Factory location on AC thru-hull?

[jms02050]

Hi - I'm planning out an AC install on my 28TE. Debating between DYI versus having someone else do it. I've got the diagram/schematic of the system from Albin and was wondering about the factory location of the sea water thru-hull. Does anybody have a pic available? I know some folks tee into the head intake, but I'm curious to see how the factory did it. The diagram shows it between the engine stringers, just below the head intake. This seems less than optimal since I find myself in that vicinity when checking the batteries, holding tank, etc.

Thx.

[Old School]

I switched my head to fresh water and used the head through hull for the AC.

Head doesn't smell from salt water now. The only thing is, because there is no clam shell on the head inlet, you suck the water out of the cooling line if you don't close the sea cock when under way.

[Chris & Dale]

Jim,
I believe all factory identified thru hull locations are marked w/a black painted square. I'm enclosing a picture which shows such and in fact where my A/C intake is located. You can also just see the side of the intake strainer which is an absolute necessity. While this may appear to not be an optimum location, in many respects it is, in that I can close the intake and clean the strainer while sitting on the step that covers the batteries.

AC & Live Well Intakes.JPG

Old School,
I too had a problem with my A/C drawing down the water underway if I didn't close the intake. The solution to that is to install a check-valve in-line. I'm enclosing a picture of that as well. It's really as simple as it looks. Bought the bronze check valve at a local hardware store, cut the line and installed myself. Pay close attention to the flow arrow on the body of the valve...almost put mine in backwards! We just finished a cruise from Southport, NC to Charleston, SC and back and I never closed the intake as a test. The A/C unit started every time w/no air locks. Now I'll tell you that I will continue to close it underway as it's just one less hole for water to come in, so this was simply for those grey matter moments when I forget.

AC Intake Check Valve.JPG

Good Luck to both of you!

[jms02050]

Thx, just what I was looking for. I don't have that bulkhead in front of the motor, so when I look at the area it appears that the thru-hull would be out in the middle of nowhere - makes a lot more sense now.

Thx again.

[Pitou]

I switched my head to fresh water and used the head through hull for the AC.

Head doesn't smell from salt water now. The only thing is, because there is no clam shell on the head inlet, you suck the water out of the cooling line if you don't close the sea cock when under way.

Albin used surface plate strainer covers over the mushroom thruhulls on factory installs making for an easy change over from the round strainer to a scoop strainer. They had originally installed a scoop strainer facing aft over my generator mushroom and a round strainer over my bait pump mushroom thruhull causing water drop out when underway resulting in dead bait / not good. I unscrewed each of the two strainers, filled the holes with epoxy, redrilled into solid cores, bedded the screws when installing the strainers in their new homes. The swap out was one of the easiest boat projects I've taken on. My AC intake does have a scoop strainer facing forward and never loses its prime. The only time that I prime is after a haulout when returning to the water.

round strainer.jpg

scoop strainer.jpg

Jim,
I believe all factory identified thru hull locations are marked w/a black painted square. I'm enclosing a picture which shows such and in fact where my A/C intake is located. You can also just see the side of the intake strainer which is an absolute necessity.

Having the dark patches in the bilge to identify solid cores as factory is doubtful. I've been in quite a few 28TE bilges and this is the first time that I've seen this. My AC set-up from the factory is identical to your set-up and location of the thruhull. The factory install for both the baitwell pump & salt water wash is located in solid coring up against the transom in the port corner. I wish I had Rob's picture library to share ... I'll try to get a picture of this up over the next few days.

[RobS]

...but I'm curious to see how the factory did it....

Normally we spend all our time fixing everything that was done wrong at the factory!

[jms02050]

Good point Rob

[Chris & Dale]

As for the baitwell and raw water washdown, I have a big black square painted in that exact location but no thru-hulls. Even had the wiring back there. But the thru hull across from the A/C intake was already installed to I just used that one, running the line back and actually tapping into the wiring that was run and connected to the switch. I am seriously considering putting one back there as I don't currently have a raw water washdown on the boat, and I may use the center thru-hull for that (actually 2 lines for cockpit washdown and forward for anchor washdown) and connect the baitwell to the rear port one when installed. Just not thrilled w/yet another hole in the hull water can come thru. Oh well.