Hello , long time reader to the page and owned several searays over the years, I recently had the change to buy a real creampuff 1990 250 Sundancer, she was owned by someone who really took care of her and while has some age still shows extremely well (new engines also sealed the deal). I am reaching out cause I have a few questions concerning this model and hoping there might be some knowledge out that that can help. 1st I need to install AC in this boat as we do spend nights on water and in South Florida its sort of a must. Searay says its a 7k btu unit but for the life of me I can figure out where they were installing it. the areas under the v berth don't seem tall enough and really no other location. Only solution I can see is extending the area between the two sides making the front compartment large enough to fit one. any Ideas ? Also she has twin 4.3LX Mercruisers and was wondering if anyone had any fuel economy history on this combo in this boat. Thanks in advance.
1990 250 Sundancer, AC ?
- Thread starter Ezseas
- Start date
Soo let me show you what i am thinking, of a solution , I have installed these before on other boats and worked really well. https://www.ebay.com/itm/295905932408. So I put one of these in a motorsailor I had, worked great, I had enough solar / battery that she would run all night, if at a dock i only had to plug in shore power to the charger and was good to go. thinking to screw the unit to the front vee area, run the hoses and control cable aft behind the galley and install the condenser in the engine compartment. hoses and control cable would have to be longer than what is supplied (not big deal) then the unit itself would be ducted for supply and return to a vent outside so it was not pulling air from engine compartment. its only about 16"x20". total for the install would be about 850.00 plus 3 group 24 battery's would run it all night at a 50% cycle. put a bat isolator on it to keep those apart from the house starting batteries also might have to increase your battery charger capacity depending on your planned usage. benefit is no sea water pumps, can be run while underway even, probably cheaper then a marine unit install. Ideal install would be with the condenser mounted on the exterior possible even under the dash its IP4 rated and is aluminum so can take splashes the ducting is for the vapor protection issue. these were the vents I used on the previous install : https://www.ebay.com/itm/133185741455. anyways I know will be a billion reasons this is not going to work for some people but unless i can figure out how to put a square peg in the round hole its how i will be going, the hatch units and the stand ups are a pain and these boats dont that the space for them.
- Apr 26, 2009
- 5,822
- Boat Info
- '97 330 Sundancer, Raymarine C80 suite with radar, Mercury 310 Hypalon w/8hp Yammie 2stk
- Engines
- 2X 454 carbs w/ vDrives
These are pretty compact and 6K might be enough. Probably better than the 12v one you are looking at. Their 9K is a bit larger and I have that one in my 330 and it works great. Not South Florida mind you.
https://www.marinaire.com/Marine-air-conditioner-6000-btu-110V-p/msba6k2.htm
https://www.marinaire.com/Marine-air-conditioner-6000-btu-110V-p/msba6k2.htm
thanks, I think 6k might be little small here feel 8k would be about right. but issue is cant see even that fitting in that vee area, i combed net looking at any 250 i could fine trying to spot an ac in them , only 1 i saw a grill in the vee area but was no details about if the actual ac was there and it was only 1 grill not a supply/ return and it was an old listing. i also thought undersink but can see that working either. I would prefer a real marine air unit but this boat is not making it easy 
- Jun 9, 2023
- 669
- Boat Info
- 2000 270 DA
'06 F250 4x4
- Engines
- 7.4 MerCruiser MPI w/Bravo III
Well, I won't be the one to say it can't be done. I likely am more familiar with the need than many.
I was fortunate when I found my 270 and it already had AC. The Good Lord then smiled on me again, and put a late model 3.5SBCG Westerbeke on my path. Not installed yet, but I've collected most of what I need, and will get him moved in this fall.
Rest assured, your not the only one looking forward to a comfy night or two on the hook when it's 95 degrees and you can watch a fish ripple move all the way to the horizon.
I was fortunate when I found my 270 and it already had AC. The Good Lord then smiled on me again, and put a late model 3.5SBCG Westerbeke on my path. Not installed yet, but I've collected most of what I need, and will get him moved in this fall.
Rest assured, your not the only one looking forward to a comfy night or two on the hook when it's 95 degrees and you can watch a fish ripple move all the way to the horizon.
The link you listed isn't working for me right now - but in the meantime...
I can't say for sure on your model, but I would actually tend to think that a 5K may have been standard? And, if you think about it, the area you're cooling down is a lot smaller (cubic feet) than a typical room in a house where a 5K window unit would be used.
Also can't say for sure on your model... but on many Sundancers, the sides (port and stbd) of the mid cabin have false walls and there's enough room behind the walls and Sea Ray mounted the entire unit there. They would use a grate in the wall for the return and run the ducting forward. There's often room between the stbd head wall and actual hull.
I can't say for sure on your model, but I would actually tend to think that a 5K may have been standard? And, if you think about it, the area you're cooling down is a lot smaller (cubic feet) than a typical room in a house where a 5K window unit would be used.
Also can't say for sure on your model... but on many Sundancers, the sides (port and stbd) of the mid cabin have false walls and there's enough room behind the walls and Sea Ray mounted the entire unit there. They would use a grate in the wall for the return and run the ducting forward. There's often room between the stbd head wall and actual hull.
i have the 1990 250 DA , its the 8 1/2 beam model so no space in any walls in cabin, and the area under the vee berth is maybe only 10" deep.
the sea ray site has the sales brochure for this model and it said they offered a 7k in it as an option. and as I live in south florida I can think i would need it based on my experience with other boats I have had, I would try a 5k if i thought i could get it in there.
techmitch
Well-Known Member
- May 1, 2008
- 8,437
- Boat Info
- 1999 270 DA
- Engines
- Twin 4.3s W/Alpa I Gen II's
Well I do see it (A/C) and the twin 4.3's in the options:
https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/model-archive-files/1C1_27_74DERNOMF609.pdf
But, unless I'm missing it, not in the Owners or parts manual's...
https://s3.amazonaws.com/srweb-pvt-...ic/parts-manuals/1990__1990-250-SUNDANCER.pdf
Pages missing? https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/owners-manuals-files/Owners Manual 1990 250 SUNDANCER.pdf
thanks for the trying ! , yes its little mystery, I have owned many boats and usually this is not something I am stumped on but there is not any dead space in this little boat
techmitch
Well-Known Member
- May 1, 2008
- 8,437
- Boat Info
- 1999 270 DA
- Engines
- Twin 4.3s W/Alpa I Gen II's
I think sometimes they would stash the unit behind a false wall at the foot of the aft cabin and route the hoses from there.
there is a spot there I considered that might be it ,but the ducting seemed impractical cause would have to go through the steps then through the galley and the access opening it would have to go into I dont believe is big enough
Are you positive about the lack of space behind the false port and stbd wall? You certainly could be correct if you've physically checked. But if you're only guessing...
There are plenty of 8-1/2' beam Sundancers with the AC where I mentioned. I just can't say for sure one way or the other on yours.
going to the boat tomorrow and will give it another lookAre you positive about the lack of space behind the false port and stbd wall? You certainly could be correct if you've physically checked. But if you're only guessing...
There are plenty of 8-1/2' beam Sundancers with the AC where I mentioned. I just can't say for sure one way or the other on yours.
