357 A/C question
 

Perfectmix - or others with 357s. Anyone have air conditioning and know where the unit is located. I think mine has a/c. It has a switch for a/c but I have never seen a thermostat. I have had other higher priority items on the boat to worry about so I have never even tried the a/c. But, if there is an a/c unit I have no idea where to look. Would it be under a bench seat in the cabin? If so where is an access panel? Anyone have any ideas? Or, is that a/c switch on the panel jsut there for looks and my own wishful thinking?

Re: 357 A/C question
 

I know that they just started to off a/c in the 2005 353's this year. Not sure though if it has ever been offered in anything smaller than a 382 in the earlier years.

Re: 357 A/C question
 

They used to offer a/c in several of the smaller boats (which of course were bigger back then). Mine is a old 1985 357 (37'7"). I think they used to even offer a/c in the old 311. I did see that they just started offering the new 353 with air but now we're talking about something way out of my price range. But, us old school guys gotta keep cool too.

Come on out there. I know someone has an old 402, 357 or 311 with cold a/c that can enlighten me.

Thanks,


Brent

Re: 357 A/C question
 

When I had my 1993 357 the air was in a cabinet in front of the head. The water pick went to the engine compartment for the thru hall.

Re: 357 A/C question
 

Thanks Wildthing. If that's where the air would be then I must not have any a/c. Where was the thermostat?

Re: 357 A/C question
 

I've got an 86 SR357--it has factory air. The refrigeration unit is in the cabinet in fron of head with return air duct on forward face of cabuinet and cold air discharge on top of cabinet. The "thermostat" is a 3-dial panel--heat/air/fan--fan speed, temp (colder to wamer).

The system I have was manufactured by King Marine Air in Ft Meyers Fl I believe. The seem to make the only unit that will fit in that cabinet.

Regards

Poorsche

www.boatmat.com

Re: 357 A/C question
 

Bford-

Mine is the same as Poorshe. You will see vents on the cabinet in front of the head. And a dial on that same cabinet. The water pick-up is under the forward step. I have not ever used my a/c. It is not even hooked up. Maybe a project for this winter.

Re: 357 A/C question
 

A little more info on my A/C system---the thru-hull cooling water pickup is more-or-less under the port engine; the water circulating pump is in the engine compartment on the port stringer and the water runs from that pump thru the port storage are along the cockpit to the a/c unit in the cabin. THe cooling water goes overboard on the port side right next to the a/c unit.

THe condesate used to drain into the bilge under the cabins step and was then pumped from that sump back to the engine bilge. I installed a "condesator" that King Air sells that sucks the condesate out with the cooling water.

I think the pump you are seeing under the step is the condensate removal pump, not the cooling water pump.

Mine is a reverse cycle 10,000 btu unit and will more than keep the interior cold in the summer here and warm in the winter.

I recommend it--and the unit can be purchased direct for about $1200,

Poorsche

www.boatmat.com

Re: 357 A/C question
 

Hey Brent,
It's Al in chicago. How's it going? As for the air conditioning switch. Kind of Formula's cruel joke although greatly appreciated actually. I too have the breakers in the main electrical locker (or panel) as well. The unit isn't installed though. Beauty is though that Formula completely rigged the 30 footers and up for air even if it wasn't factory ordered. I guess (and they are right) that it would be a complete beatch to run all the electrical and plumbing after the fact. I found all this air rigging after digging around and rewiring my F-402. Air works on shorepower or gen. 12 guage 120 volt marine romex goes from the electrical locker (switch you found) on the 120 volt side (not 12 volt) to the cabinet on the opposite side directly in front of the head. From there a 120 volt romex goes under the cockpit to the engine room where as Poorsche indicated that the fresh water circulating pump would be mounted. There is also a 5/8" or 3/4" flex PVC waterline that also goes from the cabinet under the cockpit (or thru gunnel) to the location of the water pump in the engine room. You probably will find a 3/4" through hull with a seacock or a plug under the front of your port engine and have been wondering what the hell it's for. That's for the air cond circulating pump. Even better.... You may have a couple of vents up by the V-berth that DON'T pump air when you turn on the 'cabin vent blowers'. Formula even installed the vent ducts along the ceilings and the terminate in that cabinet just forward of the head. If you want air, just buy the kit. and slide it into the bottom of the cabinet. A return duct has to be cut into the shelf area on top of the cabinet and a supply vent should be cut into the side of the cabinet facing toward the couch. Mount the thermostat controller away from the ducts somewhere. Mount and hook up the circulating pump in the engine room and you are in business. Check the ads in the back of a Boat Trader. There are about 3 or 4 companies offering the units and they are way cheaper than what's in the West catalog. Good Luck

Re: 357 A/C question
 

Yup, my 402 has the same AC setup as Al's, but mine is there and works like a champ :D It even has reverse cycle heat for those north of the Mason Dixon.