Air Conditioning a Catalina 320

  • Thread starter Robert M. Seiden
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Robert M. Seiden

Well into our first season with our 2001 Catalina 320, our partnership is interested in air conditioning for the boat. We'd like comments and recommendations from 320 owners who have any form of AC: portable/removeable; installed AC; reverse-cycle heat pump. We're interested in your comments on installation, maintenance, reliability, brand, cost, etc. Thganks, Bob Seiden (for the Partnership).
 
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Jack Tyler

Consider DIY

Bob, while my comments relate to boats generally and not the C32 specifically, I'd encourage you to think about choosing a vendor accustomed to selling to DIY owners and selecting the pieces for a central A/C installation that best fit your partnership's pocketbook & needs. We chose to take this approach despite no prior experience with A/C, selected Mermaid Marine because they were knowledgeable, offered a rotary compressor, and could coach us on the bits & pieces needed, and because we believed they were viable enough to be around when the unit needed trouble-shooting years later (which they have been). Our unit is now 7 years old and continues to work well. You may really want only the aft (or forward) cabin temps controlled at night for comfortable sleeping (not that I'd recommend this approach), or you may be testing the waters on this idea because of the cost involved (DIY will be far less than vendor-installed gear), or you may wonder how much storage you'll have to give up (space requirements vary in part based on type of compressor you select). Adding yourselves in an equation along with vendor choice, gear choice and cost will maximize your options. Jack
 
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Stan

2000 C320

We have a C320 #744 and had the dealer install an AC. It was a Marine Aire 16K BTU unit. This is the second summer of use. It has cooled the boat in 95 degree days with 80% humidy without a problem. (Easily maintained 68 degrees) Also, heated the boat without a problem in 38 degree temps. As far as maintenance; I check the intake water strainer & filter monthly and have one more piece of equipt. to winterize.
 
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