[Rhodes22-list] gasket for mounting solar vent

Sat Feb 13 12:37:15 EST 2021

Hi Rueben,

Have you already purchased the solar fan?  I think you may be referencing a
different model than I have.  I think Rhodies have used a few different
models so someone else may be able to chime in here as well.

Here's a snippet from page 7 of the instructions for my model posted at
https://www.marinco.com/en/~/media/inriver/382600-41402.pdf

"The interior trim ring is not required for hatch mount installation. This
allows you to finish the interior based on your preference. Mounting to a
hatch surface for a 4" vent requires a 4-1/2" (114 mm) diameter hole, and
the 3" vent requires a 3-1/2" (89 mm) diameter hole."

I did install the interior trim ring.  It appears the hole in my deck was
about 3.5" and it was a pretty snug fit with the interior trim ring.  The
trim ring threads didn't allow me to tighten all the way down to the
ceiling so I cut some PVC pipe to serve as a spacer.  With the sizeable
gasket on top, I pushed down on the fan from on top of the deck to compress
the gasket (purchased separately - this is actually for a pressure cooker)
while my brother was in the forepeak tightening the trim ring and ensuring
the spacer was in the right place.  It took a bit of trial and error to get
this just right.

One other thing to consider is that you may want to take the opportunity to
epoxy the edges of the hole before you install the solar fan.  There was
already some sort of black goo coating on the edges for protection but as
long as you are working in that area it is easy enough to grind out the
inside layers of a bit with a dremel and fill with epoxy.

After I installed the fan, I came to the conclusion that chocks would be
helpful because the bow cleat is aft of the fan.  I think some R22s already
have chocks mounted on a reinforced area of the toe rail but mine did not
so I ended up adding some mounted on top of HDPE blocks on the foredeck.
My foredeck has gotten a bit busy since I added an anchor roller this past
fall.  Anyway, I just wanted to mention some unanticipated project scope
creep that resulted once I started down this path.  It all turned out well
in the end.

It sounds like you've been busy with projects on your new boat.  Have you
had a chance to take it sailing much yet?  Weather in Sarasota sounds
pretty nice right now.  Tomorrow the forecasted high temp here in Omaha is
-3 degrees!

Jesse

On Sat, Feb 13, 2021 at 5:11 AM Reuben Mezrich <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Jesse
> Thank you for the details. I do have the anchor tray under that hole and so
> I could do the arrangement Roger suggests to catch any water.
> One thing puzzles me. The spec for the housing extending  below deck on the
> Nicro device is that it is 3.72" but it seems the hole you show in your
> third figure is less than 3 1/2". Am I missing something?
>
> I am impressed at how thick the deck is...
>
>
>
>
> Reuben Mezrich
> Pelican Cove in Sarasota
> Cell: 410-499-8922
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 10:13 PM Jesse Shumaker <
> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Rueben,
> >
> > I attached a few photos showing measurements for the hole on the foredeck
> > as well as the box for the solar fan that I installed, which was the
> > Marinco 3" model N20803W.  I haven't had any issues with leaks with my
> > setup where it is placed on the foredeck in the hole that was originally
> > intended to lead to the anchor tray.  Actually, I think it's less prone
> to
> > leaking than the previous setup with the cap that was installed since the
> > fan spreads out much larger over the hole and the cap that had been in
> > place didn't appear to seal well.  As you may have seen from my post on
> the
> > installation, I did have to get creative and used a larger gasket due to
> > the curvature of the foredeck.  I also applied sealant in addition to the
> > gasket.  As Roger mentioned, it wouldn't hurt to leave the anchor tray in
> > as a safeguard in case there are leaks.  I've been out in some weather
> > (though probably minor in comparison to Roger's adventures) and the boat
> > has been in some heavy downpours since I installed the solar fan and
> > thankfully I haven't had any leaks yet.  I know a number of other R22
> > owners have installed a solar fan in the same place based on photos I saw
> > when researching that project.  However, I've also heard of a number of
> > other locations such as Roger's setup.   One other consideration for the
> > area over the head is that it does make a great place for a hatch.
> Perhaps
> > your R22 already came with a hatch there from the factory.  Last fall I
> > installed a hatch over the head.  My first impressions are that it adds a
> > lot of "head room" and allows for both light and airflow.  Good luck with
> > your fan installation.  It would be nice to hear how your project turns
> > out.
> >
> > Jesse Shumaker
> > S/V Zephyr
> >
> > On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 5:12 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Reuben,
> > >
> > > My 1976 Rhodes 22 does not have a hatch over the head.  So, the solar
> > vent
> > > is the only ventilation in the head.  It’s thru-bolted thru the cabin
> > roof.
> > >
> > > Does your Rhodes 22 have the slide-in drawer up in the bow for anchor
> > rode
> > > storage?  Early versions did not have a drain.  So if your drawer
> doesn’t
> > > have a drain, you should add one that drains overboard.  Then, you
> could
> > > install several small deck inspection plates in the aft face of the
> > > drawer.  Two or three of these small inspection ports together would
> have
> > > as much vent area as the solar vent.  Then, if you installed the solar
> > vent
> > > in the foredeck such that it drained into the drawer, the drawer could
> > > function as your dorade box vapor/liquid separator.  If you also keep
> > your
> > > anchor rode in there, I would set up the solar vent to exhaust.  This
> > way,
> > > you would be drawing cabin air into the drawer and you wouldn’t get the
> > > unpleasant smell of wet, muddy, moldy anchor rode in the cabin.
> > >
> > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >
> > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > > Windows 10
> > >
> > > From: Reuben Mezrich<mailto:reuben.mezrich at gmail.com>
> > > Sent: Friday, February 12, 2021 5:42 PM
> > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] gasket for mounting solar vent
> > >
> > > Roger
> > > Thank you for the heads up.
> > > Did you mount the solar vent in the plexiglass lens in the hatch over
> the
> > > head?
> > > --Reuben
> > >
> > > Reuben Mezrich
> > > Pelican Cove in Sarasota
> > > Cell: 410-499-8922
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 3:06 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Reuben,
> > > >
> > > > I have a (6” diameter I Think?) stainless steel Nicro Fico solar vent
> > in
> > > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium.  But, mine is mounted on the cabin roof
> above
> > > the
> > > > head.  Despite the vent being on top of the cabin roof and several
> feet
> > > aft
> > > > of the bow, in heavy weather, the vent leaks to the point where I
> keep
> > a
> > > > bucket under it.  When we start taking spray over the bow, we
> routinely
> > > > pull the vent and install the solid cover plate in the deck
> fitting.  I
> > > > would expect a solar vent on the foredeck near the bow would be even
> > more
> > > > problematic.  It really needs a dorade box vapor/liquid separator to
> > work
> > > > properly.  But, a dorade box would tend to foul the genoa sheets.
>  Be
> > > sure
> > > > you always have the solid cover plate ready in case it’s needed and
> > make
> > > > certain the O-ring is in good condition.
> > > >
> > > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > >
> > > > > On Feb 12, 2021, at 2:39 PM, Reuben <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Jesse
> > > > > I too am planning to put a solar vent at the bow but I noticed that
> > the
> > > > > Marino Day Night vents require a 3 3/4” hole   Currently on my
> > rebuilt
> > > > > Rhodes there is a 5” plate with a 3 1/4” hole. When you removed
> that
> > > > plate
> > > > > what diameter hole did you find?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
> > > >
> > >
> > >
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