Adding an AC vent

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

Have any of the Vista owners here ever added an additional vent for their AC? There are only 2 on my 278 and I want to add another one closer to the V birth. Just wondering what size duct to get and where to get the right vent cover? Ideas appreciated.

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:40 pm

I know Firecadet added a vent to his 268 coming out of the lower galley cabinet facing the v berth and he said it made a big difference. The V berth seems to take forever to cool down on our boats. I've had the vent and duct work to do mine for 3-4 yrs and keep putting it off. I'll dig through my pile of receipts and find the supplier for the vents. Is it the 4" round one you're referring to?

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:53 pm

Found it and it looks like they sell the vents and ductwork. The rotaire vents come in 5 different colors

http://www.dwincorp.com/products/3/Rotaire-3840-R-4-heat-outlet-vent-w-damper
http://www.dwincorp.com/products/21/4-x-25-Insulated-Flex

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:59 pm

That's the one. I bought a black one. Install is pretty straightforward, shoot me a pm with your email, I have some pics I took during the install.

Best thing I did to improve a/c performance is get the 318. It'll cool quick and keep it like an ice box.

Let me know if you want a hand with the install Ben and I can walk on over. Shouldn't take but two hours. Most time consuming part is moving the entire wood panel your power panel is on.

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

Thanks for the responses guys! That vent looks similar to the ones that are on my boat. I dont think I care really, as long as it looks nice and moves the cool air closer to my head. I was thinking that maybe I should install it either on the side of the cabinet or perhaps on the front of the steps coming down into the cabin. I know that would be further away, but It would also be closer to the AC itself. We have managed pretty well by putting a fan in front of the vent in the mid birth, but when the kids are sleeping in there it isnt convenient. Our AC does seem like it keeps up with the hot temps well, I just think i would be able to keep the thermostat at a higher temp if I had one near me sleeping.

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:17 pm

Finished product.

Behind the panel.

New tubes in place.

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

Great pics! My setup is a bit different from the 268 that i notice. The wall where my breakers are located has a wastebasket in it. Does yours? Im thinking that I might be able to get through there since I can grab the duct from back there. I might still have to take the fridge out though.

As for the duct, did you run it all the way back to the AC unit, cap off one of the old vents, or put a "Y" in on one of the existing ducts? I was thinking of putting a "Y" in but worried that the airflow would only be reduced.

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:28 am

The 268 had a waste basket under the step right there, if I remember right. If you have it on that panel, take it out and you should be able to grab the AC tubing right there. If you look in the 4th picture, you can see the white/clear box I added as a splitter. It was a 3 way splitter (http://www.dwincorp.com/products/43/4-3 ... nction-Box), and I had set it up so the majority of the air went to the forward part of the cabin, and not the middle existing vent. It really helped.

Looking back, had a Y splitter been available it would have split the air flow more evenly.

The fridge will have to come out so you can run the tubing behind it, but its very simple and only 4 screws holding it in. Put some towels down to avoid damaging anything the cabin first.

Even when I put in a bigger AC unit, I didn't change how the tubing from that was set up...it seemed to work really well.

jsimon · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:37 am

Wouldnt you want to use insulated ducting? Seems like the unisulated would sweat behind the cabinets if it was very humid.

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

I am going to use the duct that Ben put a link on this thread for. That stuff looks great and is a good price too! I just need to find the right "Y" for that diameter.

Flyer51 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:17 am

I really need to tackle this project too! It has got to help with the cooling.

chris268 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:17 pm

This is another project I am wanting to tackle this winter. I just want to verify a couple things, before I order The parts. The vent in the aft cabin has (3”) stamped on it, just verifying what feeds the power wall vent is in fact 4” flex duct.

Where did you mount the Y fitting?

I was thinking behind the closet.

Did you route the new flex duct above or below the power wall vent?

What all does it take to remove the power wall cabinet? I see brackets that fasten below the bottom step. I see a couple brackets behind the Velcro piece above the galley cabinets, not sure what it takes to get those loose, maybe a stub screwdriver? Is there anything that attaches it to the rest of the cabinets?

Approx where did you mount the vent near the vbirth?

Damn photobucket doesn’t let me see the pics

Thank you!

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:42 pm

My pics are on this thread. Remove the top panel that is velcroed on and you'll see the hardware holding it together.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14875&hilit=Vent&start=15

chris268 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:50 pm

firecadet613 wrote:

My pics are on this thread. Remove the top panel that is velcroed on and you'll see the hardware holding it together.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14875&hilit=Vent&start=15

Thanks Firecadet! I couldnt Find that post when I was Searching, I could Remember someone pulling the power wall fwd, just couldn’t remember who/where.

Edit, Parts ordered ($41 with shipping), with a 10 day trip to New Orleans/cruise in the Caribbean, this will be a project after the Holidays...

chris268 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:41 am

Received my parts yesterday for this project. Question about the T or Y fitting. It is in 2 pieces (2 halves). When I put Them together, it’s a little loose. Was thinking of sealing it with some duct/foil tape or silicon.

Did you have the same issue with yours? I did Buy the insulated duct. Besides the quality of the T (chinsy), I feel The cost of the duct and adjustable vent were pretty reasonable...

www.iFourWinns.com

Adding an AC vent

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