Carver Owners Forum

I have a 1985 3607 with an aftermarket (not factory installed) A/C and it seems not to be baffled off from the bilge/engine compartment so that it is drawing in air from those locations, air which is especially hot and sometimes odiferous upon docking after a long run. Could someone send me photos of a factory installed unit under the forward dinette seat which shows any provision made by the factory to keep this from happening? Thanks.

I don’t have that boat, but there should be no connection to the engine room. Where is your air return and is it hooked directly to you AC?
I’m guessing the AC unit is directly behind the air return vent. Only thing I can think of, there is a opening under the dinette that allows air to be drawn in from the engine room. Close off that opening, make sure your filter is clean and you should be good to go.

It's my finding that none of the boats I've had that did have hvac units installed even did the manufacturer care to isolate the hvac from being able to pull air from the bilge let alone a third party install.. I've reworked the hvac compartments on both my trojan and carver to isolate (to the best I can) the air being circulated to the cabin. If you'll do this the unit will be more efficient cause your not having to condition all that air. You'll also not be drawing the smells in either. This draw from the bilge can't be completely eliminated by any means like from floor hatches cabinets or gaps you don't of. but like my 405 fwd berth oem hvac just sitting on a board and spaces all around it open the bilge for it to draw air from . The salon hvac pulling air from open spaces against the hull to floor with air from the engine room. I guess it would have taken another 10 minutes for the manufacturer to block this air flow. I can tell you it's worth whatever you can build foam etc to fix this issue on your boat.

Is the unit installed under the seating just aft of the fwd head? That would have been the OEM installation for the salon A/C (and there were additional units for the v-berth and aft stateroom). That compartment should have a -rather large- grill for the return air which would be located under the seating as well, generally where you put for feet under the table. The outlet air from the HVAC unit would be ducted through a large hose (7 or 8") down the port side right under the settee seating, though the bulkhead and then exit in a register about mid-way down the port side of the salon.

Here's some diagrams that might help: