Hunter 46 AC Raw Water Pickup

Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Boat does not have AC raw water pick up thru hull #8. Can the forward head raw water pick up thru hull #7 be used with a tee and separate valves to the AC and head, until the boat is hauled for its next bottom painting during which time I can have a dedicated AC raw water thru hull installed. Bad idea OR pull the boat now and install a dedicated AC through hull?
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capta

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Jun 4, 2009
4,956
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
As a temporary measure, being certain that you have a valve to direct the water flow to the AC and the thru hull is large enough for the flow needed, I suppose it would do. Obviously, you wouldn't want to use the head w/o shutting off the AC and switching the valve. An AC overheating and cycling on & off is really bad for the unit and the repetitive start is a pretty heavy load on the electrical system.
 

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
OK disclaimer. I have a 420 Passage. I have Cruzair systems. And I am over 300 miles from the boat as I reply. But maybe I can help. Maybe not. Do you know where your AC pump is? It provides water for the AC. Mine is in the galley adjacent to the fridge and sink under a pull up board. You can find it with your ears. Listen for the hum when you turn on AC and pump. You must have one (pump) otherwise AC no go. Does water pump overboard when you cut the AC on? If it doesnt, not good. Just some work. If that intake is left open, where the pump is all the time, it will clog with algae, etc. Its like your stuffing box. Feel the housing on the pump, if its hot, its not getting water. To fix, you have to disconnect the line at the pump, turn it on, and shake, pipe cleaner, compressed air, you name it to unclog it WITH IT RUNNING.. I find that shaking the line from the pump downstream to units, unclamped, usually works. So to prevent this in the future, here is the shutdown checklist that works for me. AC or ACs on and pump running. Close the pump thru hull and casually walk to the panel (bout 10 seconds). Shut down the pump breaker and then AC breaker. The seawater clears the line. There is a thru hull or a big mistake by Hunter. Find it! Unless of course you have some completely different AC system (aftermarket) than most boats. Crap I have edited this about 17 times. IMHO, I would never tap off a head line for my lovely cool air in the cabin. Its common for Hunter to mislabel in the manual... its one size fits all.

Cheers

Got to love boating!
 
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Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Rick, you are on to sometime.........maybe Hunter installed a AC raw water thru hull under the screwed in flooring. If thatis the case and I find it then I can install the AC.
 

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Its there! There is a high pressure pump, and the unit or units. You probably have two. One in the aft cabin, unit, and one for the main. There is a pump, I would wager a months pay on. You have to find it. There is nothing to install. You already have it. "Said Dorothy to the Tin Man". And just to make sure, I made the assumption that you have AC units installed. If not... well. Ahhhsnap, I may have totally overlooked that. Sheesh. Lol I am laughing at myself. Should have never sat down with a martini!
 
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capta

.
Jun 4, 2009
4,956
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Its there! There is a high pressure pump, and the unit or units. You probably have two. One in the aft cabin, unit, and one for the main. There is a pump, I would wager a months pay on. You have to find it. There is nothing to install. You already have it. "Said Dorothy to the Tin Man". And just to make sure, I made the assumption that you have AC units installed. If not... well. Ahhhsnap, I may have totally overlooked that. Sheesh. Lol I am laughing at myself. Should have never sat down with a martini!
I gather from the OP's post the boat did not come with AC installed, so I can't imagine Hunter put in a pump and thruhull.
 
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Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Thanks for your input to my thread. I now plan to wait for next bailout and install a dedicated AC raw water thru hull.