Looking for a solar vent for my boat, and found this unit. The price was considerably less than what you would find in a retail store (betweeen $150-$200 at West Marine, Walmart, etc). Thought I was getting a deal. The package arrived quickly which was nice.The unit is made of plastic and, while not constructed shoddily, doesnt feel durable, but time will be the judge of that. The instructions state stainless steel screws for installation are included, but they weren’t (not a big deal). The unit I purchased is labeled the 13024. No battery is included with the product, which is why it’s so inexpensive, I asssume.. The problem, though, is that the solar cells on the unit are ridiculously weak. You need 100% DIRECT sunlight, with no obstruction, at all times to work the fan. If its cloudy, or worse, something on your boat casts a shadow over the unit (say a mast), the fan stops working completely!The seller does state “passive ventilation at night,” which is a way of saying it only works with sunlight, but I am disappointed. I would have expected a better quality solar cell that could pick up daylight and operate with it.To the other reviews that state it is loud, i would have to disagree. When it does operate, I have noticed tha fan is very quiet, which is a positive.I will update the review as time goes on.UPDATE: I’ve had this running now for a couple of weeks and I have to tell you that the mildew/moisture issue in my boat has completely gone away. The fan does operate on cloudy days, but still won’t work if a heavy shadow has cast over. Still, for the price you would pay at West Marine versus the cost listed here, you are getting a bargain. Since I’m saving a ton of money on buying Damp-Rid bags, I’ve upped the rating to 5 stars. The unit does exactly what it says its supposed to do.
