Air make-up flaw?

[32carv]

New to me Carver 350 Aft Cabin. I've notice that the air conditioning air make-up is set up poorly. Both air conditioners have a return vent that is open to the bilge with no ductwork. The air conditioning units pull fresh air into the bilge and push it into the cabin.

The bulges are relatively clean but I assume that no matter how clean they are, the air will always be a bit stale.

The fix would be to run duct from the vent to the unit. How common is this setup and has anyone fixed it?
Jim

 

[cmariner32]

My bow stateroom A/C unit return goes through the bow bilge area, but my salon unit draws strictly from the salon. If you aft unit draws from the engine room or the rear bilge area, I would agree that it would preferable to re-route to eliminate pulling from or through the bilge. Stale air, engine heat, stagnant water and smells-why introduce that into the air you are breathing?

 

[Tommyfmu]

Although we have a 325 AC, we get bilge odor through both AC's from time to time with the stock setup. Our fix is to simply spray a relatively small amount of Febreze right into the intake grills which are both in our salon. Bilge odor's instantly disappear and we have to do it about once every three weeks.

 

[Capt. Bill1]

That is a very common problem on boats of all sizes and brands. It's one of the stupider things builder do. If you can run or make duct work right from the return air grill to the A/C unit that is the way to go. You will get clean cold air right back to where it need to go with little chance of it picking up any bilge odors or warm air.

 

[pdecat]

I haven't noticed this but it is about the stupidest design idea I have heard about.

 

[rjcress]

Good for you figuring out what the smell was quickly.
When we got our 3607 we were convinced there was a dead animal in the ductwork. It was some time later that I read on here that the smell is usually from the bilge.
Cleaned the bilge and the smell went away.