The paint on my plastic cowl vents is again starting to look crappy just a year after I last painted them. Recently I've been casting an eye towards getting metal chrome vents (thinking, gosh I won't have to paint them no more and wouldn't they look just plain spiffy). A friend of mine advises towards the higher profile vents, though he also advises that one of the problems with metal vents is that if you fall on one, unlike plastic vents, they..uh..hurt. Is this a question of form over function? Any opinions out there?
Those vents can look awful. I bought new ones and they still got that awful look. Another problem is they stick up so much I lost two because they got caught in the jib sheets during a tack. Then I saw a C34 with nice looking stainless steel low profile vents and I asked "where did you get those beautiful looking, low profile Stailess vents ?" His answer was simple. Just remove the dirty air scoop, remove the cone shape plastic riser, and WHALA, you are left with what you see. How about that, you now have a much nicer looking Stailess air vent that can not get caught by whipping jib sheets and is still quite funtional. Screw it down to make it air and water tight, screw it up and you got air. Fill the holes with the screws that you removed. Try it, you might like it...
Thanks Ron, yeah my boats an '87 so I'll take a look at the $30 Vetus vents.
(I keep forgetting to tag my boat particulars onto my messages, so I dropped them into my sig line so I don't have to remember in the future.)
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron Hill:
Rodney, You didn't mention the your year C34 or hull #. The 1986 thru 88 production boats had 4" Vetus durade vents, which can be replaced for about $30 each. The 1989 and later boats have a 3" durade made by Nicro, which are a little cheaper. If you're a BoatUS member, call special order and they can get them for you at a slightly cheaper BoatUS discount. APACHE #788 ;)
ronphylhill@erols.com<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
-Tranquility '87 Hull # 290
San Diego
Rodney-- I wrote a couple years ago to the list about replacing the 4" cowls through Vetus in Baltimore (I have a 1988 C34). The cost was about the same then ($30)but shipping was not cheap. I have had several more sets since then. I found the Vetus vents in Hawaii last 8-10 months before they have bad UV damage that cannot be removed. Don't know if they would last much longer in San Diego. Other brands on other boats here seem to last longer but don't come in the the same size. I have thought about 4" metal cowls (Sailnet had a recent special on them) but worry about falling into them and problems with lines. I just bought the paint last weekend for the vents but it doesn't look like there is any easy answer.
Mark Hazlett
Does anyone know the type of cowl vent that goes on the 86 c34? I lost mine over the weekend and need to replace it..
Thanks :eek:
Rich Wilkins
Houston Tx
86 c34
S/V Lil Tiger
Geaux Tigers!!
I'm just resigned to buying new ones every two years or so. For me, they are mainly cosmetic since we sail all year and are on the boat so much. They really don't provide much ventilation compared to running the AC all the time at the dock. I guess you could apply some high SPF sunscreen or other UV protectant to them when you install the new ones. Same goes for the mainsail cover insignia.
Mike and Jan Smith
S/V Breezer
www.mikejansmith.com (http://www.mikejansmith.com)
I've thought about replacing my cowls with Nicro solar vents. Has anyone done this? Is this a good idea?
I have replaced them with the Nicro solar vent and am very happy. As stated in the earlier posts the Dorades got in the way. This way the vents running all the time and I am able to get ventilation into the cabin while the boat is in the slip. I have had to replace the batterys about every 2-3 years for a nominal cost.
Mine look awful as well.
Have you had any problems with water leakage through the solar vents and how do you secure them in the event of something like Isabel?
Frank
#927 "Prime Interest"
I may get a few drops in an extremely heavy rain, but they are designed to keep the water out. When we are threatened by a storm I just remeove them. They lift out very easily and come with a cap that fits into the openingand is very snug.
Sounds like a great solution! What model solar vent did you install? I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of "nautical appearance" for decreased maintenance and better ventilation...
Frank
#927 "Prime Interest"
I put the Nicro stainless solar vents on. They ran about $100 each, but I had used the plastic before and after time in the sun they cracked and broke
Does the stainless model lift out easily and include a cap to seal the opening?
Frank
#927 "Prime Interest"
Yes, they use the same cap as the plastic
Here's a catalog cut of the Vetus vents. I wrote an article about replacements with other types of vents, see Mainsheet, August 2005 issue (http://www.c34.org/mainsheet/pdf/Aug_2005.pdf)
Rodney : Do a search on our information center.
Within the past few months one of our guys put on some beautiful stainless vents and posted it on the message board. His post has pictures and all of the other information. :wink:
I had replaced my cowl vents with the Nicro 2000 plus solar vent. Couldn't be happier. It actually fit pretty well the where the cowls go, with very little overhang. Its not as high profile as the cowls, and my sheets don't come anywhere near popping them off as might happen with a cowl. And these will give 24/7 ventilation.
From Yachtworld.com.
here's a recent thread about using Krylon paint to refinish the cowl vents.
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=3439.0
Here's one link from a search on the word "vents" -- http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=3217.0
I expect to replace my vents this season, but I haven't seen any that match the dimensions on my current vents. Maybe I'm measuring the wrong aspect.
The scoop base, which is held down by a screwed in retaining ring, measures 3 3/4" ID and 4 3/4" OD. Neither the Vetus nor Nicro specify these dimensions, so I figure I'm either measuring the wrong aspect or I've got a "renegade" piece of equipment!
Any clarification would be welcome.
Ed
Ed, does that include the catalog cut of the Vetus on page 1 of this thread? See reply #14
Stu,
That's what made me think I'm measuring the wrong point. The diagram you provided references dimensions of the box, but I didn't see a dimension for the base of the flexible scoop.
As you know, I've got an 89, and the posts indicate that should be a Nicro. I just wanted to verify the scoop base dimension before ordering a set.
Ed
I have a '87 and took off the cowls and dorads and found these mushrooms underneath. So I just filled the holes with screws and left them off. They look okay and don't get in the way of anyone. Also the cowls were cracking and cost too much to replace. Anyone want cowls and dorades?
My boat is a 1987 C-34, hull no. 453. This past summer I lost a cowl vent during an inadvertent gybe. I have ordered a replacement from Catalina Direct that has not yet arrived. Does anyone know if there is a direct replacement for the original vent? If so, where can I get one?
Thanks,
Vic Suben
Surprise
Vic : The direct replacement is from Vetus. Go on line and look for the 4" replacement - think it's called a "Jerry". :thumb:
I've had good success spraying my Vetus plastic ones with an aerosol can of Vinyl and fabric paint - intended for car seats and the like. Did them two years ago and it is holding up well.
Just a quick note. I replaced my Cowls with the Nicro Solar vents (I believe it to be the 2000 series stainless) and they work great. As far as the water intrusion "not a problem" unless you may be running a power sprayer. You also have the ability of closing them down without removing them. They work day and night. They do better for circulation then the cowls. I have three on the boat and use one as exaust to keep the circulation through the boat.
Does anyone have a vent they want to unload since I ended up kicking my loose one for my C34 '90 into the drink the other day. DARN.
The idea of the solar powered vents look like a good idea, but until I can do that I need to replace the missing one.
Thanks.
Sail : Your dorade vents are 3" Nicro. Not Vetus. :wink: