I put a small solar-powered Nicro vent in the hatch cover over our head. It actually worked pretty well to vent any lingering odors, but has demonstrated two major problems:

1. Taking green water over the deck will let quite a bit in through the vent.
2. The Genoa sheets can get fouled under the lip of the vent cap.

I have it on my to-do list to remove the vent and put a solid acrylic cover back in place.

Duane, I have been considering this very installation. But if not in the head, where would you put it? Maybe aft cabin entryway overhead portlight???

I installed a solar vent over the Vee berth. I installed one in the same location on my C30 and never had any water-intrusion problems. With this one, I keep a folded beach towel directly below it to catch any green water. So far, no water inside at all, and believe me, I have taken some water over the bow!

I highly recommend this location.

Cheers, Bill

I have two, one mounted on the hatch in the main saloon set as intake and one on the hatch in the head as exhaust. Have never had any issue with either one and they seem to work well.

I don't consider the V-berth hatch as a candidate for the fan location for several reasons: I don't want the vent causing a problem with crew moving about the foredeck, or the sheets hanging up while changing tack. Also, sometimes I secure the dink there, so want to avoid problems from that. But if these aren't enough, my main reason is that I want all the light into the V-berth that I can get...and that hatch is the only source of outside light up there.

I refuse to cut a hole in a fixed (non-openable) window, so that narrows the choices. I'm thinking seriously of targeting the small portlight in the aft cabin.

I mounted a Nicro solar powered vent in the head in a previous boat, it worked well, no water got in. I had it set to exhaust mode, to keep the airflow moving through the head, to get rid of any lingering smells.

I was thinking of mounting one above the shower. This way if any water did get in, it would be contained in the shower area.

I find it interesting that I am the only one getting water in through this type of vent. I am also glad none of you had problems with sheets fouling, so I must just be pretty unlucky.

To answer Larry, I really don't know. For the solar feature to work, the vent needs to see some amount of sunshine regularly. Any location aft of the traveler is a non-starter for us.

My C-36 had 2 Nicro vents installed by the previous owner (pictures attached). Each is installed in the cabin deck, one forward of the mast and one over the galley dry storage compartment. Both are set to exhaust mode and I leave a port in the aft cabin open to allow fresh air in (this port is covered by the bimini). I have not had problems with the jib sheets getting fowled on the forward vent and obviously have no water over the bow on Lake Lanier. While I would be hesitant to install these myself thru the deck, I have been pleased with the performance and location. They have not interfered with moving around on deck.

stephenk - We are needing to install some vents, and that's about the placement I was thinking of... So, I'm glad to see/here that I'm not crazy.

I hate to cut any more holes in the deck than necessary, but we really need to make up for the ventilation that was lost when the mkII did away with the dorades. We just bought a C36 that is suffering from being closed up and sweaty for too long, and I want to make sure we avoid a repeat in the future.

Over the galley - makes sense because you can use it as an exhaust port while cooking as well (steam, smells).

Forward, I'm still nervous about a hole in the deck between the mast and the forward hatch. Still looking for specs...

I'll chronicle our install and send it over to the jibsheeters, if they'd like to include it, etc...

Duane your not the only one getting green water in via the solid vent. The first owner put 2 on our boat. One just forward and to the starboard of the mast and one just under the dodger over the galley. Ours are both the round style and have removed the front obe and capped it because of we are tired of dealing with water coming in up front. Maybe the new ones are better off. I guess if the boat sets a lot fine but I would not put any foreward where green water comes.

Thanks for the post, Randy. Looking at the square version, I can see that it would be very difficult for a sheet to get caught, but the round style that I have leaves a nice 'ledge' for the sheet to foul.

We also have air issues in your 85 Catalina.  Purchased 2 solar vents recently and looking at places for installation.  I also liked the idea over the head and would like to install the other in front of the forward hatch.  I am also concerned about the jib sheet getting fowled since I had that issue with a vent mounted on the forward hatch for our prior 27'.  Placing it in front of the hatch would solve that issue but then I would worry about green water entering.  I am thinking about placing a foam pad around the vent while under way to allow it to breathe but not allow water in.

We have 2 aboard aboard. The first owner put one adjacent the head which is sealed shut because of green water entering. The 2nd is above the galley under our hard dodger which is a great. area.

WM had the 3" and 4" Marinco vents (both white and SS) on sale for $99 over the weekend.  Nice savings there.  Yesterday I removed the original dorade pedestals topped by nonfunctioning earlier generation vents and installed a pair of Marinco 4" vents.  Now looking for the right spot over the head to install a 3" vent.  Project for this weekend after the 3-3/4" hole saw arrives from Amazon.  I don't see interference with the head sheets as it will be located behind the shrouds and the vent housing goes down to the deck like the square style pictured above.

Russell,
Make sure you take up all slack in your mainsheet when tacking or gybing.  If there is any extra slack, it looks like the mainsheet might catch under your new solar vents and flip them overboard.  Just a thought.