Help with Oday 28 a/c

[maxxx]

Does anyone have any advice on installing a small (5000btu) a/c unit in the main hatch? This past weekend I was loaned one and propped it up with a piece of paneling in place of the top hatch board. This was a very jury rigged install but all of my tools were 4 hours away... I want to be able to fairly quickly and easily remove it when I leave the dock. I have some ideas but I know some of yall must have similar setups. Help me keep the Admiral happy!!! Thanks , max

 

[Clark]

Most people install theirs as close to the cockpit floor as possible. I keep ours in a cockpit locker and when needed, simply relocate it to the bottom edge of the companionway. I made a filler panel that goes over the unit and then I can place the top board in its normal position. Not nearly as elegant as a Cruise-Air, but a lot less $$$ and really easier to handle. The main drawbacks are stepping over the unit to enter the cabin and the hot exhaust air blown into the cockpit. These are NBD if the unit is set up at about bedtime.