How would you rate an air conditioner?

[Ctskip]

I'm replacing the AC on my sailboat. It had a unit built in, that must be replaced. I have seen units that range from $1000 to $3500. I'm not looking for one to place in a hatch or place in a companion way either. I have a spot where the previous one was and wish to replace it. All the duct work is already there and so is the water pump. So, if I were to rate the AC units, for example King Air being the best, #1 and Mermaid, being the worst at #10 . How would y'all rate the units that are available today. Rate yours. I'm just looking for the best unit at the best price. Not the worst for the least. I understand the sizing BTU's and location North /south climate, dictates what size unit I should get. With the humidity being removed, cold and dry, verses cold and wet. Cycle periods. Along with the fans CFM makes a difference also. So which AC unit do y'all consider to be the best and which unit do y'all consider to be not so good? I know there are some units out there repairmen wont even come out to look at, they are so bad. They just replace them given the option. Some are used for a couple of years and replaced. Throwaways, if you will. Ones that use household switches that rust and not marine quality divices. It's a tough decision. Listening to everyone's response to their experience with theirs would help. Whats your experience with yours? Perplexing to say the least.
Up north I never thought about AC on a boat, but here in Texas, if you desire to sleep on the boat at night comfortably, you gotta have AC.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[kloudie1]

I bought a 12,000 btu Reverse cycle Marine Air back 15 years ago . West marine had ‘em on sale with free shipping. I installed it myself and have not had one problem with it except that a lightning hit fried the digital control system and I had to get another thermostat and control. I leave it on the dehumidify cycle almost always when I am not there, so it runs the fan every 4 hours, and then runs the compressor to lower the air temp one degree F .. then shuts down.. so it has run a lot over the years. The fan motor is sounding like its bushings are getting loose and the raw water pump is sounding a little creaky.. both are easily rectified. The other parts are over the counter so it can be easily fixed if necessary. For your retro fit, things like location of the fan outlet and the evaporator inlet will make a big difference in how easily whatever you select can be installed in the existing location.. There was an excellent Marine Air dealer there in Kemah .. bought the new controls there… don’t know if he’s still there.

 

[Chuck Creel]

i have had this unit in my 30 ft hunter for over 3 yrs and had zero complaints or problems.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/boat...14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

 

[Bill Roosa]

12 volt fans, wind shoot,....

I find 12 volt fans much more effective at keeping me cool while at anchor. In fact I don't know how you all even run your AC units away from the dock. My battery would die in minutes of turning on the AC.

12 volt fans in each cabin and 2 in the salon combined with a wind scoop, can be kept going for days before a recharge is needed.

They cost lots less, don't need replaced as often and when they do don't break the bank or cruise schedule. It also gives you that cabinet back for more storage space.

FWIW

 

[kloudie1]

Bill, I have 12V fans too for use at anchor when there is a breeze. But my slip is well protected by trees (which block the wind) and in the summer, it is impossible to sleep there without AC. It is about an hours drive to get there and many times, I go there and stay a few days working on things; the AC is a must.. I don't run the AC when anchored out.

 

[Guest]

AC Unit

We have two Marine Air reverse cycle units on our 1991 boat. A 16,000 BTU in the main cabin and a 9,000 BTU in the aft cabin. Both are original and we still use them for heat only when were on the boat connected to shore power during the winter months. Good units, very efficient and always work. We've never had a need for the cooling side of the pumps here in the PNW and we use a diesel furnace while on the hook to keep the boat warm.

We lived in Euless, Texas for ten years and I can appreciate the need for AC during the summer months. Brutal heat and humidity. No thanks.

Terry Cox

 

[Bad Obsession]

I would love to have an AC unit in my boat but......

I can't find the place to put one
They are expensive and to install it requires a haulout
I don't feel like removing a water tank to put it in
I prefer to stay on the hook
You can't run it while on the hook unless you buy a generator and that is more big bucks.

The unfortunate thing is that in my area it gets brutally hot in the summer. I have seen low temperatures in the 90's at night! It is also humid in the region.

I think that I will just wait until I get the next boat to have AC and Refridgeration. Both are expensive additions.

 

[Ctskip]

I have a 1983 Allmand 31. Tri cabin with a 11 ft beam, lots of room below, with 6'4" headroom. No insulation above or below. My potable water tank is under the V-berth and just aft of the water tank, forward of the starboard hanging locker beneath the bed is the AC all 16000 BTU's of her. Shes vented in the forward cabin and the middle cabin/ galley and again in the port side aft cabin. There's a water pump that draws water from the lake and goes thru the unit and empties above water level. I really don't see why one couldn't tee into a thru-hull, (like the motor cooling thru-hull and use it to draw water thru the unit. Or the Tee head thru-hull. No need to pull the vessel out of the water to install a AC unit. Same goes with refrigeration. I put a Alder/Barbour 12V unit in the aft starboard lazarette in the cockpit and installed it without any water to cool it down. I placed a fan in with it to circulated the air to help cool it. That seems to work so far. Now the darned AC unit crapped out and being in Texas, I won't spend a hot summer night with out being comfortable and that requires AC. I've got two 12 V fans down below already. I spend 75% of my nights dockside. Finding a dependable unit that will work reliably and do a complete job, from controlling the humidity to cooling the cabin area, is what I'm looking for. I hear different stories about this or that unit from people selling one or the other. I figured I'd check with a variety of people who use a variety of AC units and see what they think about theirs.
Thanks all.

Heat/ AC and refrigeration might be expensive, but look at what you get for the money. It's so worth it. Keeps ice and beer cold and frozen and sleeping at night is wonderful. It extends our time on the boat by almost double. Now tell me thats not worth it? And thats just one season, now, imagine ten...

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[Bad Obsession]

Refridgeration seems far easier than the AC unit. In my boat there is just no room to mount an AC unit at this point in time. I would have to remove one of the water tanks and that isn't such a good idea in my book.

I will just have to continue using my getto AC Hatchboard setup in the hot summer! LOL

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

2003 Marine Aire

My 2003 Hunter 356 has a Marine Aire 16,000 btu unit. We use our boat a lot - 75 to 80 days a year. When we are in the slip the ac is running for either heat or cooling as needed. We turn on the generator, unhook the power and off we go with ac working. While we are on the boat, the ac unit is running. We have had no maintanance at all on the unit. I would highly recommend their system. You will need to check dimensions to make sure it will fit.l