Planning a heater install (Espar 5D or similar). Our boat came with duct work installed on the starboard side, running in a track above the cabinet work (the port side track has all the wiring in it). Running duct work to the fore and aft staterooms dosen't present much of a problem. Anyone have any ideas on how to run a duct from this main branch into the main cabin?
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Trevor - SailboatOwners.com
Heat or A.C. ducting?
Hi Tony - There's a good chance that the existing ducting from the factory was installed for air conditioning. Typically, AC ducting is run higher (cold air sinks) and heat ducting is run low by the floor (heat rises). This being said, I suppose you could use the same ducting for heat if you had a good means of circulating the air, but look at the alternatives first. Regarding how to get outlets into the main cabin if there is already ducting running fore and aft, it shouldn't be difficult to purchase and install a Y-valve to direct air into the main cabin along the way. Best of luck - heat is a good thing to have in our neck of the woods this time of year! Trevor
Hi Tony - There's a good chance that the existing ducting from the factory was installed for air conditioning. Typically, AC ducting is run higher (cold air sinks) and heat ducting is run low by the floor (heat rises). This being said, I suppose you could use the same ducting for heat if you had a good means of circulating the air, but look at the alternatives first. Regarding how to get outlets into the main cabin if there is already ducting running fore and aft, it shouldn't be difficult to purchase and install a Y-valve to direct air into the main cabin along the way. Best of luck - heat is a good thing to have in our neck of the woods this time of year! Trevor
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Tony
Main Cabin Heat Ducts
Thanks, Installing the y vents isn't the issue.... based on your comment about heat rising I would like run the vents lower in the main cabin but don't see a good way to run the ducting and was looking for suggestions. I guess I could just vend directly out of the main duct and have the heat come out about 4' from the cabin floor....
Thanks, Installing the y vents isn't the issue.... based on your comment about heat rising I would like run the vents lower in the main cabin but don't see a good way to run the ducting and was looking for suggestions. I guess I could just vend directly out of the main duct and have the heat come out about 4' from the cabin floor....
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Steve Wark
Didn't use pre-installed ductwork
We had an Espar installed by the east coast distributor, Ocean Options. They did not use the Catalina pre-installed ductwork, which runs high on the starboard side. They didn't think it was suitable, and I didn't argue since I didn't want to give up the space in the sail locker. We had a D4 installed, as recommended by the distributor to "extend the season" in Maine. He would have gone bigger for live aboard use. The unit is installed against the inside of the hull port side, accessed through the port cockpit locker (not on the shelf there, but against the hul). The exhaust runs straight out through the stern. The ductwork runs under the interior 'shelf' on the port side of the cabin. Outlets are: at the bottom of the hanging locker in the aft cabin; at the bottom of the port settee just forward of the 'angle'; in the head just forward of the toilet; in the forward facing side of the port locker, just above berth height, in the forward cabin. They suggested that with the 4D we keep the door to the forward cabin open for better circulation on cold nights, since it is a smaller unit. We were very comfortable on the couple of mid-30 deg nights we spent onboard last year. Condensation was a problem, I don't know if there is anything we can do about that. Steve Wark C-350 #85 "Wandering Skye"
We had an Espar installed by the east coast distributor, Ocean Options. They did not use the Catalina pre-installed ductwork, which runs high on the starboard side. They didn't think it was suitable, and I didn't argue since I didn't want to give up the space in the sail locker. We had a D4 installed, as recommended by the distributor to "extend the season" in Maine. He would have gone bigger for live aboard use. The unit is installed against the inside of the hull port side, accessed through the port cockpit locker (not on the shelf there, but against the hul). The exhaust runs straight out through the stern. The ductwork runs under the interior 'shelf' on the port side of the cabin. Outlets are: at the bottom of the hanging locker in the aft cabin; at the bottom of the port settee just forward of the 'angle'; in the head just forward of the toilet; in the forward facing side of the port locker, just above berth height, in the forward cabin. They suggested that with the 4D we keep the door to the forward cabin open for better circulation on cold nights, since it is a smaller unit. We were very comfortable on the couple of mid-30 deg nights we spent onboard last year. Condensation was a problem, I don't know if there is anything we can do about that. Steve Wark C-350 #85 "Wandering Skye"
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Tim
Duct? What Duct?
After reading your post, I went down last night and looked for ducting up under the starboard side - there was none to be found. When I first began researching the 350, one of the things I noted and thought was cool was that the litature said there was pre-run ducting for heat or A/C - when I asked the dealer about that, he said that Catalina had dropped that after the early hulls - mine is #68. He couldn't even point out where it might have been installed on those earlier hull. I guessed it must have been hydronic heating/cooling and run through the bilge???? We live in the Northwest and a heater is a must for year round sailing. I wrote the forced air diesel heater into the purchase contract and the dealer had an Ardic heater installed by Scan Marine in Seattle prior to delivery to me. While the heater works quite well, I'm actually not terribly happy with where the heat outlets were placed. At the time, I talked to the guy doing the installation and he discussed how limited the duct routing options were along the port side. The head is one big obstacle on the port side. The installation of the heater itself is on the shelf in the aft port locker, output goes out through the port side under the rub rail, and two outputs were installed - one in the back wall of the aft cabin and another into the main cabin under the chart table. At this time, we seldom use the aft cabin, so that output stays closed. The only duct providing heat to the main cabin is under that chart table. Had I realized (had I taken the time to look) I would have realized how much room there is up under the starboard deck joint and talked with the installer about running ducting there. I suppose that would have required installing the heater on the starboard side somewhere - close to the reefer unit? That being said, I agree that although there is nice room for the ducting up on the starboard side, there aren't any easy routes down to floor level for outputs. I suppose that's the price we pay for having such a spacious cabin. While snooping around last night, I did see the backing plates installed under the midship cleats - that's a good thing. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
After reading your post, I went down last night and looked for ducting up under the starboard side - there was none to be found. When I first began researching the 350, one of the things I noted and thought was cool was that the litature said there was pre-run ducting for heat or A/C - when I asked the dealer about that, he said that Catalina had dropped that after the early hulls - mine is #68. He couldn't even point out where it might have been installed on those earlier hull. I guessed it must have been hydronic heating/cooling and run through the bilge???? We live in the Northwest and a heater is a must for year round sailing. I wrote the forced air diesel heater into the purchase contract and the dealer had an Ardic heater installed by Scan Marine in Seattle prior to delivery to me. While the heater works quite well, I'm actually not terribly happy with where the heat outlets were placed. At the time, I talked to the guy doing the installation and he discussed how limited the duct routing options were along the port side. The head is one big obstacle on the port side. The installation of the heater itself is on the shelf in the aft port locker, output goes out through the port side under the rub rail, and two outputs were installed - one in the back wall of the aft cabin and another into the main cabin under the chart table. At this time, we seldom use the aft cabin, so that output stays closed. The only duct providing heat to the main cabin is under that chart table. Had I realized (had I taken the time to look) I would have realized how much room there is up under the starboard deck joint and talked with the installer about running ducting there. I suppose that would have required installing the heater on the starboard side somewhere - close to the reefer unit? That being said, I agree that although there is nice room for the ducting up on the starboard side, there aren't any easy routes down to floor level for outputs. I suppose that's the price we pay for having such a spacious cabin. While snooping around last night, I did see the backing plates installed under the midship cleats - that's a good thing. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
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Bill
Behinf the plastic soffit
There is a duct hose which runs from the starboard lazeret thru the bulkhead over the galley cabinets behind the plastic soffit under the portholes up to the forward cabin bulkhead where it terminates.
There is a duct hose which runs from the starboard lazeret thru the bulkhead over the galley cabinets behind the plastic soffit under the portholes up to the forward cabin bulkhead where it terminates.
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Tim
No Duct There
Not on April IV (Hull #68). Nice, open space for a duct, but no duct to be found. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Not on April IV (Hull #68). Nice, open space for a duct, but no duct to be found. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
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Tony
Duct and Heater Placement
I'm planning on mounting the heater on the starboard side. There are several bolts sticking out of the deck joing. I plan taking a small SS metal plate and bolting it on these. There is enough thread sticking out so I don't have to mess with the existing nuts. I'll place it back between the two access hatches so I won't loose any shelf space. Plan to run exhaust out the back. I'll take combution intake air from the locker (moves the bilge air around). I'm planning to split the cold air return 70/30. I'll put the outside (30%) vent next in the locker wall right past the manual bilge pump with a clamshell vent. I'll get the rest of the air from the aft cabin. I was thinking of trying to run a vent under the freezer/stove/dry storage and have it come out under the sink, next to the garbage can bulkhead. Don't really like the idea of a hot air pipe under the freezer but I'll insulate it well. I'll do picture when I get it done. I have several projects in some stage of progress. Just got started installing radar/chartplotter and put the outside stereo speakers in tonight. This weekend I'll make a nice set of teak doors to replace the boards....
I'm planning on mounting the heater on the starboard side. There are several bolts sticking out of the deck joing. I plan taking a small SS metal plate and bolting it on these. There is enough thread sticking out so I don't have to mess with the existing nuts. I'll place it back between the two access hatches so I won't loose any shelf space. Plan to run exhaust out the back. I'll take combution intake air from the locker (moves the bilge air around). I'm planning to split the cold air return 70/30. I'll put the outside (30%) vent next in the locker wall right past the manual bilge pump with a clamshell vent. I'll get the rest of the air from the aft cabin. I was thinking of trying to run a vent under the freezer/stove/dry storage and have it come out under the sink, next to the garbage can bulkhead. Don't really like the idea of a hot air pipe under the freezer but I'll insulate it well. I'll do picture when I get it done. I have several projects in some stage of progress. Just got started installing radar/chartplotter and put the outside stereo speakers in tonight. This weekend I'll make a nice set of teak doors to replace the boards....
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Bill
Tim no hose?
Tim, if you look in the lazeret you don't have a 3" diameter hose end coming thru the top of the bulkhead at the top shelf against the hull? If not you might want to whine about that. Don't feel to bad they forgot to put the TV cabinet in mine.
Tim, if you look in the lazeret you don't have a 3" diameter hose end coming thru the top of the bulkhead at the top shelf against the hull? If not you might want to whine about that. Don't feel to bad they forgot to put the TV cabinet in mine.
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Tom S.
I think I heard that the recent C350 don't have
the ducting automatically installed, like the original C350's. I think its an option you have to ask for now, so possibly the original C350 owners have it but not the recent ones.
the ducting automatically installed, like the original C350's. I think its an option you have to ask for now, so possibly the original C350 owners have it but not the recent ones.
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