Anyone out there purchase a portable A/C unit for their Cat 36 (or any other decent sized boat for that matter). I am thinking of adding permanent built-in A/C possibly in the future, but I was wondering if I could get by with one of those portable marine units for my boat. The two I am looking are a) The CRUISAIR CARRY-ON 5000 Unit that is designed to work in the front hatch on the bow about 4800 BTU's http://www.boatus-store.com/browse/item.asp?IID=19867 (its on sale for about $699). b) the Krusin Kool from AquaCal http://www.coolyourboat.com/portable_ac_systems.asp it puts out about 7000 BTU's and you have to throw a hose outside the salon and over the side into the water.(its about $950 on sale) Would this work well?...Anybody have any experience with them. I keep my boat on Long Island sound and even though its not the "South" it can get pretty damn hot and humid here during the summer (last week the heat index was in the 100's). Would this just be a waste of my time/money and be totally inadequate ? (I would resell the unit after I install a good sized, built in unit -- like a 16000 BTU system)
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Easy Air Conditioning
Have you considered a "home", window A/C unit? Don't laugh - it works. It's hot in Virginia too. But I only need relief about three months and then mostly on weekends when I'm on the boat. Unless you have an onboard genset to generate the AC power, then you'll be using the AC only in your slip where shore power is available. I find a 5000 BTU unit mounted in the companionway works fine. I measured and cut out a collar that fits it snuggly in lieu of the lower hatch boards. I made it so I can still use the two top boards if I need to lock it up while I'm gone. It's not fancy, but it works. The price for these small units won't break the bank either. They're available from $125 to 175 depending on brand and BTU. The only downside is the inconvenience of stepping over it to enter the boat. To minimize the leap, I purposely bought a smaller unit that I could easily step over. Good luck on your endeavor...
Have you considered a "home", window A/C unit? Don't laugh - it works. It's hot in Virginia too. But I only need relief about three months and then mostly on weekends when I'm on the boat. Unless you have an onboard genset to generate the AC power, then you'll be using the AC only in your slip where shore power is available. I find a 5000 BTU unit mounted in the companionway works fine. I measured and cut out a collar that fits it snuggly in lieu of the lower hatch boards. I made it so I can still use the two top boards if I need to lock it up while I'm gone. It's not fancy, but it works. The price for these small units won't break the bank either. They're available from $125 to 175 depending on brand and BTU. The only downside is the inconvenience of stepping over it to enter the boat. To minimize the leap, I purposely bought a smaller unit that I could easily step over. Good luck on your endeavor...
I have a portable cruisair unit on my H29.5 and...
it is barely adequate for my size boat. In fact, this 4th of July heat wave on the Chesapeake has convinced us that a (bigger) boat with the real a/c installed is a high priority. I cannot imagine it will be adequate on your 36, unless you were to use it to cool just the v-birth cabin for sleeping. I wish I had used the $699 as a down payment on the real thing from the start.
it is barely adequate for my size boat. In fact, this 4th of July heat wave on the Chesapeake has convinced us that a (bigger) boat with the real a/c installed is a high priority. I cannot imagine it will be adequate on your 36, unless you were to use it to cool just the v-birth cabin for sleeping. I wish I had used the $699 as a down payment on the real thing from the start.
You're past halfway...
Costwise to a permanent installaton. I have Mermaid units aboard my 78h30 and I love 'em. Great support from the folks at the factory, too. You'll also get more BTU. Just a thought. Of course, if you have to pay for installation, that'll up the cost more, but if you're halfway handy and can read and follow directions, I think you can do it yourself. I did.
Costwise to a permanent installaton. I have Mermaid units aboard my 78h30 and I love 'em. Great support from the folks at the factory, too. You'll also get more BTU. Just a thought. Of course, if you have to pay for installation, that'll up the cost more, but if you're halfway handy and can read and follow directions, I think you can do it yourself. I did.
Thanks guys
Its starting to look like its not even worth the time, money and effort to use these units unless I just want to cool one little space. It looks like I'll just have to bear the heat/humidity this summer & have to wait until next year if/when I can put in a "real marine A/C Unit" Anybody have a positive experience for this size boat?
Its starting to look like its not even worth the time, money and effort to use these units unless I just want to cool one little space. It looks like I'll just have to bear the heat/humidity this summer & have to wait until next year if/when I can put in a "real marine A/C Unit" Anybody have a positive experience for this size boat?
One experience.
I am not familiar with your boat and it's layout compared to my H37C. Your interior volume is likely greater. But a week ago when I went aboard the Mermaid digital thermostat was reading 88 degrees. I opened the thru-hull and turned on the unit. Fifteen minutes later the thermostat was reading 80 degrees. Another fifteen minutes and it turned off at 76 degrees. The thermostat is in the quarterberth and the 12K BTU Mermaid blows into the main salon. There is no ductwork which made the installation much simpler. Worse part of the project was fashioning a substantial shelf because I "think upside down". I put a T-valve on the engine thru-hull so I did not have to put another hole in the bottom. Total cost was under $1100. including a condensator, that special valve that sucks the water out of the condensation pan so it doesn't overflow into the bilge.
I am not familiar with your boat and it's layout compared to my H37C. Your interior volume is likely greater. But a week ago when I went aboard the Mermaid digital thermostat was reading 88 degrees. I opened the thru-hull and turned on the unit. Fifteen minutes later the thermostat was reading 80 degrees. Another fifteen minutes and it turned off at 76 degrees. The thermostat is in the quarterberth and the 12K BTU Mermaid blows into the main salon. There is no ductwork which made the installation much simpler. Worse part of the project was fashioning a substantial shelf because I "think upside down". I put a T-valve on the engine thru-hull so I did not have to put another hole in the bottom. Total cost was under $1100. including a condensator, that special valve that sucks the water out of the condensation pan so it doesn't overflow into the bilge.
Don't have to suffer...
More than a few friends have opted to use regular window units fitted into their companionways with the hatchboards sitting on top of it. Works pretty good and you can buy a pretty beefy unit -- they come in all sizes -- that will keep your boat pretty cool in port. The condensation drains into the cockpit and flows overboard through the scuppers. Just an idea; a little cumbersome perhaps, but a lot cheaper than those other units. Say, Ed, I had that pan "overflow" thing on my unit and it turns out all that care I used in making sure the unit was "level" was wasted. Factory told me the unit needs to be tipped up a little on the end opposite of the drain and it drains just fine now without overflowing. I did consider the condensator, but tried the tipping thing first and it worked just fine. Glad you like your Mermaid; I sure like mine.
More than a few friends have opted to use regular window units fitted into their companionways with the hatchboards sitting on top of it. Works pretty good and you can buy a pretty beefy unit -- they come in all sizes -- that will keep your boat pretty cool in port. The condensation drains into the cockpit and flows overboard through the scuppers. Just an idea; a little cumbersome perhaps, but a lot cheaper than those other units. Say, Ed, I had that pan "overflow" thing on my unit and it turns out all that care I used in making sure the unit was "level" was wasted. Factory told me the unit needs to be tipped up a little on the end opposite of the drain and it drains just fine now without overflowing. I did consider the condensator, but tried the tipping thing first and it worked just fine. Glad you like your Mermaid; I sure like mine.
Call me Cheap, but....
I could not resist the temptation to "trying' one of the window units. I purchased a 5200 BTU unit from Sam's Club for my Hunter 33, $119 cost, and I tried it out over the July 4th weekend near Atlanta, GA. No installation needed, the unit sits in the companionway and covers the opening except about 1/2 inch on each side. As for above the unit which is about 13 inches tall, I have a canvas cover for the companionway that just hangs down and lays on top of the unit. Makes a real easy situation as far as getting in and out of the boat. It got too cold for me during the night on the med. setting, cut it to low and it the boat was cool even during the heat of the day. Stepping over it is easier than I thought it would be and even left it there while sailing, it never moved. So, maybe temperary, but hey, even if I only use it for a few weekends... thats under $5-$8 per weekend based on whats left of this summer. In a couple of years, maybe I'll spring for something else, otherwise, I'll sleep cool and while in the slip, I'll have a cool retreat from the heat at almost no cost at all.
I could not resist the temptation to "trying' one of the window units. I purchased a 5200 BTU unit from Sam's Club for my Hunter 33, $119 cost, and I tried it out over the July 4th weekend near Atlanta, GA. No installation needed, the unit sits in the companionway and covers the opening except about 1/2 inch on each side. As for above the unit which is about 13 inches tall, I have a canvas cover for the companionway that just hangs down and lays on top of the unit. Makes a real easy situation as far as getting in and out of the boat. It got too cold for me during the night on the med. setting, cut it to low and it the boat was cool even during the heat of the day. Stepping over it is easier than I thought it would be and even left it there while sailing, it never moved. So, maybe temperary, but hey, even if I only use it for a few weekends... thats under $5-$8 per weekend based on whats left of this summer. In a couple of years, maybe I'll spring for something else, otherwise, I'll sleep cool and while in the slip, I'll have a cool retreat from the heat at almost no cost at all.
Home window unit.
Sounds like a good solution. And very smart! Now when they make one with about a 4 Amp surge at startup and 2 Amp average we will really have something, cold air at anchor! (My 12K Mermaid has a surge that kills the interver. If I got past that I would be using batteries at about 120 amps/hour. That's 12 amps at 115V.)
Sounds like a good solution. And very smart! Now when they make one with about a 4 Amp surge at startup and 2 Amp average we will really have something, cold air at anchor! (My 12K Mermaid has a surge that kills the interver. If I got past that I would be using batteries at about 120 amps/hour. That's 12 amps at 115V.)
window unit in main salon hatch
Last week I saw two sailboats in my port that beat the high temps by placing a window unit on the deck next to the hatch. They constructed a duct/vent/manifold out of a cardboard box and blue styro board which directed the cold air output down into the hatch. The controls were reachable through the hatch just as in a window install! what a great cheap idea!
Last week I saw two sailboats in my port that beat the high temps by placing a window unit on the deck next to the hatch. They constructed a duct/vent/manifold out of a cardboard box and blue styro board which directed the cold air output down into the hatch. The controls were reachable through the hatch just as in a window install! what a great cheap idea!
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