Solar vents

Have been looking for ways to increase the ventilation in the main salon of our F35 particularly when the boat is shrink wrapped and was considering putting in a solar vent or two. Has anyone had experience with this, and suggestions or recommendations?

I’ve had them on two boats now. I installed the 4” Marinco new version on my F30, one through each of the hatches. The older ones are on my F39 now - but the older version is trash. Generally I would say they work for moving air while the boat is sitting so it doesn’t get stale. Best to arrange them so one is blowing in and another is blowing out. But I wouldn’t expect them to move enough air to change the climate inside the cabin. Also, be prepared to immediately change the NiMH C-size battery as soon as you buy it. Generally they’ve been sitting in a box and fully discharged long enough that the battery is toast. For me, I’m considering whether to replace the ones I currently have with the new version or switch to dorades, which provide better real air flow.

We have the older Marinco on our F38 and they work well. They were installed directly through the cabin top - one in the galley and one in the head. They definitely keep the air circulating. With that said, we also have 2 dorades installed in the cabin top above the main saloon, and they also help a lot.

I’ve had a couple of these on past boats, and they have worked quite well for several years, but the boats were small and there were other vents, too. Probably more recent technology would produce a better effect, but dorades and a northern climate (60º N) seem sufficient for my F35CK through the winter.