Hatch Vent

[joe.baar]

An afternoon's work to install. This is the Nicro "Day/Night Plus" stainless 3" version West Marine had on sale this past winter. Note to all: use the 4" version instead, you really do need the CFM volume. I fabricated 2 StarBoard donuts, one above and one below, to help flatten the slightly dished hatch top and provide more sealant surface, as well as opening depth to accommodate the damper properly. Aside from the unit itself, the Lenox 3.75" hole saw and arbor was a major expense and difficult to source; I also found plastic-cutting bits with 90-degree tips were a big help for the smaller, oversized screw holes, no cracks so far. All hole edges (and some chips) are relieved by filing, countersinking and sanding as necessary. I used bicycle inner-tube rubber as washers on 9 truss-head tap screws, driven from below and spaced equally, an inch inside the perimeter of the upper donut to spread the load. More photos will follow in 2 weeks, showing excess sealant cleaned off I hope. Sealant is BoatLife Marine Silicone Rubber which is compatible with acrylic since it lacks the polysulfide used in their "Life Caulk". Now I need to cut a hole in the Sunbrella cover to fit.

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