Factory air in a 2001 Hunter 340

[David Dick]

I am installing air conditioning in my 2001 Hunter 340. Can anyone provide me with photos (or a good description) of the water intake in the main bilge? I am interested in where the positioning of the through hull, water strainer, water pump and where the water hose goes from the bilge to the A/C unit. Thanks

 

[Ed Caldwell]

On our 99 H340, the water intake is on the port side of the keel stub with an external strainer. After the seacock the intake line is plumbed to a another strainer with pretty small holes, then the hose from the strainer loops around to the pump, located higher in the bilge. The hose out of the pump goes to the starboard settee to the Marine Air unit in the far aft end of the storage area under the nav station seat. The whole starboard side storage is a plenum - air is taken in through a grill/filter at the forward end.

I can't find a picture of the bilge but I'll be back at the boat late this week. Let me what type of shots you'd like and I'll post them early next week.

 

[sailcapt340]

I installed a Mermaid 16K BTU AC/Heater Combination Unit on my 2000 340 a few years back.
I have other photos I can send you tomorrow when I can download them to my albums on this site. For now I have these to share.
I found cutting the holes for the duct work to be the most challenging. The fiberglass is thick and strong, so be patient and have good supply of blades on hand, they wear out fast.
I sent duct work from the unit to the front berth, rear berth, head and into the main cabin. The Mermaid comes with a complete set of T's, Y's and elbows to allow you to run air off the main line.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[sailcapt340]

David,
I have the following photos of the AC Installation for you. If you have any questions about the process just contact me. I did mine in the dead of winter here, you should have much better conditions being in California.
The Bilge Photos show the setup for the Pump, Priming Valve and Groco Filter etc. All the parts fit in the bilge leaving a 1/2 space from the bottom of the access panel. I used a plexiglass sheet to mount the pump and filter on, as it is strong and will not rot as a piece of wood might and it gave me the 1/2 inch spacing. Its tight in there but things fit.

 

[David Dick]

Hi Ed, Thanks for the pics. It looks from the outside that the intake is mounted horizontal but the shots I have seen show the shut off coming in vertical. My other question is does the feed to the a/c unit go through (drilled) the starboard side of the bilge, under the floor and up into the starboard locker where the unit is?

 

[David Dick]

Thanks Sailcap340, My question is the discharge looks like you put a loop above the waterline, the info I have says just go straight to outside above waterline with no loop? I can see that a loop would prevent back flow. But Marine Air doesn't say it's necessary. I was going to put my discharge out of the Starboard locker (just above the waterline).

 

[sailcapt340]

I put the loop in and height (in the same locker as you) to avoid any issues with heeling of the boat. As I very rarely heel the boat to that extent (the height I placed it in) ever, it's probably over designed but was an easy enough access to do it. It's actually about 2 inches or so below the bilge discharge, so not really as high as it appears.
Go with your manufacturers design, so not to void any warranty issues would be the best call.

 

[Bill19233]

My boat already had air conditioning when I got it. Just the seacock and strainer in the bilge. The discharge has a valve and is under the sink in the head, but we never close it. We get the boat heeling pretty good when we race and never had water come in the discharge. But somebody correct me if I'm wrong, it's a closed system to the inside of the boat, the inlet and outlet are outside the hull. So it should not be possible for water to get out of the hose or pump into the boat unless there's a leak somewhere. So a loop should not be necessary.

 

[David Dick]

Thanks Bill...I enjoy your Youtube videos!

 

[Ed Caldwell]

Hi Ed, Thanks for the pics. It looks from the outside that the intake is mounted horizontal but the shots I have seen show the shut off coming in vertical. My other question is does the feed to the a/c unit go through (drilled) the starboard side of the bilge, under the floor and up into the starboard locker where the unit is?

Here are some bilge shots. The output from the water pump goes through a drilled hole aft into the molded rib along with the bilge pump discharge, the aircond condensate drain, and a wiring loom. I assume from there it goes straight to starboard but I've never unscrewed that part of the floo. If your boat has a shower sump pump consider draining the condensate there. Our boat still drains the shower, refrig drain, and condensate to the bilge (future project requiring another overboard discharge to be drilled and hose routed)

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