MkII Adding Salon Vent

[reedbr]

My MarkII is always a little stuffy when I first get onboard.  Even though I leave the cabin doors propped open and the aft mini hatches open to the first ridge, there isn't enough flow.  I'm finally getting the courage to cut a hole in the boat. I've been contemplating this for 5 years now.  A nice sister gave me a Nicro solar vent for Christmas and pushed me over the edge.

The question is, where to put it.  From all the archives, I see Ron has one between the mast and forward hatch, somebody put one in the main salon hatch lexan, and a third put theirs in the fiberglass between the salon hatch and the mast.  Pro's of the salon hatch is it is easier to fix if it doesn't work there.  Con's are possibly stepping on it and cracking the hatch glass.  Forward of the mast gets lots of sun and vents the V-berth too.  I'm wondering if it snags jib sheets easily.  Moutned in the fiberglass between the salon hatch and the mast is probably pretty free from foot traffic due to the running rigging attached to the mast base. Does it get enough sun to run?

OK, any advice before I start cutting?  Any recommendations, opinions (uh-oh), or additional consierations? Location I haven't thought of?

Similar threads:
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1244.0.html
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2173.0.html
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1462.0.html

Thanks.

[cmainprize]

Hi,
I put one on the hatch above the table.  Worked great and did not leak.  I would avoid cutting a three inch hole in the boat at all costs.  My humble opinion.

[Carl Crothers]

I put a Nicro in the hatch above the salon table as well. I's out of the way on deck and it does a good job ventilating the entire boat if I keep the stateroom doors open. I also keep the hatch in the head open slightly for intake air. That hatch is covered by the dodger so rain doesn't come in. One caution, I left a laptop on the salon table once and came back after a heavy rain to a ruined computer. It's really difficult for water to enter the vent when it's open unless a wave washes over the cabin top or you blast it with a hose, so I don't know how that water came in except rain blowing sideways, maybe. The other thing I would say is, if your Nicro quits in a year, as they sometimes do, call the company and complain. I did and they sent me a new one at no charge even though the warranty had expired.