[C320-list] Marine Air Conditioner

[Charles Holbrook]

 Thanks Mark

    On Thursday, January 23, 2020, 03:41:56 PM EST, Mark Seyler <mseyler at cox.net> wrote:  
 
 Charlie,

When I say "air handler" I mean a separate evaporator coil  and blower that sits below the port side of the v-berth, and blows chilled air up through a duct incorporated into the bulkhead, and out into the salon and the forward cabin.  

My complaint with this set up is that while it cools, it also dumps condensation into the bilge forward of the mast, where the through-hull transducers for speed and depth are located.  There's not a good path from there back to the area behind the keel where bilge pump is located.  (I have the older, shallow-bilge version of the C320.)  I like to keep a dry bilge anyway, so my ultimate plan is to put a shower sump chamber and pump somewhere close by, to catch the condensation and pump it out of the boat via the drain for the anchor locker.  I'll also have to put a loop and anti-siphon valve above the waterline to make sure it doesn't back-flow into the boat.  But I haven't gotten to those parts of my to-do list yet.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality, 
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Charles Holbrook
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2020 5:48 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Marine Air Conditioner

 Mark:
When you say air handler do you mean piping for vents or something else?  It sounds like we have the same piping configuration but not sure.
Charlie
    On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, 12:11:19 PM EST, Mark Seyler <mseyler at cox.net> wrote:  
 
 I have a 16,000 BTU unit with the compressor and one air handler located in the starboard lazaret (just above the fuel tank), venting into the aft cabin.  My boat also has a second air handler located just forward of the bulkhead in the port side of the forward cabin, and blowing cool air into the forward cabin and the salon.  They cool the boat just fine, even in steamy New Orleans summer.  If they didn't dump condensation into my otherwise dry bilge, I'd run them more often.  (A venturi for the condensation for the aft air handler and a shower sump pump for the forward one are on my to do list.)

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality, 
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of conneelythomas at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 9:36 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Marine Air Conditioner

I have a 16000 btu unit located in the port locker . it vents into the main cabin over the refrigerator.  return in aft cabin. The fans help in very hot weather.  It works very well  Tom 916


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Borelli <cassattc22 at hotmail.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Mon, Jan 20, 2020 10:27 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Marine Air Conditioner

My 1995 C320 no. 209 has a Mermaid Marine Air M-12  12,000 BTU unit located in the same location as yours, on a shelf above the fuel tank, starboard side aft hold with the 2 vents located same as yours.  I have not operated it other then to turn it on, it is noisy.  The previous owner said it was good for cooling the aft berth and just adequate to cool the saloon.

Bob Borelli
1995 C320 no. 209
SAI, Georgetown MD


________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Charles Holbrook <charlesholbrook at ymail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2020 11:05 AM
To: Catalina List <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Marine Air Conditioner

Anybody have an idea on the BTU's necessary to keep my 1995 Cat 320 cool.  Right now I have a  9,000 BTU very old unit made by Pioneer located in the aft starboard access above the fuel tank with one vent opening into the aft berthing on port side and one vent into main cabin right above the reefer.  The return air is the whole aft section of boat.  The system does not work very well and keeps cycling off and on with a coil freezing failure alarm.  The coil is not frozen even if the alarm indicates it.  The local Marine AC guy bench tested the unit last year and could not find anything wrong with the unit.
I'm thinking about just replacing the whole unit and I am thinking about at least a 1600 BTU unit.  Any suggestions out there.
Charlie, Port Clinton, Ohio "Nautigirl"