A/C water discharge

[guidera48]

Do I need a seacock or just a thru hull to discharge the A/C cooling water?? The manual recommends a thru hull and that the discharge be no more than 10 inches from the sea level in order to minimize noise when water is been dumped overboard. I am concerned about the thru hull been under water while sailing.

I am also concerned about the head sink. The present thru hull is very close to the water line. Do any of you have a thru hull like me or a sea cock.?? All my seacock have a 3 hole base and I hate to have the screw heads showing on the side of the hull. Of course, I could use a thru hull and a valve, but after learning from Maine Sail about dissimilar threads, I would hate to go that way.

Thanks

 

[seadaddler]

Thruhull/valve

My Hunter 36 has thru hull with a valve out the side of the hull and that is from the factory.
Nick

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The issue turns on where your A/C unit is located in relation to the waterline. If there is a chance you can put the A/C under water, you should have a seacock. It doesn't have to be anything fancy and you needn't worry about threads as it is typically above the waterline so any mushroom fitting with a ball valve will be better than nothing. sometimes it's easy to over-think this stuff.

 

[Benny17441]

All that is required is a thru the hull as the location is above the waterline. If you are concerned about dipping the bow or heeling which may place the thru the hull under water don't be, only a very small amount can get in as there is already water in the coils and the pump. You could add a manual valve or a check valve but I would advise against it. Adding a valve to stop backflow would require for the valve to be manually opened when using A/C and closed when sailing and should a mistake be made it could result in compressor damage. A check valve would work automatically but they are prone to failure. Keep things simple.

 

[rhythmsurfer]

Use a loop in the plumbing this will help. To be ABSOLUTE a seacock should be used.

 

[kloudie1]

I am with Benny on this one... Mine is plumbed straight from the intake thru hull (which does have a seacock) to a thru hull about 6" above the water line, which does not have a seacock.. The pump operation can be verified by looking at the stream and by having it low, it doesn't splash very much. The only trouble would come if heeled and a connection comes off somewhere in the system.. They should be checked as a part of every year's inspections.. When sailing heeled, any pressure on the thru-hull can't accumulate (wave slap possibly opening connections) because it is connected to an open seacock thru an open line through the centrifugal pump (no valves in there).. A loop doesn't buy anything except for a broken above water thru-hull or connection there, and only when heeled on one tack, since the rest of the system is connected to an open thru-hull below the waterline.. Simplify and enjoy, but do inspect..

 

[tcbilgerat]

Mine has just a through hull, and has been working since the original owner had it installed 10 years ago.