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[mtmaksim]

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

[DaveBMusik]

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

[Noah]

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.

[mtmaksim]

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!

[Stu Jackson]

From my old files

[mtmaksim]

Fantastic resource. Thanks Stu!

[yonar]

This is my Dorade
1989 Hull 858
http://www.vetusmarine.com/store/p/925-Cowl-Ventilator-Tom-S-4.aspx

[Noah]

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.

[rmbrown]

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?

[britinusa]

I reworked the vents on Eximius:

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

Paul

[Noah]

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.

[Susan Ray]

Aloha,
I added these solar vents in place of the cowl vents.
 There’s lots of sun here so they work fine!

[scgunner]

     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.

[Jeff Tancock]

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

[Noah]

Marinco Stainless Steel 4" Day/Night Solar Vent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MGD8XL/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_RvNeDbCRQFA5R