www.iFourWinns.com

As part of my dewinterizing I checked the filter on the AC unit. It was REALLY dirty. Might've even been a bit of what looked like dried-out mold on it. I ran the vacuum across the coils and then hit them with some Lysol.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I also put a piece of foam AC filter material ( like is used in a window unit) behind the air intake grill to stop some of the lint and dust before it reaches the AC unit.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

Don't know whether that's a good idea or not. On the 348 the unit isn't directly connected to the intake grate. If anything was put in on the grate it would probably restrict airflow enough to pull it from other sources. The cabinet that houses the AC unit is not enclosed enough to avoid that. But even if it were you'd still be talking about causing an airflow restriction. This would make the AC fan work harder and probably perform less efficiently. But that really open-celled black foam sheet they use on a regular home AC window unit might not be too much of a restriction.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

My AC intake is in the aft at the foot of the bed so there tends to be lint from the bedding and such. I don't think that the foam filter restricts the flow much. Its easier to clean the foam than the complete unit.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

Bill: is the AC unit/filter under the couch in the cabin? Is it difficult to get at? I think I also read something in the manual about draining the condensate pan. Is that required?

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

The AC unit on the 348/358 is inside the cabinet under (next to) the cabin stairs. You access the AC filter by removing the panel on the cabinet. This panel also houses the vacuum cleaner if you have that option installed. I've found it's easier to remove that panel by first removing the vacuum. Makes it easier to get the larger panel slid out from besides the stairs. Once it's out you can reach the AC unit. I've done it by removing just the vacuum by itself as the opening it just large enough, and my arms are just long enough, to reach the AC unit. But it's a stretch. I seem to recall seeing the vacuum units are smaller on newer models so the access hole might not be enough.

The pan under the AC unit drains into the shower sump. You shouldn't need to do any manual draining of it. The only time you'd need to do anything to the pan would be if the drain hose clogged. Which isn't likely if you're cleaning the filter regularly and there's not a lot of other gunk getting to the AC unit. You could check to see if your AC pan hose is draining properly by watching inside the shower sump. But I don't know how much or how often there's any water draining to it. The only outward sign of trouble with it would be unexplained water dripping out from under that cabinet, or wherever your AC unit is installed.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

The AC filter material used in a home AC unit will not restrict the air flow. It is okay to install on your boat AC as teker did.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I use the filter floss that is used in cheap filters for home A/C / furnaces. Works great and is very cheap.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
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