H31 Air Conditioner
I installed a 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner/Heater in my 1987 H31 in the hanging locker on the port side across from the head. I cut out the bottom of the closet, installed the water intake, filter,and pump below the water line. Bolted plastic 2x4's on the sides above the water line to set the unit on. Cut the outgoing water through the side of the boat below the bottom of the unit so seawater would drain out of the coils went the unit was off. The Marine Air distributor told me it was not wise to have the seawater out drain above the unit, because the seawater would stay in the coils and shorten their life. The diagram in the installation booklet showed the unit above the water line and the drain overboard below the unit. For supply air I rotated the fan output upward and cut a 6" hole in the top of the cabinet and built a box (plenum) to hold a register facing the open area of the cabin and a 4" tube out the back into the v-berth. Air flows freely through out the cabin. Attached the filter directly to the unit and cut a 12 x 12 out of door bottom to mount the return air register. Yes, I gave up a hanging locker, but I did not need complicated, long runs for seawater in or out, nor complicated, long runs of supply air hose. Works GREAT, neat and simple.
