Air Conditioner Guidelines
- Thread starter Paul and Judy
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all well and good for those with enough dough and desire to install a marine air cond unit--my 5000 btu window unit from elektra was 140 dollars and not permanent. i love my efficient unit and only use it in summer in mexico.
thankyou for the thought--it will do someone some excellent good.
thankyou for the thought--it will do someone some excellent good.
Since this is a manufacturers recommendation, it needs to be considered as so. For instance, they show a near 7" ducting for a 16,000 BTU unit. Has anyone seen a 7" AC duct on any of our average size boats. I doubt there is even room anywhere to run something that size. Here is another excellent article, albeit from a manufacturer also.
http://www.flagshipmarine.com/do%27s-don%27ts.html . Chuck
http://www.flagshipmarine.com/do%27s-don%27ts.html . Chuck
I am wondering if anyone has considered using a portable non-marine unit in the main salon, using the venting up thru one of the hatches, and the drain hose thru the bilge. A 14,000 BTU unit runs about 200$ and seems simpler than investing in a more complex marine unit. I have a good old boat, a 38 Beneteau (1988), and with 2 kids in college, this seems like a good idea. Am i missing something? any advice is appreciated. RJ
I took delivery of this today. This is one of the higher dollar units with the best ratings. $555 at Amazon
Will try it out first in my camper. Camper has two AC units and we discovered a week before our vacation one unit is not working. Discovered too late to get it serviced. This portable unit to the rescue. After the three week vacation this moves into our 32 foot sailboat.
This is a zero condensation unit that pumps moisture outside, leaving the water vapor in the exhaust. No drip tube to fill the bilge.
I will put this under the stairs and run the vent hoses out the engine room to vents I already have. Should be a very clean installation.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002W...ile?redirect=true&ref_=oh_details_o02_s00_i00
Whynter 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heater (ARC-14SH)
Product Description
Product Description The Whynter ARC-14SH portable air conditioner and heater is designed to provide quiet and efficient cooling and heating to any room, with no permanent installation. It features CFC free R-410A refrigerant, lead-free RoHS compliant components and patented advance ...
Product Features
Four operational modes: air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier or heater
Cooling (61°F - 89°F) and heating (61°F - 77°F) thermostatic control with digital readout, 24 hour programmable timer
Remote control, upgraded plastic window kit (36" max.), carbon air filter and washable pre-filter included
...
Product Details
Manufacturer: Whynter
Manufacturer reference: ARC-14SH
Product Dimensions: 16 inches x 19 inches x 35.5 inches; 95 pounds
Shipping Weight: 101 pounds
ASIN: B002W87P9C
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 4166
Will try it out first in my camper. Camper has two AC units and we discovered a week before our vacation one unit is not working. Discovered too late to get it serviced. This portable unit to the rescue. After the three week vacation this moves into our 32 foot sailboat.
This is a zero condensation unit that pumps moisture outside, leaving the water vapor in the exhaust. No drip tube to fill the bilge.
I will put this under the stairs and run the vent hoses out the engine room to vents I already have. Should be a very clean installation.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002W...ile?redirect=true&ref_=oh_details_o02_s00_i00
Whynter 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heater (ARC-14SH)
Product Description
Product Description The Whynter ARC-14SH portable air conditioner and heater is designed to provide quiet and efficient cooling and heating to any room, with no permanent installation. It features CFC free R-410A refrigerant, lead-free RoHS compliant components and patented advance ...
Product Features
Four operational modes: air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier or heater
Cooling (61°F - 89°F) and heating (61°F - 77°F) thermostatic control with digital readout, 24 hour programmable timer
Remote control, upgraded plastic window kit (36" max.), carbon air filter and washable pre-filter included
...
Product Details
Manufacturer: Whynter
Manufacturer reference: ARC-14SH
Product Dimensions: 16 inches x 19 inches x 35.5 inches; 95 pounds
Shipping Weight: 101 pounds
ASIN: B002W87P9C
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 4166
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Your PDF does not show up on the iPhone app for this sitePaul and Judy said:
This will show up.
Very good read. Looks like big bucks setting up those systems. Will help me appreciate mine more.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54958&d=1343913301
Ron,
I tried one of those portable units that vent thru a hatch. It was always in the way, and when it ran, the vent hose put off so much heat that it negated the cooling. I switched to a window unit installed in an altered hatch board. It was cheap, worked well and didn't get in the way except you had to step over it getting in and out from below.
I tried one of those portable units that vent thru a hatch. It was always in the way, and when it ran, the vent hose put off so much heat that it negated the cooling. I switched to a window unit installed in an altered hatch board. It was cheap, worked well and didn't get in the way except you had to step over it getting in and out from below.
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The flaw with the portable units is that it uses inside air to cool the compressor and then exausts it out the vent hose. That creates a negative pressure situation which will draw in hot and humid air from the outside to replace it and repeat the process over and over. The vent hose also acts as a radiator dispersing heat in the inside. Additional fans are needed to circulate air. I would rate the efficiency at around 1/2 of a regular built in unit. The best addition to a boat to help with the cooling for one of these units would be a deck tent to keep direct sun heat away and allow circulation of the air in between.
my LG window unit is awesome. 5000 btu with added fan which i place in main saloon, and entire boat is comfy. i use it in a formosa window in the dinette and is not in the way nor a problem. when sailing, is wrapped and placed inside the boat in my master stateroom or in the forepeak, wherever the safest place is--and window is replaced and rebedded for safety. is no big deal and i am comfy as is my fuzzy gato.
unit cost me 140 usd and runs sweeeet....dehumidifies as well as cools--and i am not living in cold interior--outside air is brought in--i can tell by smelling it..LOL
other folks here use an overhead hatch--i didnt like that, as it tilts the unit so water can drip inside of boat. not good.
i have been advised these units are more energy efficient than the built in boating ones. i like that. less problem to repair or replace also. mine is 2 seasons in age now. love it.
vflowe--looks like my LG unit!!!!
unit cost me 140 usd and runs sweeeet....dehumidifies as well as cools--and i am not living in cold interior--outside air is brought in--i can tell by smelling it..LOL
other folks here use an overhead hatch--i didnt like that, as it tilts the unit so water can drip inside of boat. not good.
i have been advised these units are more energy efficient than the built in boating ones. i like that. less problem to repair or replace also. mine is 2 seasons in age now. love it.
vflowe--looks like my LG unit!!!!
I did the same thing (pictured). But I just removed the bottom hatch board and stacked the top 2 on top of the unit. I just stuff small towels in the voids at the edges. I put a small plastic crate in the cockpit to support the rear. It keeps the cabin about 13-15 degrees cooler than the ouside, and is perfectly comfy even in the Chesapeake summer. You just have to step over it when entering\exiting. The only pain is having to pour out any lingering condensation, and stowing it. However, I only need it about 6 weekends a year, and total cost was $104.
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cold air is not issue here--humidity IS. 5000 btu DOES the job for LESS electricity use, dollars -wise, than larger units. 5000 btu is perfect--i only use lowest 1/4 of the damnable thing. dont need COLD air in tropix--you will die of heat prostration when you try to go to shop for food and water---out in the REAL world.
bigger is not always best---LOL
Do you have dog on board?
.....:stirthepot:....
regards
woody
just wondering if you do have one as with a unit that powerful on a 32 ft boat you will need one to wake your bohonkus up just before you freeze to death
.....:stirthepot:....regards
woody
Placed a portable LG 7000btu unit in my boat today. Was lying on the settee and was nice and cool while watching the Olympics on TV. Not a whisper of wind so senseless to leave marina today. Also was 105deg at 4pm outside. As long as you make the exhaust run to the outside as short as possible you will have good results. It is correct that portables are inefficient and you need a lot of btu's compared to traditional window units. the 7000btu unit probably doesn't cool as well as a standard 5000btu window unit, but is really handy and can be placed in several locations.
I have a 27 year old Cruiseair unit I just put in the front hatch. Came with the boat, but I just now have had a chance to make it work. It's only 4800 BTU, but it does fine for cooling off the v-berth. I woke up last night and it was blowing 66 degrees, I had to turn it down and put on a blanket Last night while playing Super Mario World it was 83 in the main cabin and 76 in the v berth. I have a 12" box fan in the front to blow air back. I also have 2 big tarps as awnings that are good for 5 degrees. Humidity was around 50-60%. . .while not great, is better than the 70%+ that is normal out there. Midday was terrible today though. 94 in the main cabin, and 83 up forward. Humidity was still 60% or so though. Max recorded temps so far this year though is 117, so I guess any progress should be celebrated
I want to put a second small window unit in the companion way, maybe this weekend? I dunno, my companionway is really skinny. . .
Not to change the subject, but I wonder which is more effective:
More cooling BTU?
Full awning?
Insulation?
Last night while playing Super Mario World it was 83 in the main cabin and 76 in the v berth. I have a 12" box fan in the front to blow air back. I also have 2 big tarps as awnings that are good for 5 degrees. Humidity was around 50-60%. . .while not great, is better than the 70%+ that is normal out there. Midday was terrible today though. 94 in the main cabin, and 83 up forward. Humidity was still 60% or so though. Max recorded temps so far this year though is 117, so I guess any progress should be celebrated I want to put a second small window unit in the companion way, maybe this weekend? I dunno, my companionway is really skinny. . .
Not to change the subject, but I wonder which is more effective:
More cooling BTU?
Full awning?
Insulation?
The units do work better in lower humidity environment. They definitely offer an advantage in placement as a regular window unit would block the companionway and discharge condensation and hot air towards the cockpit. They just do not work well here in the Gulf area with humidity factors approaching 100%. If your unit makes your boat comfortable, that is what matters. Spraying the cabin top and deck with water can provide great cooling effect thus helping the A/C units work better. Enjoy.
I will be getting double duty from the portable 1400 btu unit. Sometimes it will be used in our camper.
For the next three weeks it will be helping cool the 42 foot camper. It has two roof units, but one is not working and short notice made it impossible to get serviced before my vacation that starts today.
The summers here can get over 100 with high humidity.
For the next three weeks it will be helping cool the 42 foot camper. It has two roof units, but one is not working and short notice made it impossible to get serviced before my vacation that starts today.
The summers here can get over 100 with high humidity.
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I'm guessing you're not in Norfolk.....highest temp record there is 105..... Max recorded temps so far this year though is 117, so I guess any progress should be celebrated
No, I'm in Norfolk. . .those were all inside temps. With everything closed up and no awning it makes for a nice solar oven effect That temp was from over the 4th -o- July week
That temp was from over the 4th -o- July week
Ahh...inside temps.....that makes more sense....
Local news did a report on car temps (last summer)....since every year someone leaves a kid in a car no matter how much the public is "educated" on the subject...
Black car, parking lot, full sun, 108 to 110 air temps....temp 4' above the surface of the blacktop was 132....inside the car was 161.
Then they vented the windows and used a solar screen on the windshield. Dropped the internal temps down to 135.
Local news did a report on car temps (last summer)....since every year someone leaves a kid in a car no matter how much the public is "educated" on the subject...
Black car, parking lot, full sun, 108 to 110 air temps....temp 4' above the surface of the blacktop was 132....inside the car was 161.
Then they vented the windows and used a solar screen on the windshield. Dropped the internal temps down to 135.
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