Solar vent placement

[wccorder]

I recently acquired a new, still in the box 4" solar vent for cheap. Where have people placed them? I'm leaning away from the sliding hatch, I normally keep it open at night with a screen. I thought about the forward hatch, but think the mast raising pole/line may constantly rub there. Any suggestions? Any thoughts on mounting on the port side window?
Wally
J.A.W.S.

[Azzarac]

I have 2 vents installed on Chameleon. One in the head and the other above the port settee. Both are through the deck. I just think that placing a vent on the hatch or on a deadport looks too much like an amateur's afterthought. Just my LTHO $0.02 worth...

Fair Winds,
Capt. Azzarac
Chameleon
Follow Chameleon's travels at: http://svchameleon.weebly.com/

[kelseydo]

rccorder,
An old gun smith adage is always cut the cheap part first. As the solar vents age they can get a little noisy so put as far as practical from your preferred sleeping location. Located anywhere on the deck including the slider is another tripping hazard and is prone to damage. Therefore put it through one of the windows. Mine has been in the head window of my X for a couple years, the head enclosur helps muffle the sound, vents the head first, works great.
Dan

[March]

Put mine in the transom, port side bench: I figured that since I sleep in the rear berth, there will be a cool stream of air coming right down my face. The cushion could be rolled up for the night, I thought. Well, that was a stupid decision, even though the execution was pretty well-done: holes through the linings and the bench, reinforced with expanding foam, as rigid as the rest of the cockpit. The damn thing never lasted through the night even after I changed the battery with a new one. So for the past three years, I capped the hole (it;s watertight now) and covered it with the cushions and forgot about it. No harm done.I am reluctant to putting it anywhere on the topside since I don't need things to trip against when I'm up there. The forward hatch.... hmmm! It works well by itself if it's half open and scoops the wind. Probably putting it in the head window would work best. The fan is not all that poweful

[bartmac]

Put one in the head....but it didn't have a battery so hooked it into the electricals and now it runs 24/7...put another on the vertical at the stern above the steering mechanism....as there was already a round screwed inspection hatch there...replaced it with a rectangular hinged hatch...the outside shower hose lives in there...and in the door I fitted the fan..not solar again wired in....all about not making more holes...utilizing existing ones.
We have 200 watt of solar panels on board so the draw is not going to matter.