Vetus Ventilator Failure

[Nausikaa]

Here aboard NAUSIKAA there is a Vetus type of ventilator. Basically, it consists of a screw with a mushroom dome which, when open, allows air to flow past through a mosquito screen but when closed secures the dome against a collar keeping the water out.

Well, that's the theory. In reality mine does not do that any more as the dome parted company with the flange attached to the spindle this morning. Fortunately the weather was good with no sea running and so there was no water ingress. It could have been a very different story.

Obviously,these ventilators are totally unsuited for the task with the spindle flange attached to the dome by only four spot welds each the size of a pin head. My advice: if you have Vetus ventilators then check them, if you are in the market for new ventilators, for your safety's sake, don't buy Vetus.

Aye // Stephen

[JeanneP]

We had a Vetus accumulator 'thingy' - held pressure for our pressure fresh water system. However, it developed a leak rather quickly. We replaced it with another Vetus accumulator. That, too, went "flat" on us. We gave up.

I thought it was just bad luck on our part, but perhaps not, perhaps it was just poor quality control.

Globalization is, IMO, very good in many ways, but here in the US I liked that US manufacturers were accessible when we had a complaint. But to whom (and how) do I complain when the welds on my China-made insulated steel mug prove to be inferior? It wasn't that much cheaper than the earlier US-made one.

[delatbabel]

Yes, I have two vetus ventilators on the deck of my boat. I have since epoxy'd them shut, otherwise they leak even with a mild sea running, or just heavy rain.