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Has anyone installed nicro solar vents on a 26M? I'm thinking about it and was wondering what locations work best. I'm thinking of getting two of the day/night 3" models and have one set for intake and one exhaust.

i put a 4" in the front hatch. Probably not optimal, but works well

I think that is best spot. This boat has beam construction in the deck ( hollow areas with web reinforcements ) and cutting holes can cause problems. The fwd hatch and sliding hatch are only spots with balsa. A hole works best in solid areas, the deck is two parts held apart by webs of fiberglass. You might cut through your strength and weaken the deck, so just cut your hole in thew hatches only!
Mike Inmon

I recently installed a pair of 4 inch Nicrovents in our X. I was concerned at first that the 4 inch fans would seem to big, but after installation, they seem fine, and I think we'll be pleased we opted for larger fan size and greater air movement. I put one on the forward hatch, as recommended above, and that worked fine. It is set for intake. I installed the exhaust fan through the lexan head window. I will cut a plastic vent grill through the head enclosure, to make sure of adequate air movement. I made a jig with 1/4 inch masonite and used the router with a 1/4 inch edge trimmer bit for the cutouts. It did a quick, neat and clean job. I was able to bolt the jig onto the outside of the lexan head window using the little machine screws that hold the window in place in the X. Clamps worked on the forward hatch. Black 5200 worked well for sealing the lexan window installation, and white on the forward hatch.

Three years, no problems with this installation in deck just portside of the mast, of a Nicro 3" Day/Night vent. Moe first did this location, and I copied it exactly. You can see the "beam" construction inside, just a rib of glass matt laid over a soft foam spacer, which holds the fiberglass until the resin sets. It is no big deal IMHO, to cut a 3" hole there, as the ribs are left in place around it, bonded to the deck and liner still.
I put one vent in the front hatch lid, blowing inward, the one by the mast as described, blowing outward, and another in the sliding hatch, near the head door, also blowing outward.

I did the same install on my and my 220# lardbutt doesnt deflect the deck in that location at all. I put another one in the front hatch too.

I went to replace one of the plastic vents with a SS version and found the hole size for plastic receiving end (5200 sealed to deck) was slightly smaller than the SS one... so if you are planning on moving vents around take this into consideration.

3" Nicro vent in forehatch cover, exhausts. Easy install. Works fine even under my blue winter tarp. Almost silent. Pretty low CFM but continuous run makes it usefull. If I had it to do again, I might use the 4" for more flow. Good mod. Ron

The great thing about the Nicro vents, is the round flat top piece they provide to plug the collared hole if you remove the vent. That closes up the deck clean. You can also get a passive horn shaped vent to replace the solar vent, and if moving fast, to force massive air into the boat.

Please forgive my ignorance.

If a Nicro vent placed in the forward hatch pulls air into the V berth area, how does it keep water out, especially during nasty weather, power washing the boat, or, while racing about at full throttle???

The vents have a step on them so that water has to take a pretty long path to get down into the cabin..hard to explain in words but it works pretty well.

basically like putting a larger bowl upside down over an inner cylinder, which method allows air to enter the slots at the bottom, below the bowl, and go up over the cylinder inside, but resists water from splashing inside the bowl over the inner cylinder rim.

If you anticipate pounding seas with waves over the bow for an extended length of time, remove the vent and plug the mounting hole with the stopper plate.

I have installed my one in the window over the head. Works great. It pushes all the “fumes” out as well.

Thanks for all of your information!!

I just bought a 4 inch stainless steel model on ebay. (Hope I wasn't competing against another Macgregor owner. If I did, I'll let you have the next one.)

Even though our boat was made in 2006, it is a new boat, so it is still offgassing the hydrocarbons from manufacturing. This should help expel these chemicals.

Also, I figure a powered vent will help expel future odors from the galley and you know where.

Again, thanks

I installed the vent in the perspex window above the head - i installed it in extract mode. That way it would suck all the head smells (both human and chemical) and pump them out in to the atmosphere.

Be careful about cutting the perspex - i am sure other will offer advice on the best way to cut perspex.

Has worked a treat.

Cheers

I read through all of the installation instructions and if a Nicro Solar vent is to be installed through rather thin material, such as a foreward hatch, an additional part is required.

It is a vinyl spacer ring.

In my case, the part number for the 4 inch model is: N10864SP. It costs about $30.00 at West Marine.