be...It can ! Here's why:

Nicro makes many solar vent models but they all utilize the same basic standard size cutout holes corresponding to the 3" vent fans or the 4" vent fans. However, depending on the Model purchased, some of the Nicros do not use a "Deck Plate"...they use a "Base Plate" Hmmm! Well, there is a difference.

The 3" Day&Night 2000 uses a deck plate and if your existing Nicro is fairly old, then the 3" Day&Night 2000 is probably what you want to replace it with to reuse the existing "deck plate" that you probably have secured in the cutout hole. That wll simplify installation - Just push the solar vent snugly into the "Deck Plate".

But that Day&Night 2000 may no longer be available or may at least be harder to acquire.

The Nicro 3" (& 4") Day/Night Plus solar vents are what is most commonly being marketed right now...at least that's my thought based on when I visited WM and replaced my old Nicro 4". The "Plus" models utilize a "Base Plate". The cutout hole is the same size but inorder to install a "Plus" model, the old Nicro "Deck Plate" has to be removed and then you secure the new "Base Plate" to the top of the deck. Once you get the "Base Plate" installed, the top works are easy enough to install.

Nicro also sells a few addl models but most of them also utilize a "Base Plate" vs the old style "Deck Plate". You can probably go to the Nicro website and see if they explain all these details to better understand the differences. As far as how to facilitate removal of the old "Deck Plate" without too much grief, that is, ...if it turns out you are going to install a "Plus" Model...well I can then provide more details based on my own experiences.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 09:36:03

Larry described above what I had to do, i.e. remove the old deck plate, etc., but it was an easy process. The new unit fit into the existing hole in the deck. However, I did have to fill in several screw holes and drill new ones as the screw hole alignment was not the same.

Edited by - on

limey156
1st Mate

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89 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 10:02:12

you guys are awesome! thanks.

-Sam

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