Portable Air Conditioners

[Ducati]

Any suggestions for small portable air conditioners that could fit in a 36' sailboat? We don't like the cost ($5500) of a 16000 btu unit plus the instal location will take up some space in one of the aft cabins.

Our boat is a Beneteau 36.7.

Thanks

 

[Sailm8]

Are you talking portable? Just pick out the largest you can find at the discount store the blows out the front (not the top) and drains out the back. Mount it in the companion way hatch so it drains into the cockpit.

I don't really see what you are saving since you will need to store it somewhere when you leave the dock. Maybe you were looking for a smaller permanently mounted unit? More details are needed.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Wow, $5500.!! That must be some hellacious markup. Even with installation that is way high. A 16K Mermaid is $1600. at Defender. With heat it is $1800. It is the size of a standard cardboard box. Mine(12K) has performed flawlessly for ten years sitting in the bottom of a little cabinet. Installation cost? Just my time.

Oh, and just one little hole through the bootstripe for the outlet of cooling water. I T'd off of the thru-hull for the engine cooling water since I never run the engine while the A/C is running.

 

[kloudie1]

Duc, ya gonna need about 12000 Minimum BTUs for comfort in the daytime.. If ya just looking for a comfortable sleep, and in one cabin, the carry on 5000 or so BTU units will be OK.. Here in the deep south, I used a household 5000 BTU unit mounted in the companionway for two summers.. It would cool the boat sufficiently after sunset, but didn’t do much during the day, except made it comfortable down below during thunderstorms.. Storing it in the back cabin was a pain because of the drooling water condensate.. Another downside is that they are bulky and noisy.. In the companionway made the cockpit difficult to get into and too hot and noisy in the evenings when I like to sit and sip and maybe have a great cigar. Consider installing a built-in yourself to save dollars. If you are really a handy guy, consider this; a couple of guys I know bought a 12000 BTU window unit and modified it by removing the condenser and installing a small water cooled heat exchanger and a sea water pump.. They ended up having about $750 in the unit (no labor) instead of the outrageous amount that the big names charge for a 12000 BTU unit.. Probably won’t last as long.. but it does what they need and fits where they wanted to put it, although it is not nearly as compact as a purpose built unit.. Interesting to note that their window unit has the exact compressor as I recently bought to repair my Marine Air unit.. The cost of the complete window unit is less than the cheapest price I could find on the compressor alone!..

 

[seadaddler]

$1600.00

Yes but is that with all the extra equipment.
I think built in unit sooooo much better,don't really take up that much room don't even know it's in the boat,I have so much storage in my 36 I lose things in my boat.
Nick

 

[Ed Schenck]

Nick, you are supposed to be vacationing. In New York?! Good point, Mermaid gets $350. for an installation kit. Look at it, not a thing he needs. Buy nice wood air grills and duct tubing at "big box" and a thru-hull for the exit water. Maybe a separate panel breaker but my old boat already had spares. A few feet of hose and wire and all done.

 

[JIM B]

Ducati,

Here is a link for the A/C I bought last spring.
http://www.qualitymatters.com/SNO-13000-BTU-Portable-Air-Conditioner-ARC-13S-p/qmarc-13s.htm
I have used it for one summer on a Catalina 30 in Arizona and am satisfied with it. It is simple and evaporates the condensation. Not as good as built it, but it works well for my purposes.

Good Luck

 

[Benny]

A portable A/C unit is a good compromise for a boat. Do make sure you get the largest one you can find (12,000 BTU+) as they are less efficient than window units or carry-ons. The reason being that these units are air cooled but since the coils and compressor are going to be inside the space to be cooled the hot air is exausted to the outside via a hose. The hot air expelled from inside the cabin is replaced by hot and humid air from the outside. This process also induces a lot of condensation which needs to be removed preferably though a drain hose directly into the bilge. We had a 8,000 btu unit on a 30' boat and it was barely adequate hence why I would recommend a larger unit for a 36'. A good 12K unit should sell for around $499. One of the advantages of a built in unit is duct work which provides air circulation; a portable unit does not have that so well placed fans to direct air into the berths is a must. I personally prefer a unit with manual switches instead of the electronic with digital display. The reason is that in a boat you may choose to run the unit from a generator and any small hesitation from the generator to supply power when ciclyng will cause the electronic controlled unit to shut off. This summer we had a carry-on unit on an h34 up in New Jersey and it worked very well other than a small condensation drip into the cabin sole. The unit was kept in the V-berth and raised through the hatch to be installed in the cabin hatch. It is a little heavy, but once in place it was not in the way at all. These units sell for about $900. Good luck.

 

[rpwillia]

Where are you?

Ducati, You did not state where you were. I am in the Potomac and I brought my portable AC on 2 trips and did not use it. We had a cooler than normal summer here. A lot of folks here go to WalMart and get the $89.00 Haier dorm room AC and make a rig so it sits in their front hatch or cabin access. I have the one made for boats (think it is $750-999 at WM) and it is fine but big and bulky so we leave it at home most of the time.

If you are in Florida or Texas then you probably need a big AC, for other places your mileage may vary.

BTW, You do realize that no one can run their AC underway or on the hook unless they have a big generator?

 

[shorty]

Heck w/the AC

move to Maine! Put blades on your keel & iceboat in the winter!

 

[wufibugs]

I have seen some used marine 5k deck hatch mounted unts in the $4-500 range. Does anyone have experience with these?

 

[catsailor]

I have used one of the Cruise-n-carry units on my 32-foot catamaran.

I have seen some used marine 5k deck hatch mounted units in the $4-500 range. Does anyone have experience with these?

It is just adequate and I have found that I can leave it on-deck in most weather, but you should really read my blog post to get the details on that aspect: http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/search?q=cruise-and-carry

That said, we only take it on long trips in July/August. Shorter trips, it isn't that hot and we don't have the need to dry out.

 

[wflowe2]

Just made a lower hatch board to accommodate window unit. Cheap but worked OK. Didn't have to remove it to sail but it was inconvenient getting in and out of the companionway.

 

[wufibugs]

I looked at the blog, Drew. Very informative and helpful. If I decide to go with air, the cabin hatch mount seems the most space-efficient way to go. Makes me nervous to even partially block the gangway, though wflowe2's approach looks OK as long as all aboard are agile.

 

[catsailor]

I feel certain the tacking difficulty could be resolved with a few well placed lines.

I looked at the blog, Drew. Very informative and helpful. If I decide to go with air, the cabin hatch mount seems the most space-efficient way to go. Makes me nervous to even partially block the gangway, though wflowe2's approach looks OK as long as all aboard are agile.

When cruising, we tack very little.

I also imagine a better, snap-on hood is possible. Something that would deal with spray more effective. I think I may try that this year.

Still, if you are expecting green water on-deck, you should be prepared to get it down below. It is heavy and awkward to carry on a moving deck. We have a center cockpit boat, and so our answer to that would be different from yours. Perhaps the use of a spare halyard and and better planning will be required!