Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: mtmaksim on June 07, 2016, 11:19:13 AM

Title: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: mtmaksim on June 07, 2016, 11:19:13 AM
Hello everyone.  This is my first post to the forum.   My wife & I purchased a 1989 (Sail #880) Catalina 34 last fall.  This spring/summer, we are working on getting some of the "kinks" out of the boat.  We have two Nicro dorade vents, and I read the articles/wiki/mainsheet articles about replacing the vents with new vents and dorade boxes. 

Looking at our vents, the only thing that we are having issues with is the internal mechanism.  The screw and "mushroom cap" that keeps the water out are missing - which means that currently, we can see daylight through our dorades - not good!

I was wondering if anyone that replaced their Nicro dorades with something new had the old parts laying around?  I'm interested in purchasing them - Catalina, CatalinaDirect, nor anyone else has replacement parts any longer.

Thank you!

Mike Maksimchuk
Sisu - Sail #880
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: DaveBMusik on June 07, 2016, 05:40:29 PM
I just replaced mine. They were Vetus Mushroom vents from Jamestown Distributors. I believe they were the Athos size.
Remove the dorade vent, pry off the old ones, re-pot the holes. I used butyl tape from mainesail. They work beautifully.
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/product.do?part=119962&engine=adwords&keyword=product_ad&gclid=CO-z4dOXl80CFdgcgQod5ekK4w
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Noah on June 07, 2016, 07:18:33 PM
Be careful, I believe the 86 vs 89 MAY be different. My1990 was not a vetus mushroom. It was a self-contained unit. I replaced my cracked plastic Nico Fico dorade "box" AND the cowl vents with the Air-Only brand (shipped out of Malta). They took some fussing around with teak trim rings, etc. But finally worked well.
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: mtmaksim on June 08, 2016, 05:28:19 AM
It is just the internal flange/cover and screw that are missing.  I would rather not have to put in 2 new vents if I can source the parts somewhere....

Thanks for your suggestions so far though!
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Stu Jackson on June 09, 2016, 10:56:32 PM
From my old files
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: mtmaksim on June 13, 2016, 07:27:33 PM
Fantastic resource. Thanks Stu!
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: yonar on June 13, 2016, 08:27:00 PM
This is my Dorade
1989 Hull 858
http://www.vetusmarine.com/store/p/925-Cowl-Ventilator-Tom-S-4.aspx

Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Noah on June 13, 2016, 09:10:23 PM
SECOND WARNING--If yours is a Nicro brand dorade vent it is probably a 3 in. not a 4 in. (like the Stu's Vetus.) You MAY have fit issues.
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: rmbrown on June 19, 2019, 07:39:13 PM
You guys are making me jealous!  I have stainless cowls screwed into metal deck plates fitted into teak rings on the cabin top... no dorade box in site.  Unscrew the cowls and you can look straight down into my galley or chart table.

To make matters worse,  even turned away from the wind they leak horribly.  When i removed the inside trim rings and screens, i can see that i have rot in the deck core as the fiberglass is split all around inside the cylindrical shaft under each cowl.

Were the dorades under the cowls optional?
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: britinusa on June 21, 2019, 12:19:32 PM
I reworked the vents on Eximius:

https://www.sailingeximius.com/2017/10/oh-for-some-fresh-air.html (https://www.sailingeximius.com/2017/10/oh-for-some-fresh-air.html)

Paul
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Noah on June 21, 2019, 03:31:20 PM
Mike: I can't imagine that yours is a factory install. Would be incredible if Catalina (or anyone) installed a cowl vent directly to the deck without the dorade/water stop base closing vent, albeit a box/tower or mushroom  mechanism. Catalina stopped installing dorade/cowl vents on the MK II, but not sure what was stock on your 1993 "1.5". I don't know if Vetus still makes mushroom dorade bases. Nicro Fico does not.  I replaced mine with the Air-Only brand. You might look at these. They are made in Europe. Search web or this forum for "Air-Only", you will find them.
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Susan Ray on June 24, 2019, 03:45:10 PM
Aloha,
I added these solar vents in place of the cowl vents.
There's lots of sun here so they work fine!
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: scgunner on June 25, 2019, 07:28:43 AM
     Susan,

        I did the same thing on Top Gun, I got the idea from another 34(Blondie) on my dock. The solar vents work great and it's one less thing for the jib sheets to get hung up on when tacking. On more than one occasion I've had the jib sheet actually catch on and knock the dorade off it's mount and had to chase it around the deck before it could find it's way over the side.
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Jeff Tancock on June 25, 2019, 11:46:29 AM
Susan, Kevin,
Those look like something I need.
Are they a swap out fit?
Do they keep out the bugs and water?
Where did you find them?
Thanks
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: Noah on June 25, 2019, 12:27:57 PM
Marinco Stainless Steel 4" Day/Night Solar Vent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MGD8XL/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_RvNeDbCRQFA5R
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: scgunner on June 26, 2019, 07:30:38 AM
     Jeff,

       They're the same vents that your boat originally came equipped with installed over the head and aft cabin entrance. I removed those and capped the openings when I installed my dodger since they're practically useless with the dodger in place(no sunlight to spin the fans). They're pretty much a straight swap with the dorade vents. We had an unusually wet winter here in SoCal with no leaking vent issues. I've never seen any bugs come through the vents but I suppose a really small determined bug might find a way through the vent.
Title: Re: Nicro Dorade (1989) Parts
Post by: rmbrown on July 15, 2019, 08:41:20 AM
My December 92 built 93 model year requires the 3" vents rather than the 4, unless I want to enlarge the hold and reglass the tube.