MacGregorSailors.com

Looking for those who have installed AC that can run off batteries for overnight on the hook. We are in Florida and are looking to purchase a 26M. Currently in a Com Pac 16.

Appreciate any comments o the 26m. I saw one and I want it.
Thanks

I think running the AC off batts all night is impractical. There was one guy that apparently filled his entire bilge with batts and installed a permanent custom A/C. Took up half the durn boat and probably was very expensive.

I would either get a little honda generator or maybe look at an engine with a gigantic alternator.

I still think it would be possible to take a $100 window air conditioner and modify it so that the inside part is inside and the outside part is outside with just a couple of copper tubes passing through the wall or side window. On the X I was thinking it could go just forward of the head compartment.

Or just spend the money for the one they build into a samsonite hardside suitcase and run the water lines to it.

Ot if the water is cold enough that you are in, maybe just install a heater blower assembly from a junk car and hook up a water pump that brings water up from the cooler depths below the boat. This would be a lot easier on the batts.

If you could pull that off, I would like to know too. I think that in order to run AC all night without shore power, your best option will be a Honda EU2000 generator.
Just too many amps for too many hrs.

Rich

has anyone tried one of these?http://www.popthetop.com/catalog/produc ... cts_id=255 Maybe evaporative coolers won't work down there, but the idea is sound, and i'd be willing to sacrifice a little ice for a cool night.

Well sure, I would like that too, but got the Honda 2000i instead

You could run this small air-conditioner for about 10 hours with a 30-40% duty cycle (compressor on for 3-4 minutes out of every 10) off an inverter fed by 8 Group 24 deep-cycle batteries (in addition to the 2 for starting, lighting, etc), discharging them all the way down to 20% charge.

You would need to recharge them the following day with something like an 80A ProgressiveDynamics InteliPower Charger with Charge Wizard, fed by a Honda EU2000 generator running for about 5-6 hours. You could do that on one tank of gas unless you were also running the air conditioner during the day, in which the generator would be running wide-open and need refueling after about 4 hours... and perhaps need to run it for as much as 8 hours.

You'll have 500 lbs of more of batteries that need to be mounted as low as possible, and with that much charging going on, you'll definitely want to avoid vented batteries filling the bilge with explosive hydrogens. AGMs would be the ticket... at about $200 each.

OTOH, if you aren't anchored or moored with others nearby who'd object to a generator running all night, or at a place where it's banned, you could skip the batteries and run the generator all night. It might go 8 hours on a tank, powering only the AC.

--
Moe

Just do what I did.. install a plethora of 12v fans! We're on the MS Gulf Coast, so we know heat here (plus, I'm the type of person who, at home, likes to sleep with the A/C down to 70). Fans help a lot, as does keeping the front hatch open to scoop some air in. Actually, it usually cools off nicely late at night... I've woken up cold in the middle of summer if you can believe that.

It takes a little getting used to (the humidity can be tortuous), but until someone figures out a way to make a 12v A/C that only draws an amp or two, there's simply no choice unless you want to run a generator all the time and/or fill the entire boat with batteries.

Actually, here's a question for you electrical engineers... can the same energy-saving principles that let our Engel refrigerator draw under 1 amp on average be applied to a 12v air conditioner? Is it even theoretically possible?

--Mike

Here's one guy who did that and more--http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/boat/

Richard wrote:Maybe evaporative coolers won't work down there

Evaporative coolers are common in the desert, because that's the only place they work. Once the humidity goes above 30% they quit working. I don't imagine any place that will float the boat will have humidity below 30%.

I purchased a small 600watt AC unit from sears last year to keep the interior cool when working on the Mac in the driveway. Open the foreward hatch- set the unit on the bow and cover the sides of the hatch with material. total cost- $55. It could be adapted for use on the water but I haven't bothered with that (more secure mount, power etc).

It's funny you posted the picture of the cooler cooler. I have been kicking around purchasing a 12 volt cooler and installing baffles to channel air though it. Blow air through it to cool- maybe get a little warm air in the cool months too. Something would have to be set up to discharge the condensed water.

It seems I read that the 12v coolers cool to 35 deg and draw around 4 amps but I haven't used one yet.

It may at least remove some humidity at night. An installation under the foreward dinette would be good.

Greg

From the Gulf Coast perspective, the Mermaid 6500 we installed is worth its weight in gold. Installed it in 2000. The Mac stays in a slip, and the AC churns along constantly for about $9 a month. The 6500 needs 2000 watts to make the starting surge, but 1000 will handle the run load. Sooo... if we wanted AC while out, two Honda 1000s paralelled for start and drop one off for run. I have a friend in Biloxi that does this on a 28' power boat. We don't use it that way - prefer the peace and quiet - besides, male sweat carries all of the phermones. But, you could.

Mermaid now makes a 5000 or 5500 btu unit that looks like it will do the trick. They weren't made at the time we were in the market. These are purported to start/run on a 1000. Based on past experience, I belive 'em. The Mermaid folks make great equipment and STAND behind it. Evertime I've needed help from them(only twice, once due to damage from heavy seas and once through operator error), they've come through like champs.

Anyway, if you think you need AC, I suggest a look at permanently installing a unit such as these. Fits under the forward settee on the X, with no noticeable issues.

'Cool' idea, wscottno (sorry... couldn't resist)...

The Mermaid website has lots of good information...

"This unit will run off the new Honda eu1000i 1,000 watt portable generator, while in cool mode. Another option is to use a Statpower 1,000 Watt Inverter and 400 amp hours of battery power and you can anchor out (on average) for one night. .... This unit is ideal for the "tight fit" installations and is a welcomed addition to larger vessels for individual climate controlled cabins. ... Running amperage: Cool = 4.4amps, R/C = 5.5amps. Add approximately one amp for the standard seawater pumps. Start up amperage is calculated by running amperage multiplied by 1.8.

"On average, This unit is designed to cool cruisers up to 26' and sailboats up to 28'.

M-5C Cool only: $1,445.00
M-5CHP Reverse Cycle: $ 1,545.00"

The "Reverse Cycle" unit works to supply heat instead of cooling if desired by acting like a heat pump and circulating the coolant in reverse.

Their units also appear to come with a 5-year warranty.

Thanks. I forgot to mention the great warranty that they provide - and, they mean it! Will even send you a shipping box with preformed closed cell packing to ship the unit back, if you need to.

wscottno wrote:Will even send you a shipping box with preformed closed cell packing to ship the unit back, if you need to.

Hopefully you know that by heresay, and not by personal experience?

Naw - it was the real deal. Had a crappy dealer install and wound up with the unit breaking loose from its mount during a quick squall on the outside of Horne Island (south of Biloxi). Wound up with seawater (leaky chain plates) corroding the control box internals. Sent it to Mermaid to fix. They took it as a warranty problem and fixed, no charge. Called one of their VPs and said "Thanks, but I expect to pay - not your problem." Response "We know, but we value our customers - bet you buy another unit from us someday."