The previous owner of our 1987 C36 removed the Adler/Barbour refrigeration system. I plan to replace with a new A/B system and plan to include the 1996Catalina factory upgrade as shown on the C36 IA web site.
It shows the CU-100 condensing unit with the fan forward instead of the previous position where it faced aft. On the Catalina factory drawing it also shows a grille located on the port side galley bulkhead next to the companionway.
From the pictures of 1997 and newer models I have seen on Yacht World, it looks like there is a grille located in the galley where our 1987 model does not have one.
A few questions:
1. Am I correct about the grille? Is it a good idea to add one/
2. If there is a grille, what size is it?
3. Does the Adler/Barbour condensing unit draw air from the cabin thru the grille? Or does it blow the air into the cabin?
4. If it blows into air into the cabin does the cabin become warm?
5. Is the fan noisy in the cabin?
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
my fan blows aft, but the grill is there. I have a teak paper towel rack mounted on it, to give some idea of the size. I'm not at the boat but I'd say it's something like 10-12" high, maybe 14" wide.
I've never noticed any heat coming from that area, but my fan blows aft, into the cockpit locker. I'd assume the grill is there to allow cooler air to flow into the locker.
You can hear the unit running, but it's really pretty quiet. I've never found it intrusive.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Dennis,
The fan blows cooling air across the part that looks like a small radiator, so if you mount the condensing unit with the fan forward, it will be drawing air from the cabin thru the grill. I think the grill was added because the port cockpit locker has a small volume, and there wasn't enough air flow to let the system run efficiently. One thing that some owners have complained about is that the condensing unit gets beat up by "stuff" in that locker. Julandra did not have refrigeration when I bought her. I mounted the A/B condensing unit under the locker, on a shelf glassed to the hull. Easily accessed from the sliders in the aft cabin. I ran some clothes dryer vent hose from a small vent near the floor in the galley, where the air is cooler. It also helps a lot to add insulation to the box before you install the A/B. All of these are described with photos in the Upgrades Section. Look for my upgrades to Julandra (also an '87). Hope this helps.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
[QUOTE=plaineolde;7068]my fan blows aft, but the grill is there. I have a teak paper towel rack mounted on it, to give some idea of the size. I'm not at the boat but I'd say it's something like 10-12" high, maybe 14" wide.
I've never noticed any heat coming from that area, but my fan blows aft, into the cockpit locker. I'd assume the grill is there to allow cooler air to flow into the locker.
You can hear the unit running, but it's really pretty quiet. I've never found it intrusive.[/QUOTE]
thank you. the info is helpful.
one further question - when the air is blowing into the cockpit locker, where does it vent out? there is 3 inch diameter hole in the locker that is covered by a stanless lover. i was wondering if that is enough to be effective.
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
[QUOTE=TomSoko;7070]Dennis,
The fan blows cooling air across the part that looks like a small radiator, so if you mount the condensing unit with the fan forward, it will be drawing air from the cabin thru the grill. I think the grill was added because the port cockpit locker has a small volume, and there wasn't enough air flow to let the system run efficiently. One thing that some owners have complained about is that the condensing unit gets beat up by "stuff" in that locker. Julandra did not have refrigeration when I bought her. I mounted the A/B condensing unit under the locker, on a shelf glassed to the hull. Easily accessed from the sliders in the aft cabin. I ran some clothes dryer vent hose from a small vent near the floor in the galley, where the air is cooler. It also helps a lot to add insulation to the box before you install the A/B. All of these are described with photos in the Upgrades Section. Look for my upgrades to Julandra (also an '87). Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]
tom,
thank you for the reply.
wow, i looked at your upgrade list and it is impressive. i plan to use some of them in the future.
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
Tom's right. Also, the A/B units also have an option to add a separate fan to suck air from the cabin. You might want to look into that option.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)