Stern bunk location of unit:
I made my decision to locate unit under stern bunk based on pros and cons.
When I was considering the project I determined that there was no feasible way to run ducting to the V berth unless the AC unit was in the closet area or under the V berth.
. I plan on the return air grid to be placed under ladder and the supply grate will exit the AC unit with a 7" insulated duct through 1/2 of the bottom drawer in galley...back into the storage area under port side settee and then back into cabin behind where microwave is. The microwave will be on a sliding shelf so while unit is running we will slide it over to port side covering cooler and then when we need to access the cooler we just slide it back. My boat had a non working hot water heater which I pulled out (I do not feel the need for hot water at this time) so the power was already run to that area. If we feel the need for hot water later on I will do a on demand type unit.
Reasons for not locating it in V berth or closet:
Noise and vibration concerns in addition… I did not want to lose my hanging storage.
Reasons I decided stern bunk location:
(Pros)
• Our stern bunk is used to stow our baggage (My wife packs for the weekend like she is going to Europe for a week!)
• The unit fit…. about 1/4 inch clearance on height ….I had to remove screws on fuel tank and slide it back ½ inch to remove old hot water heater and install new unit.
• Furthest point available for noise or vibration when sleeping
• Ease of access
(Cons)
• I lose ½ of bottom drawer in galley
• I lose storage for 1 fender in the port settee
• If we use the stern bunk for sleeping it may be noisy or have vibrations (Not my problem…My bunk will be fine!)
• Biggest concern….Possibility of sucking return air in from engine area …to compensate for this risk you need to provide a VERY nonrestrictive return airflow…This is why I cut out in front of unit 10x16. If I find I am sucking engine fumes I will need to isolate unit with some insulation of some kind
1. Supply water seacock: I will be installing a ¾ Thru hull and valve also a bronze sea strainer close to engine thru hull
2. Above water discharge for exiting water will be about 6” above waterline (not sure on location yet …planning on starboard side around where Nav table is…. if this will not work I of will go to port or stern
3. Condensate drain will be going to bilge …I do not particularly like it there, however I apparently have a lot of water in bilge after it rains so until I figure out where all that water is coming from it makes no sense to funnel elsewhere since the bilge is always wet
I am not 100% sure my install will work as planned
• Critical to have a minimum of 7” insulated duct for your supply (which measures close to 10”) …you want as much volume as possible
• I plan to circulate air to V berth with a fan pointed in that direction
• Worst case scenario the unit does not do the job in the V berth…We close V berth door and sleep in salon (this will minimize amount of cooling area needed)
• Also …It is a must to have a shade or canvas over V berth hatch to keep the sun from making it an oven and close the shades!
When thinking of this install I know of several people who use 5000 btu companionway AC units that do a fair job in cooling the cabin….This is a 16000 btu unit with only 1 duct (similar to how a companionway unit would work).. It is all about volume…If you can get volume of air in and circulate it …in theory it should work……
If not …it will be in closet next year!
I made my decision to locate unit under stern bunk based on pros and cons.
When I was considering the project I determined that there was no feasible way to run ducting to the V berth unless the AC unit was in the closet area or under the V berth.
. I plan on the return air grid to be placed under ladder and the supply grate will exit the AC unit with a 7" insulated duct through 1/2 of the bottom drawer in galley...back into the storage area under port side settee and then back into cabin behind where microwave is. The microwave will be on a sliding shelf so while unit is running we will slide it over to port side covering cooler and then when we need to access the cooler we just slide it back. My boat had a non working hot water heater which I pulled out (I do not feel the need for hot water at this time) so the power was already run to that area. If we feel the need for hot water later on I will do a on demand type unit.
Reasons for not locating it in V berth or closet:
Noise and vibration concerns in addition… I did not want to lose my hanging storage.
Reasons I decided stern bunk location:
(Pros)
• Our stern bunk is used to stow our baggage (My wife packs for the weekend like she is going to Europe for a week!)
• The unit fit…. about 1/4 inch clearance on height ….I had to remove screws on fuel tank and slide it back ½ inch to remove old hot water heater and install new unit.
• Furthest point available for noise or vibration when sleeping
• Ease of access
(Cons)
• I lose ½ of bottom drawer in galley
• I lose storage for 1 fender in the port settee
• If we use the stern bunk for sleeping it may be noisy or have vibrations (Not my problem…My bunk will be fine!)
• Biggest concern….Possibility of sucking return air in from engine area …to compensate for this risk you need to provide a VERY nonrestrictive return airflow…This is why I cut out in front of unit 10x16. If I find I am sucking engine fumes I will need to isolate unit with some insulation of some kind
1. Supply water seacock: I will be installing a ¾ Thru hull and valve also a bronze sea strainer close to engine thru hull
2. Above water discharge for exiting water will be about 6” above waterline (not sure on location yet …planning on starboard side around where Nav table is…. if this will not work I of will go to port or stern
3. Condensate drain will be going to bilge …I do not particularly like it there, however I apparently have a lot of water in bilge after it rains so until I figure out where all that water is coming from it makes no sense to funnel elsewhere since the bilge is always wet
I am not 100% sure my install will work as planned
• Critical to have a minimum of 7” insulated duct for your supply (which measures close to 10”) …you want as much volume as possible
• I plan to circulate air to V berth with a fan pointed in that direction
• Worst case scenario the unit does not do the job in the V berth…We close V berth door and sleep in salon (this will minimize amount of cooling area needed)
• Also …It is a must to have a shade or canvas over V berth hatch to keep the sun from making it an oven and close the shades!
When thinking of this install I know of several people who use 5000 btu companionway AC units that do a fair job in cooling the cabin….This is a 16000 btu unit with only 1 duct (similar to how a companionway unit would work).. It is all about volume…If you can get volume of air in and circulate it …in theory it should work……
If not …it will be in closet next year!
, so all that was upgraded to heavier buses and cable as well.
