Air Conditioning Vibration

[Steve_Catalina]

I just installed an air conditioner, a Flagship Marine 16.5k btu in my Catalina 34. I glassed in a shelf of ¾” plywood in the v-birth and bolted the unit to it. When the compressor is running it vibrates the whole boat. You can feel it (bare footed) standing on the cabin top. I have thought of adding a rubber mat between the unit and the shelf. Additionally I have thought of rubber bushings at the attachment bolt points, but am not sure this would provide sufficient support for the unit.

Any suggestions or real world experience would be appreciated.

Steve

 

[DeniseO30]

I just installed an air conditioner, a Flagship Marine 16.5k btu in my Catalina 34. I glassed in a shelf of ¾” plywood in the v-birth and bolted the unit to it. When the compressor is running it vibrates the whole boat. You can feel it (bare footed) standing on the cabin top. I have thought of adding a rubber mat between the unit and the shelf. Additionally I have thought of rubber bushings at the attachment bolt points, but am not sure this would provide sufficient support for the unit.

Any suggestions or real world experience would be appreciated.

Steve

I thought Catalina's best place for the unit was under the Saloon bunk that is next to the head? the vibration will come through the bolts unless you use vibration isolators (like engine mounts) Don't think your going to sleep very well in the V berth!

 

[Steve_Catalina]

I thought Catalina's best place for the unit was under the Saloon bunk that is next to the head? the vibration will come through the bolts unless you use vibration isolators (like engine mounts) Don't think your going to sleep very well in the V berth!

Denise030,

Not sure the reason for your post,

On a Catalina 34 there is a locker between the head and navigation table, not a saloon bunk. The locker is a popular place to install an A/C, all dependent on unit size and what the owner of the boat is using that existing space for. I have slept with the unit running for a number of nights and we have not had any issues, but thanks for your concern.

Steve

 

[kloudie1]

Steve, nothing guaranteed, but it will help to use a real vibration pad under the pan.. like 5-6 of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=03D87HZW7BK3D5G4SY3Y
Important to verify that nothing is "bound" like bottomed out compressor mounts or something of the boat structure touching the compressor.. The hold-downs have to be isolated too.. The hold down bolts need to have rubber isolation on both sides to de-couple the vibration from the boat's structure.. Not easy .. good luck

 

[Terry in Naples]

ac install and vibration

I have a 16500 Flagship AC in my Catalina 34. It is in the locker between the chart table and the head. It is mounted on a shelf that was fiberglassed in. It has little rubber footpads. (like the engine). At times it vibrates a little but usually that is just a tube rubbing something I can bend out and it stops. Nothing like what you say you are getting. Sounds like your unit is off balance with the fan or something.

 

[joes new addiction]

I never installed one on a boat, but work on many on roof tops, coolers, refrigs etc in my job.
Is it a new unit or used? the compressor may be going, as the bushing inside the coil could be worn, causing a "wobble" in there. (ever hear a old refrig,sounds like a freight train rumblin' on by).
You can get rubber mounts that have a threaded studs on both ends and "insulating rubber" between the studs from many AC suppliers or parts stores. install those on the pan.
Also, when you compressior comes on, the lines may be jjjuuusssttt touching a solid object, and creating the vibration. check all of those.
Is the unit mounted level, side to side, front to back? if not the coil inside will touch the case and make for a good vibration.
The compressor itself should be "rubber mounted" between the base and the unit in those rubber mounts.
Next time it's running, go down and push left, right back forth, up, and see if the vibration goes away.
Joe
It's the little things that tick me off!

 

[DeniseO30]

Steve your first post said it was in the V berth. Anyway.. many types of equipment have shipping bolts or brackets to keep the components from bouncing around during shipping maybe yours had some?

something like these under the unit would help and still keep it in place.

reason for posting = trying to help. I've seen allot of "can't sleep in the v berth because of the AC noise. sorry, did not mean to sound like a Smat A$$

 

[Fred Villiard]

Are there any shipping lock down bolts? Alot of referigeration units have them, that need to be loosened or removed before use.

Fred Villiard

 

[Terry in Naples]

I went out and checked the ac on my boat. I reported I had mounts but I don't . At least not on the metal base. I have them on the compressor where it attaches to the metal base. Still I am not vibrating the boat.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Any electrical motor that runs a pump should have rubber isolation mounts. You chose a location that is one of the stiffest parts of your boat (lots of walls close together) so it is no surprise that you can feel the vibration all over the boat.