Hunter Legend 37 Air Conditioner Installation

[noon]

Hello,

I am planning to install a 16k Webasto A/C on my 1989 Legend 37 and was hoping for some input from others who have either done the same or who own the same model with A/C already installed. I am thinking of installing the compressor under the port settee, though I'm not exactly sure where I will install the through-hull, pump, and water strainer. I am also strategizing about placement of the vents. The only path that I can see to get air back to the aft cabin is through the storage space above the galley, but I think that may require moving the AC outlet that the microwave plugs into. How have others approached this? Thanks in advance for any and all information you can contribute.

Fair Winds,
Joe

 

[geek_guy]

Joe,

Have the same boat though an 87. Is your galley to port?

I ended up putting the compressor under the Nav station. There was a through hull under the floor just forward of the Nav station. So I tee'd off it and put the pump and strainer under there. The vents then went under the vanity in the head, and through the Starboard locker. The other way into the back of the half settee and into the little cabinet between the two half settees.
Then it was easy to run the drain line down the strut into the head floor where there is a bilge pump.
It was enough of a pain to cut through the bulkheads where I ran it. I suspect through the galley would be much harder.

Questions or further info - ask away.

Dave

 

[noon]

Thanks for the reply, Dave -- much appreciated. Yes, my galley is to port, too. I'd like to put the compressor under one of the settees, though under the nav station is an interesting idea. Did you box it in? It seemed there was more room under the port settee and that the vent run might be easier through the galley than through the head, but due to your reply, I will now take a more serious look at that, perhaps rash, judgment. I seem to recall not seeing an easy path, owing to the holding tank and accompanying hoses and some other items that got installed by the previous owner in the starboard aft-cabin hanging locker, but I will definitely need to re-evaluate that. Would love to see any photos of your install, if you have them. Thanks again!

Joe

 

[geek_guy]

I had decided that sitting at the nav station was an obsolete concept. So I took out the seat. Then replaced the smaller shelf under the nav station with a wider one and put a vertical divider to box in the compressor. Nice too that it has room for 2 batteries in front of the compressor. Not positive of my facts but seems that if you go through the galley you'll have to cut through at least one more bulkhead. Which was the most frustrating part of the install. But that may work fine too. There is actually plenty of room on top of the holding tank for the vent. I was able to route between the misc pipes and things under the sink then over the holding tank. My starboard aft locker was empty so that wasn't a problem.

I'll try to get some photos but it'll be at least a week. The boat is getting new bottom paint some distance away. But will likely bring her home next weekend.

 

[noon]

Thanks, Dave. I have decided to put the compressor under the port settee. Still trying to loosen the wood so I can drop it in there, though (as always, a few of the screws are a bit of a challenge to get to). There are too many aftermarket items installed on the starboard side of my boat to try to run the vent that way. Going through the galley will present its challenges and I haven't quite figured out exactly how I'll run it yet, but it should be feasible. Would still love to see your pictures (always love seeing photos of sister ships and what others have done with them!).

And I'd love to hear from anyone else that has an A/C on their Legend 37 or 37.5 (or any other model that may be similar in layout) about where everything was placed.

 

[Scott NIelsen]

I have a 96 37.5 with Air conditioning. It was already installed when I purchased boat, as was a requirement for my next boat. The compressor is installed in the port settee just ahead of the Ice box. I have a U shaped settee and table to port. The vents are run up the port side through the first locker ahead of the galley then a line runs aft along the galley below the cabinets through the open storage spaces below the upper cabinets, then back to the aft stateroom through the locker with the exhaust vent blowing aft. The other vent line is run forward above the liner to the V-Berth and through the port locker in the V-Berth. The thruhull and strainer for the water pump was installed in the aftermost bilge section just aft of the engine raw water intake. The seawater pump, and hoses are all in the next bilge forward with the out flow plumbed halfway up the port side so you can see if the pump is running. Hope this helps.

 

[geek_guy]

Hey Noon.

Finally got back with the boat. Here are pics of my install.

 

[noon]

Thanks Scott & Dave!

Scott, though I think my layout on my '89 is a bit different from your '96, it sounds like I am taking a similar approach to the install on your boat. Thanks for the pictures, Dave. Always love seeing what others have done with sister ships. Your install looks very practical. Like I say, I have too many other after-market items installed on starboard, so really had to install on port. I am still running vents, but have everything basically in place now. The thru-hull is in the bilge section forward of the engine compartment at the aft end of the keel and is on the starboard aft side of the keel. The hose runs forward to the pump, which is in the main aft section of the bilge under the aft-most part of the dining table, then runs to port to the compressor, which is under the port settee, which is where the return air comes in -- by the forward-most part of the dining table.

The vents run aft under the settee, under the galley (under the cabinet to port of the sink) back to the cabinet under the stove/broiler and then up to the storage space immediately behind the stove, aft through the bulkhead into the port hanging locker in the aft cabin (had to move the AC outlet that the microwave plugs into higher into the microwave cabinet) and then aft to a vent on the aft side of the port hanging locker. The next vent, which is y-split near the blower from the vent running aft, runs forward under the port settee into the port hanging locker in the forward cabin, up and then to a vent that vents through the bulkhead back into the main saloon. The last vent, which is y-split in the port hanging locker in the forward cabin goes to a vent through the hanging locker into the v-berth.

When I get a chance, I'll take and post some photos, in case anyone else looks at doing this in the future. and wants to get some more ideas of possible placements.

Fair Winds,
Joe

 

[geek_guy]

How did you cut through the bulkheads? I had a terrible time. Used a jig saw, but needed to get so close to the sides, that it didn't work well at all. I didn't even do the vent to the forward stateroom because it was such a pain.

 

[noon]

For the duct runs (5" insulated duct hose), I used a 6" hole saw. But, yes, for the vents themselves, which required rectangular cutouts, I used a jigsaw. Though in the v-berth, I used a 4" round vent (the Y in the forward hanging locker has a 5" in and splits to one 5" out and one 4" out), so was able just to use a 4" hole saw for that one. It was tight in places, and a bit of a pain and created a lot of a mess, but by rotating the blade, I was able to get the saw everywhere I needed it to go. (Probably goes without saying, but I start with drilling holes at opposite corners of my rectangle to get the jigsaw blade started). My first cut ended up being a bit lopsided, but not too far off that it ended up making a difference once the vent was in place, but it made me be much more careful with the remaining cuts. It ended up being a much more time-consuming project to cut the various holes than I thought, but then again, most of my boat projects take longer than I originally think they should.

 

[geek_guy]

Hole saw. Mmmmm I wasn't sure I could get a drill and big hole saw into those spaces. But sounds like it would have been easier. That is what I did for the aft stateroom vent. The jig inside those cabinets was not fun.