85 Hunter 40. Looking into AC, but worried about where to put it. Anyone already done so who can advise?

Sep 14, 2004
183
Hunter 42 Deltaville VA
And then there is this:

 
Jan 7, 2011
4,727
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
I installed a used 5,000 BTU window air conditioner in my companionway today...

C56746FF-45C1-421E-BC30-16ABE181B791.jpeg

not the best, but a cheap way to cool off the cabin and drop the humidity level some while at the dock.

going to be 93F on Monday, so will see how it works.

Greg
 
Jul 16, 2018
125
Hunter 40 Boston
Here's another dumb question. Can you take one of those heat pump units and make it portable? It needs to have access to salt water, but can it pull it in from a hose going over the side? Can I temporarily mount it on the deck and blow the cold air down inside via a flexible vent through a porthole/hatch?
 
Jul 16, 2018
125
Hunter 40 Boston
I installed a used 5,000 BTU window air conditioner in my companionway today...

View attachment 180427

not the best, but a cheap way to cool off the cabin and drop the humidity level some while at the dock.

going to be 93F on Monday, so will see how it works.

Greg
My companionway is mostly ladder. The slats that act as a "door" are a total of 9 inches tall. So I can't replicate your setup. I'm looking into low-profile units to see if htey can fit.
Or, alternatively, I can put a wall unit into a box on my deck next to a hatch and blow the air down inside.
 
Jul 16, 2018
125
Hunter 40 Boston
Hello all. Just for the update:
I ended up going with a window unit. It sits in front of my hatch over the v-berth. I built a foam cowling that allows the hatch to open and covers the front few inches of the AC. It fits snugly into the fiberglass around the hatch. However the foam doesn't like a lot of direct sun, so after confirming it worked, I ended up making a cowling out of wood. In order to keep from bleeding heat into the cabin, I also lined the inside of the cowling with the same foam I initially used for the prototype. End result is success, tho' in retrospect I should have designed the cowling so the rain could more easily run off. Still, I've had no leaks, and it can lower the temp inside to a comfortable amount (with a fan to help distribute the air)
Total cost was about $85 materials plus the cost of the window AC.
 
Jan 7, 2011
4,727
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Hello all. Just for the update:
I ended up going with a window unit. It sits in front of my hatch over the v-berth. I built a foam cowling that allows the hatch to open and covers the front few inches of the AC. It fits snugly into the fiberglass around the hatch. However the foam doesn't like a lot of direct sun, so after confirming it worked, I ended up making a cowling out of wood. In order to keep from bleeding heat into the cabin, I also lined the inside of the cowling with the same foam I initially used for the prototype. End result is success, tho' in retrospect I should have designed the cowling so the rain could more easily run off. Still, I've had no leaks, and it can lower the temp inside to a comfortable amount (with a fan to help distribute the air)
Total cost was about $85 materials plus the cost of the window AC.
Good news is that fall is coming :(...and we won’t need A/C much longer....what are you going to do for heat ?

Greg
 
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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
The AC specialist I've talked to said that they're not sure about space, and don't know what units will fit under the benches or whether they'll need all new ducting etc.
I was just quoted $10k to $13k to install ac. And I can't justify that on my salary. The downside is that I'm working from home (liveaboard) and summer cometh, and it's going to be really unpleasant trying to get anything done when it's 95ºf and 88% humidity. usually I'd just flee to a bar or the office to get away from it. But with the pandemic, those aren't options.

I was also considering putting an AC on the deck and blowing the air down my salon hatch, but it appears the one unit I've ever seen designed for that no longer exists. I could maybe rig something up with a wall unit and some construction, but I don't know how practical that is.

Any thoughts fellow huntarians?
couple of thoughts
My 40.5 had AC and it was really great except that it only works at the dock, makes a lot of noise, and only works inside the cabin. As a live aboard at the dock I get it but as a cruising sailboat option it makes no sense (to me). fwiw

Sun screens lower the temp on my 40.5 by about 10deg F. Just used light weight sail cloth to cover the foredeck and middle of the boat. Used the mast and pullpit rails for the foredeck and the mast and gunnel for the middle of the boat. Be mindfull of how you can go froward when they are deployed.

Fans, Can't lower the temp but are great at getting the heat out after the sun sets

people "fall off boats" all the time. I would note that while most marinas do not allow swimming around the dock.......
 
Oct 26, 2010
1,883
Hunter 40.5 Beaufort, SC
Sun screens lower the temp on my 40.5 by about 10deg F. Just used light weight sail cloth to cover the foredeck and middle of the boat. Used the mast and pullpit rails for the foredeck and the mast and gunnel for the middle of the boat. Be mindfull of how you can go froward when they are deployed.
@Bill Roosa I know you are boatless right now but do you have any pictures of how you had your sun screen rigged up? You could pm me if we don't want to clutter this thread. Thanks in advance