Air conditioning

[SVEclipse]

Just did this setup for the A/C. Power runs back to the lazarette housing my battery, can run from there on inverter or from shore power. You will see the two pipes exiting through a quick blank I made for the forward hatch, one exhausts the heat and other pulls air in for that cooling. The front unit pipe is where the cold air comes out. You will also notice a small water drain pipe coming from the back of the unit... these things make a lot of water, I have this routed to the water flush tank on my porta-poti, can also drop it through the hole to the onboard water tank right there as well. Realfeel 108 forecast for this Saturday at Kentucky Lake.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

You could increase the airflow rate (and therefore cooling) by replacing the corrugated hoses with smooth wall hose. Probably not substantially as the hoses are short but every little bit helps.

 

[Ward H]

Nice little setup.

 

[JBP-PA]

Awesome. Be sure to report how well it does. I tried one of those, but I had it in the cockpit with the cold blowing in through a portlight. It worked, but not really well. I've thought it might work better inside as you have it, thus recirculating air rather than trying to heat hot external air as I did.

 

[Rick Webb]

Looks like an interesting setup. I realize it is not in its final configuration. Your exhaust and intake ducts are too close together. You are sucking in hot air that is being exhausted. Also, if you can find some insulated ducts that would help out the efficiency of your unit.

One of the biggest ways to get the boat cooler is to get some shade on the deck.

 

[SVEclipse]

Awesome. Be sure to report how well it does. I tried one of those, but I had it in the cockpit with the cold blowing in through a portlight. It worked, but not really well. I've thought it might work better inside as you have it, thus recirculating air rather than trying to heat hot external air as I did.

Ok. Quick review. Kentucky Lake was well over 100 heat index Friday/hitting 106 Saturday, humidity 75%. Friday went for a potter on the lake with the A.C running off 100ah standard battery /inverter, ran fine on chill mode during that three hour float, definitely drains the battery quick, probably could of pushed it another hour. Also, I have a Depthtrax running off that battery and that immediately stopped working with the inverter/A/C drawing... showed a constant 20ft and nothing else. It definitely kept the cabin cooler, I think we got it down to mid 80's in the middle of the lake with the hatch over and no boards in the door. Had hook-up in the marina and ran if full on, I would say we got it chilled below 80 during the day and overnight we got it frosty at 73 on sleep low-power mode. In more reasonable weather (low 90's/80's), I think this unit would have no problem colling the cabin down. Anyway, extracted the boat at sunrise on Sunday morning, retreating from the heat until sometime in August.

 

[morbidfollower]

nice I was looking at a cheap waykar 1500btu portable ac. I like your setup

 

[SVEclipse]

Update: Just did Kentucky lake again this weekend (20th July).. well over 110 heat index. Had to overnight in Paris Landing Marina (excellent FYI). Daytime I would say I got the cabin down down to 85 ish, had the cool air blowing directly on me during the hottest hours 11am to 8pm. Night time it was nice and cold and relief from sweating all day. Did manage to get a morning sail in on Monday until 11am before I retreated and took-out at 4am Tuesday in cooler heat-index 84. Now I know what it can do, I will be back in first weekend of Aug in much cooler 95 degree type weather.