Installing AC in H326

[Dave]

Hello All,I'm considering having my local Hunter dealer installed "central" AC in my Hunter 326 and would appreciate any advice, warnings, suggestions, etc. The boat is a 2003 model, and appears to have the necessary space provided under the startboard settee, and bullkhead cutouts for ducting already done. Questions that come to mind are:1. is it best to have dealer installed AC, or shop the market? What BTU rating should I look for?2. will a "central" AC like this handle a 90 deg. day, and keep the temps in the salon in a reasonable range, say in the mid 70's.3. are there any really nasty things that can or typically go wrong with such an installation?4. what is a reasonable price range?Many thanks.Dave...Tacit KnowledgeSunrise Cove Marina

 

[charles creel]

central units

hi Dave,like you , we have triple dig temps here in the south.here is a link for you that was highly recomended bye a friend who crusies alot on a 32 endever.Also Coleman makes a rooftop unit thats self contained.http://www.oceanbreezeac.com

 

[Randy Jarrell]

A/C Installation

Dave,Your local Hunter dealer can recommend a local vendor to do the installation. If they get an order for installation they subcontract the work. When you say "will a central A/C like that handle a 90 degree day" it all depends on the BTU rating you have selected. A boat your size will require a minimum of 12000 BTU's. I have a 16500 BTU on my H37.5 and it only does a fair job on the hot humid Florida days. If you have the room and the budget I would certainly look at the 16500 BTU. I have had both Marine Air nad Mermaid units. Prefer Mermaid. Best price and 5 year warranty. The best price I have found is in the Defender catalog. You will save about $400 over the manufacturers price.

 

[Dave]

Thanks

Charles and Randy,Thanks for your help. Those BTU numbers are pretty awesome. To think I owned a house in Gainesville, FL that only needed 12,000 BTUs!! I think my next step is to call the dealer here and get the boat over to them, while I check the catalogs you recommended. It's due for a bottom check anyway, and I might as well get it all done at once.Don't know about you guys but we have had a brutal summer so far. I think our highs have been in the 90s for about a month, and that is really unusual for Atlanta. It makes sailing on LL not fun, but if I had gotten the AC installed last year, I could have at least enjoyed getting away for a weekend anyway.If you're interested, I'll let you know how it goes. What is that old saying -- a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money?Dave...

 

[John]

A/C for H326

I too have a 326 and am thinking seriously of installing A/C. Do you need dedicated thru hulls for coolong water or can you tee off exising fittings? Also, 16,500 BTUs sound high - any other experience out there?