Sizing and installing A/C in a Brewer 12.8

Hello,

My wife and I are now the proud and happy owners of a 1984 Brewer 12.8, formerly named "Tribute" and soon to be named "Sojourner II" (Sojourner was our last boat in which we cruised the S Pacific from 1999 - 2004 ). We are now located in central FL near Cocoa Beach, hence the A/C subject.

I am going to install AC units in the man salon and aft cabin, and I am sure that dozens of owners have done this on the Brewers. Rather than re-invent the wheel and work in a vacuum (as I am known to do) I thought it wiser to reach out to fellow owners and see what brilliant solutions they came up with!

The questions I have are:-

What make and model has worked well?
What BTU has seemed adequate for the 12.8s in the main salon / V berth, and aft cabin.
What locations have folks chosen for the compressors?
Drain to bilge or overboard?
If overboard - where did you locate the thru hulls? (we already have a Seafrost refer system that drains overboard)
Any advice on ducting?

I would value any and all input / advice / experience you may have.

Fair Winds,

Steve & Jen

My name is Fred Chance & I am quite familiar with your Brewer "Tribute" Jack & Carol are really good friends I have an 88 Brewer 44 Also with a dark Blue Hull Mine has Reverse cycle heat & air I suggest you look at Mermaid That is made in FL & get at least 18,500 BTU capacity unit for fwd unit & 7,500 or 9,000 btu for the rear unit Cruisaire also makes a nice unit. My tel # is 717-580-8191 Please feel free to call for much more info as I type very slow I look fwd to hearing from you Incidentally you have certainly have purchased a great boat The former owners spared NO expense to keep it in great shape. Hope to hear Fred

Hi Steve & Jen

I put mine under the navigation station. On the plus side it has short duct runs. On the negative side it is noisy.

theincrediblehull.blogspot.com/search/label/Air%20Conditioning

www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5473206...=3863368192920784490

Hi Fred,

Nice to meet you! Yes many people know Jack and Carol, and Tribute, and we couldn't have bought from better owners!! It is a wonderful boat. Thank you so much for the info, I will give you a call.

Fair Winds,

Steve

Hi Tod?

Thank you for the reply and info. I have the sit down, forward facing nav station with an opening seat. There is also a large chart storage locker under which there drawers and lazarettes. Looking at your pics you may be talking about that "nav station" since there is much more space than under my nav station.

Did you get the one unit for the salon and aft cabin? Did you do anything for the V berth?

Hi Steve & Jen

It lives under here. Works well for access and servicing. Because the ducts are very short it is a little loud. Not a deal-breaker but I may try more soundproofing at a later date.






Regards

Gerry

the Gtod stands for Gerard Timothy (George, Joseph -which I left out) O'Donoghue. I put in the T because I'm humble.