[C320-list] AC unit condensation drain line

[Warren Updike]

In all deference to Rick Sulewski, as he very graciously provided much
assistance in the planning for our A/C installation, I and two others did
use the venturi device. It is a Marvair CR330. We paid $150. The kit comes
with a myriad of fittings, hoses, and clamps to suit any installation. It
was not cheap, but it works. The condensate is withdrawn from the pan by a
negative pressure (or vacuum) and flows into the overboard discharge from
the A/C unit, so no extra thru-hulls needed. The vacuum is created by the
flow of A/C water past a venturi device. It's all contained within the A/C
enclosure and requires no maintenance other than to remove and rinse the
small strainer screen at the end of the season. Because the condensate water
is distilled, the only contaminants in it will be what foreign material may
enter from within the environment of the A/C unit. 
We selected our A/C unit with extreme care to insure we could install it out
of the way in the port locker. We then fully enclosed it in plywood walls so
that it is within the cooled space and isolated entirely from the locker. In
the process, we did lose 2" of height from the bread box. In this way, no
use of the port locker will interfere with the A/C or venturi device.
I'm sure what helps is that the unit, Cruisair Turbo STQ12K, has a composite
condensate pan structured with deep channels leading to knock-out plugs so
that all but the smallest remnant of condensate remains in the pan when the
CR330 is working. The device can be heard to be sucking on the pan keeping
it mostly dry. We've never had any loose water sloshing around on any degree
of heel. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62

-----Original Message-----
From: JeffWillis111 at aol.com [mailto:JeffWillis111 at aol.com] 
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 4:30 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] AC unit condensation drain line

Hello All,
 
I have been running AC quite a bit lately and was wondering what  others do 
with the condensation drain line.  PO just ran into bilge. I  could not do 
that so I just put a 5 gal bucket there and dump it everyday.   A lot of 
trouble.
 
Not interested in another thru-hull  but was curious if installing a  "Y" 
in cooling water discharge drain line and hooking condensation  drain line
to 
it and let it drain through the same line as cooling  water?
 
Any help would be appreciated.
 
Jeff and Debbie Willis
Esprit, #174