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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/26/2003 : 15:27:36

We'll folks, as some of you remember from the report from this summers cruise, the Home Depot airconditioner in the hatch was effective, but a pain in the *&^% to put in and out, and for the kids to climb over.....so I broke down and ordered the real thing, (See also the West Marine Catalog, page 473)

http://www.mmair.com/product/5200.html

I spoke to John Trotter at Mermaid Marine Air regarding the installation, and I must say he was most helpfull. I trust that we'll be able to address any questions that come up during the installation process.

Note that this thing will run on the small (super silent) Honda generator, as wel as a 1000 watt inverter with about 400W of deep cycle battery. Something to keep in mind for the future.

I ordered the reverse cycle unit. (It get's chilly up here and the extra bu seem to me a good value). I plan on installing it next to the battery, port side behind the aft bulkhead. I plan on putting the cooling water inlet/seacock and pump under the small square hatch in the floor of the aft berth. The hose can follow the bilge pump hose back to the unit, and the overboard discharge can be next to the unit in the aft "overhang". As the bilge is small, and the pump is sitting right there I don't want the condensate to accumulate down there, so I opted for the "Mermaid Condensator" http://www.mmair.com/product/Condensator.html that "sucks" the drip pan dry and delivers the water overboard with the cooling water.

Finally, I plan on replacing the battery access hatch with a return register with filter, and to run the supply duct through the aft bulkhead into the area behind the head, and then along the ceiling of the aft berth to a register box mounted at the forward edge of the ceiling of the aft berth between the steps and the head wall.

Meanwhile, while I'm sitting behind the door waiting for the UPS man, I'm asking for your thoughts on this process before I start drilling holes in the boat....<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

Oscar
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/LKforumshot.jpg" border=0>
Lady Kay 250 WB #618
In the driveway in Behtlehem, PA ready to go anytime.

Edited by - Oscar on 08/26/2003 15:50:20

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2003 : 16:03:52

One area that I have some perspective is the water intake. While plumbing it, consider using a tee above the seacock and simply put a plug in the extra hole for now. Some day you may want seawater for a marine head or a blaster washdown pump and wouldn't have to rework all the intake plumbing.

If the future includes a marine head... the best location IMHO for the tank is aft of the wet locker bulkhead on a platform.... see the picture on my site. This means that the space below that level would be fair game such as where the bilge hose transits but the space above is prime real estate for a marine head.

The area that doesn't seem to get utilized as much is that to starboard where the aft berth light is, though I use some of it near the galley for a couple of baskets to hang on hooks strung from liner lip which greatly increase galley storage, again...see my site.

But, I think adequate space would still exist to bring the duct forward there and locate the outlet to feed the cabin where Suzie installed her VHF radio, in the little starboard niche near the power panel unless of course its committed.

Having A/C installed in such a way that its not obtrusive would be a great upgrade...

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2003 : 16:14:37

Thanks Arlyn,

I have lived with both marine heads on other boats and the porta potty on Lady Kay. Since the Admiral is much happier with showers and AC (read shore power) we almost always spend nights in (clean) marina's. For force majeur toilet operations we go ashore. The potty gets used mainly for enroute needs, and mid-night light duty. It lasts us 3-4 days. (I did replace the factory thimble with a six gallon porta-pot.) So, I don't think I'll be installing a marine head, especially since I've found that with proper care the porta pot emits little or no odor....Still, you have a point in leaving that space free......

Oscar

Edited by - Oscar on 08/26/2003 16:21:33

Edited by - on

conchjoe
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2003 : 16:26:55

I have used a similar setup:

Honda eu1000i generator
1500/3000 inverter
2 125ah type 29 batteries
7000 btu Krusin Kool AC (hose and pump go over the side)

I used this successfully in Key West, FL during the summer when there is little night breeze and many mosquitoes. The AC unit drew only 5.5 amps while running, but 20 amps at startup. The Honda generator only provides about 7.5 amps. What I did was plug the pump into the generator and the compressor and fan into the inverter, while running battery chargers for the battery. This reduced the loat on the inverter/batteries to 3.9 amps 120 volt (39 amps 12 volt DC) running. I still ran an amp deficit, but it was tolerable for about 5 or 6 hours of AC. However, I had to watch my battery condition/voltage carefully.

Of course, you have almost double my ah capacity; however, note that you may want to upsize your inverter; running it at capacity produces a lot of heat. Also, note that deep cycle batteries should not be discharged beyond 50%; therefore, your usable capacity is only about 200 ah (and that is when you start out with a fully charged battery). Deep cycle batteries charge in 3 stages, bulk charge, ending with float charge. Most of the time we operate with a 80-90% charged deep cycle, since it takes quite a while to finish the float charge and achieve 100%. If you discharge below 50% - easy to do running AC - you will damage and limit life of your batteries.

I abandoned the use of the AC while out when I bought my current Catalina 250 WB and moved to Sarasota. I only use it now when connected to shorepower.

In any case, it worked for me. Good luck.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2003 : 18:26:40

Thanks for the info, I don't have the 12V power yet, it's a future plan. However this unit is designed to be powered that way, startup amps are less than 10, running amps around half of that.

Oscar
250WB#618 Lady Kay on the Chesapeake
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/Forumshots/sunglitter.JPG" border=0>

Edited by - on

Rubin Hawkins
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2003 : 00:00:23

For what it is worth....I have a Coleman portable 1800 generator. It has rubber feet and does not jump around. I made a connector to my shore power line. I have a 5000 btu air conditioner that keeps things cool. It is a pain to put in and out. If Dr. Hawkins is on board for the night it is always in place. She is grateful for the effort.

I really don't have any advise to offer on hole drilling. I may be of assistance when you get around to the 12V power. I have two GP31 AGM batteries that never seem to go dead. AGM is the way to go.

Rubin
Windy Joy
C250 WB #591

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2003 : 23:54:07

Got up at 5am and "did" Bermuda (I MUST sail there someday ....it's gorgeous) and Boston......
Found two big boxes from Mermaid Marine Air when I got home just now.........Yummie.....

Oscar
250WB#618 Lady Kay on the Chesapeake
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/Forumshots/sunglitter.JPG" border=0>

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.