Air conditioner

craiglaforce · Post by **craiglaforce** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:11 pm

I just ordered the A/C unit linked below for my boat. this 100 degree plus heat in Oklahoma is just a bit much for me. I am thinking it can go somewhere (not sure exactly) near the front hatch and then I can just pop the hatch up and stick the heat exhaust hose out the front hatch. Either that or connect it to the chimney pipe I installed last winter.

I also have to figure out how to get rid of the condensate (thinking maybe a little bilge pump in the condensate tank, with a hose that goes somewhere.

As you can see I have thought through every detail.

Anyone else try this type of A/C yet?

It is about twice the BTU rating I would like, but If they don't sell it, I can't buy it.

I kept thinking about the 90 dollar window unit in the companionway hatch idea, but could never see how that was not going to be a major pain to deal with. (same with the one that sits on the bow hatch.

Of course just after I ordered this one, I found something similar at Sam's club for less. oh-well.

http://www.air-conditioner-home.com/pro ... 000AH.aspx

DLT · Post by **DLT** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:13 pm

I cut a hatchboard and mounted a $75 unit in that.

Cheap, easy, and even my fat ass can climb over it....

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:18 pm

My frail English heritage means I melt above 75F, so I admire you guys in Midwest, Southwest, South, h*** - just about anywhere but cold country who can take the heat. Ive carefully chosen my abode so I dont need AC on board. I will say the two 3inch NICROs on board keep the cabin near ambient all the time now.

Of course, Im legendary for sailing the Greats in late March Early April in a sweater and being snug - one of two my girls is also a Polar Bear and the other is a warm weather lover.

Ive always thought you could rig up some kind of small pump that would take water from overboard and exchange cabin heat without compressors etc....old heater core from an auto, small fish tank pump, and hoses?????

RandyMoon · Post by **RandyMoon** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:25 pm

I'll be anxious to see how this works out. Kansas is every bit as hot and this last month has cut a serious slice out of motivation to go sailing. I am thinking about taking the same AC path your are headed down.

Where are you going to duct the exhaust? Front hatch?

I have even been thinking about buying a portable and taking it apart so I can retro-fit the pieces into a storage area, out of the way.

Let us know how this works out.

SURV69 · Post by **SURV69** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:03 pm

I have an older Venture 25 and I made a new bulkhead for behind the Starboard setee. Now I have the air conditioner COMPLETELY in the boat and vent it out the Starboard seat hatch. I've contemplated using a bilge blower to force blow the hot air, but . . . ehh. Now, I'll see how much water collects in a single night before I decide if I'm going to bilge-pump the water out automatically.

craiglaforce · Post by **craiglaforce** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:34 pm

Not sure where it is going to go yet. I have to get it in the boat and do some thinking.
If the bottom part is just the water tank, that part will get cut off and then maybe it will mount on a foward bunk. The hose might gravity drain from there to a drain.

Otherwise it will probably go in the port aft berth area. I have a flu pipe already installed over the galley, so that would be the vent point if it has to be mounted aft.

mike · Post by **mike** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:54 pm

Must.... resist... air... conditioner.

The heat during our recent trip was absolutely brutal. I can deal with it during the day (especially when I have a nice swim to look forward to once we reach that day's destination), but I'm the kind of person who (at home) likes to turn the A/C down to sub-arctic levels when I'm sleeping.

It wasn't so bad on the first night, where there was a nice steady breeze blowing. But the rest of the trip, winds were near dead calm at night. Fans helped some, though one of those "Endless Breeze" box fans in the front hatch bringing in fresh air would have been great I think.

The thought of having an air conditioned cabin is tempting, but, as quiet as the Honda generators are, I'd rather not have it running all night.

--Mike

craiglaforce · Post by **craiglaforce** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:10 pm

This A/C would need to be plugged in dockside. Pretty big unless you have a serious generator. 1120 w draw which would need something like an 1800 plus watt generator I think to start.

Jack O'Brien · Post by **Jack O'Brien** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:56 pm

If I were to air condition I would go the lightweight, small route with an $80 unit of 5000 BTUs.

Does anybody have ACTUAL EXPERIENCE with a Honda or Yamaha 1000 watt INVERTER TECHNOLOGY quiet generator running an air conditioner like this?

Does it work or not?

craiglaforce · Post by **craiglaforce** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:22 am

I test ran a 5000 btu window A/C unit on a small 900 watt chinese generator bought from Bargain Jims. It sounded like quite a strain, but it ran it.
Not sure about the generators you mention.

mike · Post by **mike** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:06 am

Jack O'Brien wrote:If I were to air condition I would go the lightweight, small route with an $80 unit of 5000 BTUs.

Does anybody have ACTUAL EXPERIENCE with a Honda or Yamaha 1000 watt INVERTER TECHNOLOGY quiet generator running an air conditioner like this?

I test-ran the window unit in my home office with the EU2000i. I'm not sure, but I think it's a 10,000btu. Anyway, it did not work when the generator was in "Eco-Throttle" mode (when the compressor kicked on, the generator didn't increase output fast enough to satisfy the AC, and it shut off), but in full-power mode, it seemed to work fine (though the compressor did seem to struggle a bit to get started).

--Mike

Idle Time · Post by **Idle Time** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:12 pm

http://www.portable-air-conditioners.biz/air_w.htm I wonder if one of these would work.

DLT · Post by **DLT** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:18 pm

That's not an "air conditioner"...

It either blows air over ice (comparable units can be found cheaper) or is an evaporative cooler, which basically humidifies the air...

"Can" they make it a bit cooler, yes, but not like a true air conditioner...

mrbill · Post by **mrbill** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:42 pm

I got a 5000 btu window unit,

It works ok in the hatch, but stepping over is dangerous.... and it works best if the poptop is down.

Then I tried it with the poptop up.
port side next to the mast. still working on securing it, and sealing it up, but for now, with it tied to some plywood, and some towels and styrofoam, it looks works pretty good, for at the dock, or on the trailer.

it does drain water down the side of the boat, so it will stain over time... but damm that a/c feels good.

also covering the cabin w/ tarps helps in midday sun quite a bit.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/f ... 7e849d.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/f ... 6072a1.jpg

mrbill · Post by **mrbill** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:48 pm

this is CORRECT shot of from a/c from cockpit

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/f ... PopTop.jpg

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