Periodic AC use

C

cthronson

New Member
Mar 20, 2007
8
First, thanks for the replies to my previous concerns.

Being out of town, our boat sits for relatively long periods of time between uses. I do have a West Marine evaporator that I leave plugged in when we are not there, but I was thinking of having the AC cycle daily (or some period of time) both to dehumidify the air as well as keep the system running, to avoid stagnant salt water sitting there.

Your thoughts? In addition, do you folks routinely flush or otherwise service\clean the AC system?

Thanks
 
We typically leave the a/c units in dehumidify mode when we leave the boat. This cycles the units about every 12 hours, but can be adjusted according to your climate. I am rarely away from the boat for more than a week, but would not have a problem leaving the sytem in this mode for several weeks.
 
That's what the dehumidify mode is for. It works well, and you'll be OK with it.

If you get a power surge or something, you can shut it off, which is the only issue with it.

Hokey as sounds, we leave some of those combo nite-lite/air freshener things in the cabin also, and it always smells like new in there. You have to get the ones that don't require power, though, because the power receptacles are turned off at the DC breakers when you leave.
 
You would get better answers if you let us know what boat you have and where it is located. While the above answers are right on the money for most newer boats, they may not be for older smaller ones.
 
Thanks Mike. If it is an '03, you guys are right, as I said.

My point is that folks who ask questions and want quality help should give us at least the basic information to work with. All we want to do is help them....nobody's going to stalk 'em........

and, cthronson, we aren't picking on you in particular.......missing boat and location data is just a squeaking wheel for some of us.
 
I know providing boat and location information has been discussed before but I cannot remember why we didn't have that data as a requirement to sign up a member. :huh: Can someone refresh my "somewhat senile" memory....Thanks in advance.
 
Thanks for the responses. I do have a 2003 380 DA, located in Sunset Beach, California. This is just north of Huntington and Newport, at a marina called Peter's Landing.

And my key is kept...oh wait, probably too much information.
 
Yes......the owner of the forum does not want to require any more information than now because he feels asking what type boat and where the member is located will restrict membership.
 
I think we are well beyond worrying about membership being restricted. The CSR website has taken over the reins quite well for SRO. Requiring basic owner, vessel and location information, IMHO, would only enhance the ability of its members to continue to provide valuable help.
 
There is nothing wrong with leaving your a/c on to cool, heat or dehumidy. Some marinas do not allow it due to the lack of meters for each slip but many do allow it and see the utility use as a cost of doing business to be built into the slip fee. Ours will run 24/7 for days when we cruise. You have to make sure you are in clean water or the seawater pick up stainer will fill with debris and shut off the compressor due to high temps. In Michigan I close our boat up when it's not being used and it gets very hot down below. This seems to keep things dry and fresh smelling.
 
I would like to hijack this thread and move on to my boat for the same question. I have a 1997 SR 400DA with gas engines and keep it in Lindenurst, N.Y. at SS3 Marina. This will be the first season I have a boat with AC/Heat so I am curious to the second part of the question regarding the frequency with which you might or might not clean or flush the AC system. Also, a friend of mine who has a 340 Sundancer, 2004 model said that he puts a small rubber/plastic tube into the drain fitting in his hull where the AC water drains out. Please forgive me for not knowing the correct names of the parts. The rubber tube sticks out about an inch and he said he does that so the water will flow out aware from the hull and not drip on it when the AC is draining overboard. He said it stays in with no problem. Is this a good idea?
Any insight is always appreciated.

OJ
 
You can install a rubber tube if the water you discharge leaves a dirty streak below the discharge. This does no harm. As far as cleaning the system you need to clean the filter monthly and check the sea strainer for debris on a regular schedule. If you have a good flow at the discharge the system is clean. This seldom requires attention in fresh water but the ocean probably requires added maintenance.
 
I am so glad the rubber tube question was asked. I have seen clear plastic used once and thought it was a neat idea, but I can't find a diameter that fits. Any suggestions?
 
My friend says he uses a tube that is just about the same diameter as the discharge fitting and then puts some elec tape or duct tape around the end that is going in the hole to take up the slack then just jams it in there.

OJ
 
AC Continuous Duty

I've got a 460 and operate in Ft. Lauderdale. When I'm away from the boat I leave both AC's in Humidfy and the system runs 24/7 when I'm aboard.

The water we have here is brackish, but I dock close to Port Evergalades and my dock is in near full salt seawater with the added attraction of lots of silt.

I clean the air filters monthly, which makes me inspect the unit, and twice a year I discontect the raw water lines at the manifold in the bilge and back flush them with fresh water from the compressor back to the bilge, loads of muddy silt expells into catch bucks in the bilge, Then I flush the discharge lines with fresh. I'm accomlishing something for the effort, just from the amount of silt build up in the lines.

With this work I replace any clamps that appear the least bit "iffy".

Making sure your ac connections are solid is a critical inspection because this pump can sink you boat if a 3 dollar clamp lets go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,357
Messages
1,431,080
Members
61,210
Latest member
xImpacto
Back
Top