Air Conditioning Iusses

[Long Story]

With the hot weather in Wisconsin, my air unit is pumping out a couple gallons of condensate a day, right into the bilge. Has anyone ever, or what is the opinion on the following modification: My air unit is mounted high on the port side of the back compartment. It is actually high enough that I am considering re-routing the condensate hose, adding a fitting into the spare propane locker, and letting the unit drain there, and out the drain from that locker? I have thought safety, and there is never a connection in that locker, it is only used to store a sealed propane tank, and the condensate drain would be high vs. the bottom locker drain. Any comments or ideas, since when I don’t run the air, the bilge is dry, dry. Also, anyone ever added another lumber hole in the first, (aft section of the main bilge) to allow water to flow to the section with the pump? That 4” step is kind of a bad design issue.

Thanks in advance for your comments…

 

[jsalley]

Have you considered a condensator (made by Mermaid Marine Air, available from Defender)? It inserts into the overboard side of the AC cooling water line, and creates a suction that drains and mixes the condensate with the overboard cooling water discharge. Works great, simple to install, keeps 100% of the condensate out of the boat.

 

[Witzend]

I like the idea, very practicable. The vent does not work anyway because it has a sag in the hose that fills with water. I have the same issue, but just keep a bucket for the condensate to collect into instead of letting it run into the bilge. I like my boat dry, and it is. Water in a boat always has unintended consequences.

 

[Long Story]

I had used a condensator on both my C-42 and C-34 but that was 12-15 years ago when they were $45.00. Now days (ouch) My unit, (If I were near the boat would send photos) is so high I am considering just going to a thru-hull and let it run right out of the boat. No pump, no switch, just flow.