I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented) How

[abk]

I am going to install a portable standing A C unit that will be vented outside. About 6000 BTU's.

I installed a window unit on my last boat and vented it by opening the cockpit seat... No such option exists on the H26...

I have envisioned removing the small port on my H 26 to run the vent to the outside. The port is 4 3/4 by 7 inches. I need a 3" outlet...

Any insight on removing the port plexiglass? I was thinking about venting thru the cabin top and installing a port topside but I believe the vent thru the port is the better solution and less invasive. i can always reinstall the plex...

Just looking for some ideas on it's removal... I plan to fashion a vent that can be capped when not in use... A Marine AC is the best answer but my season has been hampered by other problems and I do not want to postpone it any longer...

 

[Amos Cape]

We installed it in a port window with out removing it. I used Plexiglass in place of the screen and sealed it from the outside with a 4" hole and a dryer vent cover on it to keep rain out. It works great and have had no problems with it leaking. We installed a 8000 btu unit and does ok!

Good luck!

 

[LTicheli]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

I put in an LG standing room air conditioner in my Hunter 28; strapped it to the door frame to the head & against the chart table, then put the vent out the companionway. I made a new bottom door cut for the vent exhaust, but it's not really necessary. It does not impede entry or exit, but you do have to step over the exhaust hose to enter the head; not a big deal, and an order of magnitude less costly than a built-in unit. The LG has a warning light to indicate that the water tank is full, but I've never had it come on; it exhausts the moisture with the hot air, a really nice feature. No thru hulls, and less than $300.00. We made a cover of insulated fabric for the exhaust hose and that helps it cool.
Fair winds,
Leo

 

[Benny17441]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

Make sure the unit works to your satisfaction before cutting anything out. Portable vented units are not as efficient as window units. A 5K window unit should be replaced with no less than an 8K portable. They will work better in some parts of the country where heat and humidity are not of an extreme nature. Just try it out for a couple of times before you mak any cuts.

 

[FredV]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

I agree with Benny. I installed an 8000btu portable a/c unit on Fred V a couple weeks ago, and temporarily vented it through a 1/4" plywood cover over the aft cabin hatch. The unit sits in the middle of the main cabin next to the nav station, but even with all doors closed, during 90+ degree days it struggles mightily to cool the main cabin ... and not very successfully.

I plan to insulate the vent hose and cover the tinted plexiglass companionway and main cabin hatches, as they get very hot on sunny days, to see if it can handle the heat any better, but have to admit that I'm very disappointed so far. Don't know if the unit is defective, although I don't think so, or just not up to the task, but if I had it to do over again, I would definitely have purchased a 12,000btu unit.

 

[Ward H]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

We borrowed a Cruiseaire Carry On for the 4th. mid 90s and it barely cooled the cabin of our 25. Granted it was a quick set up and would have benefited from tarps protecting it from the full sun. That was too heavy to set up often so wife wants one of the units discussed here. A search of forums revealed mixed results due to the venting process creates a negative pressure which draws in more hot air.
Units with dual hoses work much better because the 2nd hose pullls in the condenser cooling air instead of using cabin air. No low pressure to draw in more hot air.
That is the direction we will be looking to go in.

 

[Jimmy Jenkins]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

I installed a 9000 btu upright portable in my 1978 H30. I have the exhaust exiting from the opening port in the quarter berth. The 9000 btu upright does not cool the boat well on 90degree days(when you need it most). Were I to do it again, I would go with a 12000btu unit. I doubt the 6000btu you are considering would be worth the effort of installing. I would go directly to the 12k and feel that you would be happy with that.
Jimmy

 

[abk]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

You seem to be with the majority of the replies... Get a lot of BTU's .. Maybe I'll get some hurricane force fans running inside and sweat it out? I am thinking a companion way mount for a window unit now...

Thanks to all for your replies...

 

[FredV]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

OK, the jury is back and the verdict on the charge of "incredibly insufficient" against my 8000btu portable a/c unit is - GUILTY! I've made the main cabin as airtight as possible, covered all plexiglass hatches, hung dark curtains over all ports, set the unit to High, and left it running for 2 days. The outside temp now is in the low 90's, and so is the inside temp! The only way I'm surviving is by having the unit blow the cold - uh, make that cool - air directly on where I'm sitting. Very disappointing!

Since I plan to live aboard Fred V for a couple years, before retiring and heading for points unknown, I'll now be doing some extensive research on window units narrow enough to fit in the companionway, and RV-type units that can be installed over a hatch.

Chalk it up to another lesson learned!

 

[abk]

OK, the jury is back and the verdict on the charge of "incredibly insufficient" against my 8000btu portable a/c unit is - GUILTY! I've made the main cabin as airtight as possible, covered all plexiglass hatches, hung dark curtains over all ports, set the unit to High, and left it running for 2 days. The outside temp now is in the low 90's, and so is the inside temp! The only way I'm surviving is by having the unit blow the cold - uh, make that cool - air directly on where I'm sitting. Very disappointing!

Since I plan to live aboard Fred V for a couple years, before retiring and heading for points unknown, I'll now be doing some extensive research on window units narrow enough to fit in the companionway, and RV-type units that can be installed over a hatch.

Chalk it up to another lesson learned!

_________________________________________________________________________
I'm sorry the A/C unit is GUILTY... It seems you did everything possible to make it work and it didn't.

You have saved me from removing a plex window and trying to duplicate your efforts... I know it doesn't make you any cooler temperature wise but you saved me a lot of unnecessary work.

I did a window unit in my old 1984 Mac 25, blocked out the rear storage space under the cockpit to the bulkheads and lifted the lazerette seat to expel the hot air... 5000 Btu's worked great. I cant do it in the Hunter 26 though. The lazerette is closed and I need the space there to sleep.

I spoke to a hvac person and she said you could separate a window unit easily and use that. I did tell her it it would probably be easy FOR HER!

Maybe there is a way to do that... Needs some research... I probably will go the in and out of the companionway route...

Thanks

 

[FredV]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

Yeah, I used a 5000btu window unit last summer that I jury-rigged with plastic bags and duck tape to blow through one of the ports. Sadly, it worked much better than this portable unit. I may look at the window unit again and see if I can't take it apart to fit in the companionway. If I run into any problems, is your HVAC friend available for tech support?!

Just kidding! I'll keep you posted.

 

[Jimmy Jenkins]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

ABK, Some friends have a Watkins 27 and installed a Whynter SNO 13000 Portable Air Conditioner with Remote. It is about half the height of most portables and a little larger footprint. Their boat is like walking into a meat locker. They can be had for 500-600 dollars. I like the portable idea(no ac to climb over in the hatch, can be removed if needed, and no circulating pump),plus costs about a third of a marine ac.
Jimmy

 

[abk]

ABK, Some friends have a Watkins 27 and installed a Whynter SNO 13000 Portable Air Conditioner with Remote. It is about half the height of most portables and a little larger footprint. Their boat is like walking into a meat locker. They can be had for 500-600 dollars. I like the portable idea(no ac to climb over in the hatch, can be removed if needed, and no circulating pump),plus costs about a third of a marine ac.
Jimmy

I believe you have the ANSWER...

Here is a link to the A/C:
http://www.whynter.com/productdetail/air_comfort/portable_air_conditioners/301

Here is a link to the Manual:

http://www.whynter.com/Files/Upload/ProductManuals/SNO_ARC-13_User_Manual_0608.pdf

 

[FredV]

Re: I am installing a Air Conditioner (portable unit vented)

I don't know - still a bit wary of portable units. If you go this route, please keep us posted!