www.iFourWinns.com

Many of you have seen my thread about getting AC installed on my 248. Along with getting the AC installed, I am supposed to get the bottom repainted as the orginal owner's paint job was crap. While down in Indianapolis (hour away), I was supposed to get the midcabin damage that my dog did last summer repaired. (by a different vedor)

When we dropped our boat off two weeks ago (March 12 to be exact), I told him that I wanted to pick the boat up prior to April 10th as I am going to Italy for 10 days and wanted it back in storage prior to that date. We also had a conversation that when he got into the boat he would let me know a little more accurately what it costs and then I would need to give him a deposit for the parts. Now, he had given me a rough estimate for the bottom paint and AC install of around $5,500 - $6,000. This aint pocket change people. This is a big $$$ job. That's almost as much as a new engine. I would like to know when I am going to need to write this check.

This guy has had my boat for two weeks now. He's a nice guy with a great reputation as being a thorough and precise mechanic that costs a little more $$$ but you are guaranteed to have it done correctly. Which when it comes to my boat, is well worth it. He's not great at returning phone calls. I called him last Friday to get an idea of what's going on, he stated he hadn't had a whole lot of time to dig into it yet but would let me know in a couple days what's going on. Called him on Wednesday, left a message, no return call. So, I proceed to call the vendor that was doing the interior vinyl repair and asked if they had my boat or knew what was going on with it. They stated that they were supposed to get it this week. I asked them then how long they would have it, and they stated 2 weeks! Ok, I am not a math major here, but if they have it two weeks, and it's going to take this guy another 2-3 weeks to do my work once he get's to it, that's 5 weeks from today. That puts me into May. Are you freakin kidding me?

I'll be lucky to get my boat back before Memorial day. That's IF he can install the air. He keeps saying he doesn't know if there is enough room to install the AC correctly. So if he has my boat all this time, and then doesn't get it installed and I have to take it somewhere else, then they will have it for another 2 weeks.

Sense my frustration?

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

I can see why you are frustrated. I can not see why you want AC for a half a dozen times a season when it is warm enough to need it. Unless of course you live on your boat. At that price, it does not make much sense to me.

Have the interior fixed, screw the AC, and spend your money on gas and enjoying time on the water.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

We spend every weekend on our boat and there were several times last year that were down right miserable. We almost always have other couples with us. Its also easier than having to constantly deal with fans.

The mechanic did call me back today and told me he won't be able to do the AC job. At least I know now. Now the process begins to find a capable mechanic.

UGH!!!

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

I use my AC almost every time I am out. If my 248 didn't have it.. I wouldn't have my 248

I can understand why you are so frustrated Woggmeister!

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Brett DiMichele

Woggy- Bring it to your nearest Four Winns dealer and let them do it. I have to say, taking the cabinet out wasnt that bad. It took some time, but wasnt that bad. I dont really know that much about how boats are put together, but I have learned a lot about it by taking it apart. How mechanically inclined are you? The worst part is the thru hull, but I wont be drilling any holes in the bottom of my boat, its already there. I am using the head thru hull. I never use the sea water for flushing. I always use the sink water.

You could potentially use the toilet thru hull even if you do use the toilet. It would require a bronze T at the top of the Seacock to supply the head and the AC system but it could easily be done.

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Brett DiMichele

I would gladly take it to my nearest Four Winns dealer, if I didn't live in the black hole of Four Winns dealers. I don't have a dealer within 200 miles that deals with Vistas. I have had to lower myself to the dark depths of calling a Sea Ray dealer. I know, I know, but I am out of options. I am pretty mechanically inclined, but that's out of my league. There are to many problems that could arise. I just wish other people would work on my schedule.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Man, 5 more week is out of the question!!! Take another look at installing yourself, I personally would have no problem trying to do the install.

Good luck

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

Did you read through Als install. Very detailed. A little over the top, but some great pointers. The unit I bought is a 7k with electric heat. Full install kit and everything for 1250.00. Let me know if you want to the company's name.

Woggy,

I personally beleive you could tackle the install.. If you can install a new electric hot water heater in the house, installing the AC in the boat wouldn't be much different.. I have faith in ya!

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Brett DiMichele

It's the whole cutting throught the hull thing. That and running the duct work worries me. The one thing I am not good at is getting access to things inside the boat. The boat doesn't come apart and go back together very easy!!!

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

The duct work is pretty easy looking once you get that cabinet out. As far as the holes go, Im not cutting any. Going to use existing thru hulls.

Be very careful about re-using thru-hulls. When pulling water from outside the boat you really can't share a through-hull fitting. You run into the problem of one system 'starving' the other. As in, the startup pull of the genset sucking water out of the AC, or vice-versa. Thus the reason each system has it's own through-hull fitting.

Putting in a through-hull isn't 'that bad' a job. You just have to take the time to do it right. I'd be worried that a mechanic at THIS time of year would actually be sloppier at the job than a DIY owner. I could envision them being lazy and not sealing up the insides of the hole drilled for it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill,

I would agree that two critical systems should not share a through hull, unless the through hull is sized appropriately to handle the demand of both systems, with a properly sized plenum. A toiler is not a critical system, the toilet is never going to starve an AC unit.]

I would not think twice about putting a plenum on the toilet through hull and using it with the AC system.

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Brett DiMichele

Well, it's entirely possible for one system to suck the other one dry. This is a bad thing for impellers. Pull the water out of it and you greatly shorten it's lifespan. Pull a manual pump seal the wrong way and likewise increase the chance of it failing. I don't know that you can even "properly size" such a setup, but even if you could the first plastic bag, jellyfish or clump of weeds sucked up against it would put all the shared systems are risk of failure. And for what?

Avoiding putting a properly installed through hull into the boat? That's well within the "penny wise and pound foolish" range of stupidity. Sorry, I just can't see the value in such a shortcut.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista