A/C Condensate

[plansea]

What do you guys do with your air condition condensate ? On my F-36 it simply drains into the bilge, and is then pumped out via the automatic bilge pump. Is this normal? Is it a good idea? Thanx in advance for any comments. Larry

[g36]

i installed a small thru hull and attached a hose on the bib on the condensate drain on the bottom of the pan. i did both mine is on the stbd side of the salon on my f32 and in the forward wall in the v berth. very simple. i keep my bilge dry and this was a very easy thing to do.

[RWS]

My condensate pan is below the water line.

It all goes into the fwd bilge.

RWS

[Paul]

My condensate pan is also below the water line and drains into th bilge.

[BobCT]

but the A/C unit is above the waterline in the forward v berth. A small thru hull might be a good idea. Pretty low risk if even if it failed.

Bob

[RWS]

I would still want a loop in mine.

RWS

[captainmaniac]

Mine also drains in to the bilge. There is such a low volume of water from the condensate that I don't think a thru-hull is warranted.

[Paul]

As Captainmaniac stated, "There is such a low volume of water from the condensate that I don't think a thru-hull is warranted". I've never had the bilge pump come on from condensate alone in my boat, however if you run it 24-7 it just might. The only concern that I,d have about draining thru the hull (as long as th unit is above the waterline) is that waves or boat wake may wash back into the boat.

If you're concerned about having a perfectly dry bilge, there is another way. You can purchase or make a shower sump for the condensate. To make one, simply use a plastic or fiberglass container that will hold a quart or more of liquid and install it in the boat lower than your condensate pan. Install a bilge pump and float switch into it then set up the pump hose thru the hull like you would a normal bilge pump. Now run your condensate drain hose into the container and your done. (you might want a lid on it as well)

Now your bilge will be free of condensate water.

Hope this helps,

[RWS]

mine makes a great deal of water - but I am in SW florida.

RWS

[g36]

as stated on my f32 the unit is in the stbd side cabinet in the salon, the pan is floor level therefore it is nowhere near the water. i chose to install a 1/2" thru hull above the black waterline stripe on my boat just the same height as most other of the through hulls in the side on my boat. the galley and head sinks have their own and are lower to the water level than the condensate drain pan.outlet. if someone is worried about a wave you might want to check the height of those through hulls. there really is not alot of argument between boat types. internationals and f series are not the same. so what works in one probably wont in the other. and it probably matters where the unit is physically located mine is what i want and works great.i have tons of water that is drawn from 95-100 degree and the 85-90% humidity we have in tennessee in the summer so i think not having the water in bilge does matter and thats also what the surveyor thought too. f series boats arent very well insulated and my unit will run pretty much all day. its doing all it can. proabably a bit different climate in canada. to each his own

[Big D]

Where does your shower drain to on the F36?

[plansea]

I too am fortunate enough to live in the deep south, and our tempertures and humidity does get rather high. My a/c is located above the waterline so I could put in a thru-hull, I just hesitate to drill a hole into the side of a perfectly good boat. I think I will simply increase the length of the drain hose so that it spills next to the bilge pump. Big D my shower drain is plumbed to a small pump that is manually switched. Thanx again for all the thoughts and ideas, I am not sure I even had that much of an issue. Next time I'll give you guys something really hard. Larry

[TADTOOMUCH]

My AC unit is located under the rear seat of the dinette in my F-32. The condensate drains to the bilge. I was going to install a unit that uses the venturi effect from the water exiting the cooling coil and it sucks the condensate out with the discharge water from the air conditioner. The unit cost was about $100 bucks and required some more hose and fittings and I never got around to it. It doesn't seem that big a deal to have the condensate run into my bilge as I have the prop shaft water going there anyway because I don't have dripless fittings on the shafts. The unit was called a condensater or something like that.

[prowlersfish]

Where does your shower drain to on the F36?

The shower drain line goes in to a pump and is pumped over board You turn on the pump when you take a shower . ( not a automatic set up )

[Big D]

So considering everything is already there for the shower to be pumped overboard; electrical, plumbing, through hull, it would be relatively easy to install an auto sump box for the shower and direct the condensate to it......good to know.