Portable AC

[Bad Obsession]

I am thinking about getting a portable AC to cool my Catalina 30. I have seen some posts about this in the past but I am wondering if they really do work.

What size would you suggest?

Is it okay to run it off of the shore power system?

Just wondering if this is a good idea or I should try something else. I once made some hatch boards and converted a window ac unit to fit in the companion way. The problem with this is that it was a PITA to get around and get in and out of the cabin.

 

[Weasel]

Hey Bad:

I had one of those A/C units that mounted in a front hatch several boats ago. They put out about 6,000btus. They will NOT keep the boat cool at noon on a hot, (90 degree plus) day. They WILL allow you to sleep at night. Check to see if you can get a used one. I had one several years ago, new it was $699.00, I think they are pushing $1200.00 now. Use it with a strategicly mounted fan to circulate the air. Get a section of hose for the condensate drain, and a heavy duty extension cord and you are in business. FYI a 30' boat would need at least a 9,000 btu unit to produce a comfortable environment during the day. (Wife wanted central air when we were at the dock, perfect way to get a new boat and it worked!!!

Hope this helps & best regards

Weasel

 

[Weasel]

P.S. This is a PITA to manuver as well, especially getting it over the lifelines. I used my main halyard to raise it up from the dock. Still a royal bit*h to move around even with the handles.

Weasel

 

[Bad Obsession]

Not talking about a cruise and carry. They are very expensive for what they are. I am thinking of the type of Portable AC you can buy in Target or Home Depot.

 

[rpwillia]

Right Idea

Not talking about a cruise and carry. They are very expensive for what they are. I am thinking of the type of Portable AC you can buy in Target or Home Depot.

Matt, I have the Cruisair one and it works great at keeping my boat cool up in Quantico and was great to have when we were down in your neck of the woods Memorial Day when it was so hot. Most folks have gone for the small dorm air conditioners that are under $100 at WalMart or Home Depot with modified hatch boards. I agree the hatch board is a PITA. Two other guys did do a mount for their cabin top hatches. I can get you a picture of that in a couple of days. Good idea about that is you dump the cold air right in the middle of the cabin and it gets distributed all over - I guess you could say it is not the size but how you use it (hmmm, that sounds familiar though I have never used that line).

One guy on the 310 forum modified the hatch/opening behind his rear bunk (I have the picture somewhere) which was a pretty cool idea as it is out of the way and any condensate drips to his bilge and he crack a locker opening in the cockpit to vent the hot air out. On your 30 perhaps there is a spot to do something similar.

Not sure how I feel about 6K BTU's not being enough as mine works great. My biggest gripe about my cruisair is it is so big and bulky. I have no locker big enough to store it onboard and it is a bit of a bear to lug. OTOH, I only use it for about 10 days a year so it is good enough.

 

[thinwater]

Yes, I understand the thread is not about Cruise-n-Carry...

But I stilll have a few thoughts:

1. What ever route you choose, consider insulation and shading. External window covers and covering hatches, for example, make a big difference.
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/08/salon-window-covers.html

2. No matter what the instructions say, you can keep a Cruise-n-Carry on deck while sailing. We've kept ours on during so very spirited sailing without trouble, though off-shore or in rough Bay conditions (over 20 knots) we will take it below to reduce leaks.
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/09/keeping-cruise-and-carry-ac-unit-on.html

For a 32-foot cat it is JUST enough. On the hotest days (95-100F) it will cool the boat, but it will take a while and we close off extra rooms during the heat of the day.

 

[gpd955]

Have the Cruiseair carry-on and it works well. The only issue we found was that if it was real hot, like it will be today and tomorrow, you have to get it turned on early. It has a tough time catching up once the boat heats up after a day out in the heat.

The unit is 6700 ish BTUs and it's relatively light and easy to install. I usually have it on board an installed in about 5 min.

Luckily we rarely use it since we usually get a nice breeze at night.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I am thinking that I want at least 10,000 BTUs from the unit.

I was thinking about connecting the duct to one of the hoses that runs to my bilge so that it runs out of the boat through an already existing location. Just a thought and I don't know how it will work.

I really want to do something. I am thinking that if I go to having an AC in the boat it will help extend my cruising through the summer.

 

[ITMaster]

I have a Sharp that I picked up at Costco for under $300.00 and it is 12,000 BTU. It fits perfectly in either the companion way, or where I usually place it, in one of the hatches in the cockpit for the owners cabin. I have two, one over head and one at the foot of the berth, which is where I put it. Ii fits in the hatch opening almost perfectly, I do a little bit of filling in the gaps to keep the cold dry air in, and the moist humid air out. When it is really hot, I will close off the forward cabin to get the boat cooled down. I can plug it into one of the 120 VAC outlets in the boat and use my 30 amp service when at the dock. On the hook, I am able to use my Honda EU2000i genset. It is not perfect, but with fans to circulate from the owners cabin, we are comfortable out in the main salon during July, August and Sept here. It will do until I am ready to commit to more money for a permantly installed system and genset. For now, I am content with it. As you know, here in the tributaries of the bay, if we are anchored in a spot with limited breeze, it can be brutal. If out in the open, then the breeze will be adequate; however, it is nice to take the load of moisture out of the cabin. I can also run this off the inverter if under way with the iron genny and it is stifiling below or when the menhayden run and the flys are unbearable and run everyone out of the cockpit.

 

[RECESS]

For the past two summers we have used a window unit we bought from Home Depot. It did the job but not very well in the main salon as we used it from the forward hatch. We primarily wanted it for sleeping. The problem is that the home window units have a temp sensor that uses the air returning to the unit to regulate the air. With something as irregular shaped as a sailboat the circulating air is never going all the way to the salon and back. The unit is getting air circulated back just from the V-berth and forward cabin. If I put it in the companionway we do not cool the forward cabin and V-berth where we sleep. All things considered it still kept us from suffering at night.

I had a person that works at the school need an AC unit for him and his two girls. I brought in my boat unit home wall unit) so the girls would have a cool place to sleep. It has been alright so far this year without AC but the heat is starting to climb. I am going tomorrow to pick up a Cruisair Carry On 7000. I have several people tell me they are outstanding at keeping the V-berth and main Salon on a 30' cool and we have just a 25'. I am concerned a little about the start up amps while using the EU2000, but I have read it is not a problem and when it is up to speed it only draws 6.9 amps. I would like to have a permanent AC unit in the boat but at a low end of $1500 and some units I would really want at about $3000, I will have to be happy with a used Cruisair for $400. I see them sell often for $300 - $500 used. I like that everything on the unit is built for a salt water environment.

Good luck with what ever you do. The window home model will get you through a few seasons at least.

 

[srhummer]

Have not done the portable "stand up rolling" AC units that they sell, although I looked at one in Costco. I did buy a used carry on top hatch type at Bacons in Annapolis (they had several last year and were good prices and saw a few there a week ago) on my H34 in Deale, MD. and agree with Weasel - it did NOT keep the boat cool, only the Vberth where I had it in the hatch. Salon was warm and the after cabin was HOTso I returned it. I used a window AC in the companionway hatch for the rest of last summer and again agree - it kept it cool but was a PITA to get in and out of the boat with it there. I got a 7K quote to put a one piece AC unit in, so I bought a 11000BTU Reverse Cycle AC kit (had everything I needed except the wiring to the AC Pannel) from Defender for 2300 this winter and put it in my self - a little bit of $ and work but well worth it. Nice and cool in all spaces, will even be better if I can get the 3rd air duct ran to the after cabin. Will also provide heat when it starts getting cold. The posts on the site (several) helped me with the size and placement for the AC and for the ducting. Best of luck with whichever way you chose to go.

 

[Manny]

Hey Bad O

I have a portable unit on my 27. I originally got the idea from Catalina 30' owner at the first marina I was at... Anyway it works but for a 30 footer go with higher BTUs as they are very inefficient. We have a 10,000 btu and it can keep the cabin down to mid 70's as long as it is in the mid 80's or lower outside. Once into the 90's it struggles to keep the cabin in the low 80's even if I close the v-berth door. Small fans are necessity to circulate the air. The reason these units are so inefficient is that although they have a tube to blow out the hot air, it still needs to draw air from somewhere, so it creates a vacuum and draws the hot outside air into the boat. That being said the unit does allow us to come down on hot weekends with the dogs and still be comfortable. It does get in the way a bit when in use but when sailing I fasten it to a bulkhead with bungees and it hasn't been a hindrance. I wouldn't vent it to the bilge, as it may draw that air back in. Best bet is out through a port.

M

 

[Benny17441]

Portable A/Cs are less efficient than a window unit for two reasons 1) the air used to cool the compressor is exausted via a 5"hose which radiates some of the heat back to the air you are trying to cool 2) The air being exausted has to be replenished and it will come from the hot humid air outside the boat. These units work adequately in mild conditions but in extreme heat and high humidity they do not dry the air or cool enough to provide comfort. Their advantage is that they can be placed inside the cabin not blocking access nor spewing hot air to the cockpit. Perhaps in the cooler months of spring and fall they may work satisfatorily and be enjoyed. I don't think 10K btus in a portable unit will work adequately for a 30' boat and if you go any higher it may not run properly on a 2k portable generator. I would stick with a window unit to be used for sleeping at night when it would work best and the PITA factor would be dimished. A canvas tent will prevent the cabin inside temperature from exceeding the ambient temperature. Spraying the deck periodically with water will help cool the deck by evaporation.

 

[wflowe2]

This is what I used on a Beneteau 281. Worked great and didn't have to remove it to sail. All I did was to make a plywood hatch board with a cutout to fit the air conditioner.

 

[SailArkansas]

Had my canvas folks make me a bonnet for my 5000 btu unit. The hatch cover is raised and blocked against the top of the a/c providing the air duct. The bonnet is attached to the unit using velcro and the bottom of the bonnet is weighted down with internal sand bags sewn in. The clear vinyl lets in light. Remove, of course, for sailing.

For additional information please send me a private message.

 

[Sailm8]

I used the window unti from Home Depot on 2 boats. I used it on a 27 foot Cal with a 9.5 baem. Slept in the V berth. We used a cheap box fan to circulate the air. Damn near froze to death and this was in Missouri on a lake where the water temp was 90 and the air 95+.

Now we live in Florida and had a 29.5 Hunter with built in air but I stil have the $99 from Home Depot as part of our "hurricane kit" to use with our home generator.