Adding Air Conditioning
Date: July 25, 1999
From: Luther Carrier capcarrier@aol.com
Hi, I am interested in installing an air conditioning unit in my 33'. As you can see I have a list of questions as to where, how and what. So here it goes:
Is there anyone out there that has a 33' with AC?
What type of a compressor unit? Piston, Rotary
Where is the unit located? V-berth, Salon, Quarter Berth, locker
What type of duct arrangement? One outlet, Two outlets
What is the BTU rating? 16,000
What is the electrical amp draw?
Is your unit noisy?
Does your unit have a heat strip?
Is your unit of the heat pump type?
Are you satisfied with the performance of your unit?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks for your input in this matter.
Date: July 30, 1999
From: Dave and Carol Wright dgw1@aol.com
I will just pass this along for all of you. Of course, we sold our Endeavor 32 "KON-TIKI". However, on the new "used" Tartan 37, we wanted AC/Heat. We looked at Cruisair and a company in Florida called Mermaid Marine (www.mmair.com) (1-800-330-3533). We chose the Mermaid because it was a smaller unit which would fit under the settee instead of having to use up a hanging locker. It works great.
I feel it might fit in an Endeavor 32-33, possibility under a settee or at least in the hanging locker. The have a good website so you might want to take a look.
Date: August 2, 1999
From: Marion and Billie Jo Tyre jpanaro@yahoo.com
My wife and I have a Endeavor 33 with built in air. I do not know the specs as we have just purchased the boat. I do have the manual though and will post the specs later. It is installed underneath the quarter berth. It works better than I had expected it would. There is a main duct ran into the salon, one into the head and one into the forward cabin. If you have any further questions e-mail us at jpanaro@yahoo.com
Date: August 3, 1999
From: kapnnikk@aol.com
Installed 12,000 BTU Mermaid Marine Air, starboard vee berth in front of hanging locker behind water tank. Right hand discharge 6" to salon, 4" to vee berth. 103 outside, 74 inside summertime fla. love it.
Date: August 5, 1999
From: Mike Miller capnmike_s@yahoo.com
Hi Larry,
Do you have an A-plan or a B-plan? In the A-plan, there is a great spot for an A/C unit under the settee (altho you lose a drawer)...it exactly fits a
Mermaid A/C. I wouldn't get a Cruise-Air...they are poorly made and not really reliable by comparison. If you get a side-exhaust one you won't need much if anything in the way of ductwork, and 12,000 BTU is plenty. I have a 5,000 BTU window-type A/C in my companionway, bought at Sams Club for $199, and it keeps things nice and cool even in the Puerto Rico Tropical heat. 'Course I have to step over it, but I figure it's worth it to save $1000!
Date: August 5, 1999
From: Robert T. McWhorter RTMLAW@aol.com
I have an A-Plan 37. Have only been in a B-Plan once. Doubt I would be of much help.
What is his latitude? On the Gulf Coast he should get the largest BTU rating he can that still uses 120 volt. And pay the little extra for the reverse cycle for heat in the winter.
Date: August 17, 1999
From: Carl Hibbard Chgypsy@aol.com
Hello Larry,
I have not put an a/c unit into a B model.
The exterior to interior calculations work out to 13,450 BTU's being required to do anything worth while for most conditions. There are many units, and brands and I would like to stay out of that.
Assuming that you are thinking water cooled, and 110V. If you normally reside in a cold area I am presuming that a reversible unit (cool & heat) is what you are installing.
I would consider an under Vberth arrangement on your B model with one duct coming out under the berth pointed toward the cabin, this is your air intake. You can run a duct through the hanging lockers "Y" it have an outlet duct in the V berth and in the main salon. Personally I'd be real tempted to have a shut off flap for the "Y" so that I could concentrate the cool where you wanted to. BTW 4" duct would pass a lot more air than the 3".
Consider plumbing the water intake as a "T" off of the head intake (with a filter), using the head sink drain as the outlet. It should be fairly easy to winterize (if you have to). The condensate water from the evaporator could be plumbed unto your shower drain, or for that matter just plumb it into the shower basin. On this latter point you may have a drain capablility right into the bilge area, but it can get quite stinky.
Your electric is available in the berth area already, but I would feed a seperate line, its a two way run so 10 gauge wire (maybe 8 gauge) should handle. You might consider a seperate 30 amp input circuit strictly for this, I.E. a whole seperate 110V circuit other than what you presently have, second yellow cord and all. Particularly if you are going to use a lot of other current. We did this on another boat, the seperate circuit runs two space heaters in the winter and his A/C in the summer. Good luck, Carl Hibbard
Date: August 19, 1999
From: Ric Seymour RSeymour@FDIC.gov
I just installed a Marine Air Vector 16K unit with both A/C and Heat on my Endeavour 37 "B". It has a remote programmable digital panel/thermostat. On the 37 I was able to fit it under the V Berth along with the seawater pump. I used the aux anchor locker drain as my return thru-hull and the head's seawater input for the unit's input supply.
I used a 6" ID duct splitting into a 3" ID for the V Birth, 4" ID for the A Berth and a 6" ID for the salon. I can hold the boat at 70 degrees and 40% humidity in 95 degree, 90 % humidity direct sunlight.
I added an additional 30 AMP input and have fused the unit at 25 Amps. It draws about 14 Amps when running the compressor and 16 Amps on heat but the initial start up surge is about 20 Amps.
Date: August 25, 1999
From: John Bartoszek jbartosz@symbol.com
Is it feasible to have AC without a genset?
Date: August 28, 1999
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
John,
Up to a point. Have you calculated the BTUs you'll need, and the power consumption? You would need a large battery bank and great charging system--maybe dual high output alternators to minimize engine run time. At least that's what I've read in the cruising publications.
