Air conditioning on an 11.0a

[sailcruiser]

Or those of you who have installed AC aboard would you mind sharing what you chose for a btu rating, where it is installed and if you are happy with it? Pictures would be very much appreciated! I'm starting my plans to do this for 2015.

Thanks!
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[joul]

i had a 12000 btu Mermaid installed Under the starboard seat in the saloon. it worked great.

 

[sailcruiser]

i had a 12000 btu Mermaid installed Under the starboard seat in the saloon. it worked great.

Thanks Joul, I think that is where most are from the photos I've seen but figured if ask.

 

[Mark Maulden]

Would you lose tankage?

 

[sailcruiser]

Would you lose tankage?

In the starboard settee, no. That is storage right now to too many life jackets.

On the port side there is some room but the waste tank is there. There is an unused through hull there too presently capped. I believe it was an overboard discharge for the waste tank which is illegal in these parts.

Happy 4th!
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[Spike033]

I am not sure of My BTU, but it is installed under the seat aft of the galley on the starboard side of the boat. The AC vent discharges out from under the bench. I have a problem with it freezing up. There is a grate inside the cabinet under the sink, but I think there is a prblem with the area not getting enough ventilation. If I remove the cushion and the board which exposes the AC unit it will not freeze up. So when sleeping overnight the whole area where two people could sleep needs to be exposed.

Just my experience. I believe if I put another vent in which would open up that area it might solve the problem.

 

[sailcruiser]

I am not sure of My BTU, but it is installed under the seat aft of the galley on the starboard side of the boat. The AC vent discharges out from under the bench. I have a problem with it freezing up. There is a grate inside the cabinet under the sink, but I think there is a prblem with the area not getting enough ventilation. If I remove the cushion and the board which exposes the AC unit it will not freeze up. So when sleeping overnight the whole area where two people could sleep needs to be exposed. Just my experience. I believe if I put another vent in which would open up that area it might solve the problem.

I'm assuming your layout is like mine being a year apart. Is your galley go port? Maybe you need an air exchange grate? I'm no AC expert by any stretch. I appreciate the response as I'd prefer not to reinvent the proverbial wheel and hope to learn from others who have already thought this through.

I wonder if I should focus on the starboard settee area then. It may be easier to keep ventilated.

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[Jtoben]

We have a Mermaid Air 16000 btu. Installed under aft locker under the starboard settee as others have done. Our unit froze up until we installed a second 4" vent to the quarter berth. The 6" vent takes care of the central cabin and a 4" vent runs to the v berth. With just this configuration we froze up. Large teak grate in that locker is helpful.

 

[Jtoben]

I should add we spoke to the techs at Mermaid Marine Air when we had the freeing problem. They assured us that we had adequate ventilation by use of their teak grate in the front of the locker, and that we absolutely needed another vent to avoid freeze up. That seems to have worked. We now only freeze up on the days when my husband tries to cool the boat down to the mid 60's on 85+ degree days!