F-32 air conditioning

[Nancy]

We're trying to figure out how to air condition our boat. What's common practice for an F-32? What works? What doesn't? Is there a low-budget approach?

Thanks--

Nancy

[Peter]

I have an F 36.the A/C unit is installed in the starboard forward most stowage cupboard just aft of the inside steering station.ducting to guest and master stateroom,main fan outlet in salon.figure about $3000 for central A/C.could also go with less expensive stand alone unit(s) that can be installed in the overhead hatch(s).central if affordable is much superior.much less pain in the ass factor.good luck

[bhenson]

I have a F-30 the a/c is a 5000 btu unit i got from sears it is mounted behind the stairs the cold air blowes through the stairs and the hot air vents into the bildge with the condinsate water. it has been the boat for over 20 years

[Nancy]

Peter, yes, that carry-on hatch unit seems pretty clunky.

bhenson, is that a central a/c unit?

[prowlersfish]

I have a F-30 the a/c is a 5000 btu unit i got from sears it is mounted behind the stairs the cold air blowes through the stairs and the hot air vents into the bildge with the condinsate water. it has been the boat for over 20 years

Not a good Idea for a number of reasons , seen it before Had to redo one that was like that , a window ac stuck in a gas fume environment not very safe , damp air blowing on the engines not good.

you could tell when one owner was on board , the engine hatches were open so the a/c would work

[captainmaniac]

Us the Search function on the forum - there have been a lot of discussions about AC over time. Here is a thread where the owner of an F26 was asking about installations, and I gave some details of how it is set up on my F32 (including pictures).

http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewt ... nditioning

[k9th]

Good idea to search existing threads since this one has been addressed several times. You will find all kinds of ideas and alternatives.

[TADTOOMUCH]

I installed my own 16,000 BTU AC unit in my F-32. I put the unit under the aft bench seat of the dinette.

I purchased a Webasto FCF unit and in ran all the ductwork and hooked up all the electrical and water lines myself. It was not what I would call an easy job but it was the best thing I ever did. I ran a duct from the AC unit to the V-berth and put one in the upper salon on the starboard side and in the wall above the dinette just behind the instrument panel.

In my case I did have to shorten the drawers under the aft bench seat in the dinette and move the drawer supports about 3" to port to get the unit to fit. I had to cut a return air grill into the side of the bench wall to let the unit have a place to draw the hot air in.

If you are good with your hands and can do some online research it can be done for under $2,000.00 with about three weekends of work. I did mine in the water as I already had a seacock in the aft next to the bilge pump and a through hull fitting in the starboard front closet. I used an inline system that sucks the condensate out with the discharge water so no drainage to bilge.

System works great for heat and cool here in Michigan.

message me for more details if you want.

[Nancy]

Tad,

This is great information! The owners of an F32 that used to be at our marina installed A/C. They sacrificed the forward dinette drawers to do it. I like your design a lot better.

As luck would have it, we've just accepted an offer on our boat, so we won't be doing this project. But it was definitely moving up the list.