05 Mainship 34 A/C removal in salon compartment

[bej]

Can anyone explain how to remove the A/C compressor in the sealed under deck of my 2005 34 Mainship salon? Removal of the return grill shows a cutout in the floor of the deck too small for removal. Is the only option to cut the sealed box in the engine room? Cutting the deck will not work as there is a vertical locker which covers part of the unit. Looks like Mainship put the A/C into a sealed box in the engine room, then laid the deck down over it leaving only a small opening for the return.

 

[Comodave]

Can you post some photos? I am not familiar with that boat so if you have some photos it would help us understand the problem.

 

[keith c]

This is an issue I have been concerned about with my 16 yr old salon a/c. I removed the carpet from my salon and put in plasteak flooring. Under the carpet my salon has another area around the grill that can be removed.
It is screwed down.Hopefully it is big enough to get the old unit out/new unit in. I hope your salon is the same! You are correct, the salon a/c unit is in a sealed fiberglass box visable from the engine room. The only opening in the box is a small hose that the drain line is attached to. FYI when you put the new unit in open all the drain plugs in the pan of the unit.I discovered that my pan was not draining into the box unit the water level got over the edge of the pan! I opened the other drains and the pan drained completely. If any one else in the TF has replaced their unit in the MS 34 years 2004 to 2008 please enlighten us !!!!

 

[bej]

Thank you for your interest. I do not have any photo at the moment but I can assure you that the opening of the return is not large enough to remove the existing unit. The unit itself is enclosed in a sealed fiberglass compartment in the engine room. I have consulted with an AC expert and he has recommended we cut into the compartment and remove it this way and after installing the new unit we will reseal the compartment. This seems to be my only option as I do not want to cut my floor or any of the furnishings to remove the unit. I am disappointed that Mainship would do such an install without access for a replacement.

 

[Bacchus]

I have never removed the AC on my 2008 45HT but have gained more access.
On mine there is a removable panel that the return grill sits in. As I recall the screws are somewhat hidden but they are there. I seem to recacall that the panel extends under the aft/port cabinet but pulls out.
The floor inside the aft/port cabinet is also removable providing access to the opposite end of the AC unit. I was hoping the combo was sufficient to remove the unit but haven't needed to attempt it... yet.

 

[Comodave]

Boat manufacturers, as well as a lot of other industries, don’t care about servicing the systems. They just care that it was able to be built and get it out the door. We are currently replacing the refer in our boat. The boat has a huge plexiglass sliding door down into the cabin. Open there is 22.25”. I am afraid to try and remove the plexiglass door since it is 24 years. I had to take everything off the back of the refer and cut off the feet to get it out. Then we had to find one that would go into the boat.

 

[bej]

A/C removal on 34 Mainship

I have never removed the AC on my 2008 45HT but have gained more access.
On mine there is a removable panel that the return grill sits in. As I recall the screws are somewhat hidden but they are there. I seem to recacall that the panel extends under the aft/port cabinet but pulls out.
The floor inside the aft/port cabinet is also removable providing access to the opposite end of the AC unit. I was hoping the combo was sufficient to remove the unit but haven't needed to attempt it... yet.

Thanks for your reply. My situation appears to be different. When I remove the return grill, the deck floor consist of 1/4 “ finished flooring on top of a
3/4” sub floor. There are no screws visible and I hesitate to try prying up the finished deck. About 3 inches aft of the opening is the vertical cabinet which is the air duct. I would need to enlarge the grill opening to this point to get the unit through the opening. I can see how to do this without cutting the floor. I think I need to cut an opening in the box that contains it in the engine room. Still waiting to hear from other forum members who are more familiar.

 

[mvweebles]

I can see how to do this without cutting the floor. I think I need to cut an opening in the box that contains it in the engine room. Still waiting to hear from other forum members who are more familiar.

Sounds frustrating! If you do not find a satisfactory response from an owner of an identical boat who successfully replaced their AC unit without surgery, would nudge you to post pictures to get ideas on least invasive path to replacement. There are many on this forum who have extensive remodel/rehab experience with boats and have some cool ideas, techniques, and products that can smooth the repair.

Best success --

Peter

 

[bej]

My A/C Mainship 34 removal problem

Thanks Peter. What I need is instructions on how to post some pictures on this forum. Tried to in the past without success

 

[Comodave]

Look at the home page there is a section on How to use the Forum. In that section is a sticky post on How to Post Photos.

 

[keith c]

I would remove the 1/4 in. finished floor before I started cutting into the salon floor or water tight fiberglass box which contains the a/c/unit! Like I said my original floor surface was carpet. Below the carpet the floor material looks like some form of non wood composite material. It seems unlikely that MS did an alteration in my 2006 and not your 2005. Another forum member mentioned another access point. When you remove the floor and rear wall of the short cabinet to the left of the a/c grill one can reach part of the a/c unit and more importantly it gives one access to reinstalling the duct work tube to the a/c unit. My cabinet has a removable wine holder/rack which comes out first. I am still hoping someone out there has replaced this a/c unit without major trauma!

 

[Bacchus]

Thanks Peter. What I need is instructions on how to post some pictures on this forum. Tried to in the past without success

Here is the info
https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s22/how-post-pictures-50850.html

 

[bej]

This is an issue I have been concerned about with my 16 yr old salon a/c. I removed the carpet from my salon and put in plasteak flooring. Under the carpet my salon has another area around the grill that can be removed.
It is screwed down.Hopefully it is big enough to get the old unit out/new unit in. I hope your salon is the same! You are correct, the salon a/c unit is in a sealed fiberglass box visable from the engine room. The only opening in the box is a small hose that the drain line is attached to. FYI when you put the new unit in open all the drain plugs in the pan of the unit.I discovered that my pan was not draining into the box unit the water level got over the edge of the pan! I opened the other drains and the pan drained completely. If any one else in the TF has replaced their unit in the MS 34 years 2004 to 2008 please enlighten us !!!!

Keith thank you for the information. I have posted in the picture section of this form what my salon floor/deck looks like. It is beautiful and I hate to think that I have to cut it not even knowing that the unit would come out that way. So, I am opting to cut the box in the engine room forward of a bulkhead by the port side of the engine. Hopefully by removing a section of the fiberglass enclosure I can get to all of the fittings hoses etc. I would rather do this then tear up my beautiful salon deck. Thank you again for your information

 

[Bmarler]

Keith thank you for the information. I have posted in the picture section of this form what my salon floor/deck looks like. It is beautiful and I hate to think that I have to cut it not even knowing that the unit would come out that way. So, I am opting to cut the box in the engine room forward of a bulkhead by the port side of the engine. Hopefully by removing a section of the fiberglass enclosure I can get to all of the fittings hoses etc. I would rather do this then tear up my beautiful salon deck. Thank you again for your information

i think that's the smart move. it's much easier to repair a box in the engine room to a workmanlike finish than repair the salon floor to a beautiful finish.
if you look cutting the box with the intent of putting it back together so that your making an access panel that can be removed/replaced it might save some headaches down the road if you need back in there.
i like using those little oscillating cutters for this kind of work as they leave a small kerf and less dust than other types of saws. you might use stainless or aluminum flat for a flange fastened to the cut out piece that could be sealed with butyl tape or some other removable sealant. no matter how you cut it, it can be a bear working in tight spaces and throwing dust around. best to have an assistant with a good shop vac pulling in as much dust as possible. maybe bag off the area so there's a smaller zone to clean after the cutting is done.

 

[Bacchus]

bej
Here are a few shots of our '08. From what you report MS must have smartened up and made some modifications. The floor of the cabinet comes out but IIRC the back has to come out first as the floor sticks under the back and not enough room to tip it to slide out.
Just be cautious cutting the fiberglass enclosure as there are wire bundles etc on the inside. Should be able to see & move out of the way from the grill openning... maybe ab Lk e to slip a piece of plywood in place to avoid cutting any wiring.
My finished floor is aboutv1/2" with the white 3/4" plywood backer underneath. The '08s they are separate removable pieces as you can see.

 

[Bacchus]

I just found your pics and see the aft/port cabinet is also very different than mine.

 

[Comodave]

They still weren’t very generous with space to get it in or out were they. But it is way better than the OPs one.

 

[bej]

Removal of a/c on 34 Mainship

I just found your pics and see the aft/port cabinet is also very different than mine.

Thanks Bacchus. Yes yours has a cutout and mine does not. I have already been in touch with an air conditioning specialist who agrees the best way to do this job is cut a window in the box that is in the engine room forward. It looks like that is what I will do after I order the new unit.

Thank you all on this forum for your thoughts and constructive comments.

 

[VinHay]

My guess is that it wouldn't take much skill or labor to make that "cut out" an actual hinged opening (door). Might as well keep it accessible for any future repair or maintenance .

 

[boiler81]

Any updates on your salon AC replacement.
Love to see pics of your AC box "surgery" as I maybe in the same boat (pun intended) with my AC unit.

 

[bej]

Any updates on your salon AC replacement.
Love to see pics of your AC box "surgery" as I maybe in the same boat (pun intended) with my AC unit.

No cutting necessary. The deck has a removable laminate floor. Find the seams and remove. Underneath find the sub floor with screws to remove and access the ac unit

 

[boiler81]

No cutting necessary. The deck has a removable laminate floor. Find the seams and remove. Underneath find the sub floor with screws to remove and access the ac unit

Thanks,
Is the laminate glued down or does it lift out?

 

[Bacchus]

Thanks,

Is the laminate glued down or does it lift out?

I'm quorious about flooring as mine has significant squeaks in areas and seems it is not (now) fastened down?
I'd welcome tips on crewing Or gluing the sections to eliminate the squeeks.

 

[keith c]

My hole/opening on my 2006 MS34 is exactly like the bacchus photos!! Like I said earlier,remove the finished floor !