A/C Rust Stains

I use hydrochloric acid, (Zing) available from most ship stores, on a throw away rag. The stain is gone in 2-3 seconds. Make sure you wash your hands and don't rub your eyes. Zing is a good product to keep on hand for nasty stains on fiberglass. You need to rewax the area after using it.
 
The only thing I did different to other answers here, is that I used right angle 3/8" hose fittings. One end is pressed into the thru hull fitting, and the other end gets a length of clear 3/8 hose that stops about 2" from the waterline. What this gets me is silence from the a/c discharge water. Good for me, good for the neighbors.
Side benefit, when alge starts to grow in the clear hose, you can bet it's the same in the a/c water lines. Pressure hose flush, and a piece or two of bromide tablets in the strainer. Make sure you continue to run the water, and not just let the bromide or chlorine tablets sit. They will eat your strainer.
 
I have a question about inserting these tubes into the outlets. Obviously they have to be of a smaller ID to be press fit into the outlet. Well wouldn't this hamper the flow slightly and maybe cause some additional load on the pump(s)? I know I have heard of this idea for years with no ill results. Just a curiosity question I guess. Our water has never contributed to A/C stains. I do like the idea about an elbow that exits 2" above the waterline to silence the water. Ours exits on the starboard side very near the V berth and it would be nice to quiet it down a bit!
 
Guys, I'm having trouble envisioning this plastic tube thing. Are you saying you shove a tube into the overboard discharge about 1/2" and leave it in there all season long? Where does one get this tube? Is it special marine stuff or just standard Home Depot issue? How long is the piece that emerges from the discharge hole?

My forward discharge trickles weakly and most of the water runs down the side of the hull and makes a nasty orange stain by mid July. I'd love to direct it away from the hull.
 
Ron, the hose is standard Home Depot stuff. Go to 370 sundancer.com and click the year 1998 then click on Absolution III. One of the pictures is a close up of the hose on my boat. I hope this helps, Mark
 
Mark. That little thing is all that's needed? OK. What's the diameter of the hose (if you know offhand). I think all those through hulls are the same size (looks the same as mine from your pic).
 
rondds said:
Mark. That little thing is all that's needed? OK. What's the diameter of the hose (if you know offhand). I think all those through hulls are the same size (looks the same as mine from your pic).
Click to expand...
Ron, that's all you need! Makes a big difference. The one in the pic was pushed into that hole about 3/4 of an inch three years ago and has never fallen out. I'll probably replace it this year just because it's a little sun damaged. Sorry, I don't remember the diameter. Mark
 
Thanks Mark
I have a roll of clear plastic material in my basement. Since the boat's out of the water I'll cut a length and see if it fits in there. If not at least I'll have a reference for buying a new piece.
RON
 
The reinforced plastic hose size you need to prevent your hull from staining is 1 3/8" OD for the shower sump. If you want to add a tube for your AC discharge it is 3/8" OD. No sealant needed. Just shove the tubing in until it bottoms out, about 3/4 of a inch into the hole and leave about the same outside of the hull. The shower sump is the drain that stains the hull. I think these discharge hole size are the same for all the sea rays but I'm not sure about that. My boat is a 05 340 Sundancer.
 
The reason the shower sump thru hull stains so badly on many of our boats is Cruisair used a painted steel condensate tray under our units. They rust quickly. There is a thread about this. I got them to send me a replacement condensate tray that is SS and coated. Solved my rust problem...Although I still use my short exit tubes
 
Jim
My AC discharges are slightly larger than 1/2" I had an entire roll of 1/2" OD clear tubing which was a shade too skinny. So I bought a roll of 5/8" which turned out to be too large. One circumference of duct tape wrap around the 1/2" stuff got it to fit tight as a drum. Might last all season but if it doesn't I'll make new ones.
 
carterchapman said:
The reason the shower sump thru hull stains so badly on many of our boats is Cruisair used a painted steel condensate tray under our units. They rust quickly. There is a thread about this. I got them to send me a replacement condensate tray that is SS and coated. Solved my rust problem...Although I still use my short exit tubes
Click to expand...

We did the same. Why would CruiseAir use a painted steel pan for larger AC units that will run at lenght? To their credit they did replace the pan, but I had to pay for the labor. Anyway no more rust stains.
 
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