With the middle of summer fast approaching and a spouse and pet who are less than enthusiastic about the sweltering heat, I am considering purchasing a portable air conditioner for occasional use on hotter weekends at the dock. This is for a Cal 28 and I don't really want the weight or complexity of a permanent installation. I have tried using a relatively cheap, generic, 5000 BTU unit in the forward hatch with mediocre results. Searching around for portable a/c units designed for boats (i.e. expensive) I find the Cruisair Carry-On and the AquaCal Krusin Kool units as the major contenders (both nominally 7000 BTU units). I am especially interested in the AquaCal because it stays inside the boat while running and because it is water-cooled which seems like it should be more efficient. Does anyone here have experience with the Krusin Kool? Comments on the Cruisair would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance, Larry
Portable air conditioners
- Thread starter m3sailor
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used both
I think both will work ok but the water cooled unit needs cool water not the 90 degree stuff we have in fla. it reduces the efficiency of the water cooled unit. The carry on work great just a bit of a pain to move arround. the residential unit wont work well in a hatch but if you could drop it in the companionway it will do better.
I think both will work ok but the water cooled unit needs cool water not the 90 degree stuff we have in fla. it reduces the efficiency of the water cooled unit. The carry on work great just a bit of a pain to move arround. the residential unit wont work well in a hatch but if you could drop it in the companionway it will do better.
portable A/C
Larry, you might look at portable home/office systems-Haier makes a 9000 btu ($450-500) and a 7000 ($350).totally self contained, on wheels. the 9K unit weighs 70 lbs and exhausts it's hot air thru a 6" flex hose. Best Buy, staples sell them. I've seen a similar unit at costco.com for about $350. mine is secured in the forward cabin and does a good job of cooling our 356.
Larry, you might look at portable home/office systems-Haier makes a 9000 btu ($450-500) and a 7000 ($350).totally self contained, on wheels. the 9K unit weighs 70 lbs and exhausts it's hot air thru a 6" flex hose. Best Buy, staples sell them. I've seen a similar unit at costco.com for about $350. mine is secured in the forward cabin and does a good job of cooling our 356.
Window A/C ?
How did the cheap window units work out? did they last months / years in a salt environmnt? there ar several 5000 btu models under $100, so at that price, I can replace it every year for 8 years and be ahead of the crusair price... any more 1st hand experience??? -Note on the stand alone a/c units. (we have 2 in our computer room as backups.) they have a drain pan, or hose that will need to be drained. fills up a gallon container in 8 hrs in a closed office building... they also dont seem very efficient... (and a little price-er) but it would be cleaner installation just needing a large vent.
How did the cheap window units work out? did they last months / years in a salt environmnt? there ar several 5000 btu models under $100, so at that price, I can replace it every year for 8 years and be ahead of the crusair price... any more 1st hand experience??? -Note on the stand alone a/c units. (we have 2 in our computer room as backups.) they have a drain pan, or hose that will need to be drained. fills up a gallon container in 8 hrs in a closed office building... they also dont seem very efficient... (and a little price-er) but it would be cleaner installation just needing a large vent.
Kruzin Kool
I had a Cruisair Carry on unit for close to 10 years. It was the 4800 BTU model and what I disliked about it was having to stow it in the cabin. I seriously considered the Kruzin Kool but was told by the manufacturer that the pump will not work if the unit is below the waterline. So I "bit the bullet" and had a Mermaid AS/heat unit installed. I sail the Chesapeake Bay with two standard poodles and they really like the AC.
I had a Cruisair Carry on unit for close to 10 years. It was the 4800 BTU model and what I disliked about it was having to stow it in the cabin. I seriously considered the Kruzin Kool but was told by the manufacturer that the pump will not work if the unit is below the waterline. So I "bit the bullet" and had a Mermaid AS/heat unit installed. I sail the Chesapeake Bay with two standard poodles and they really like the AC.
Cruisair
M3S, I purchased a Cruisair in July 01. Between late May and mid October, it "lives" cable-locked to the top side of the forward deck of my Catalina 25. It spends the rest of the year in my garage. Weather does not seem to affect it, as it has been rained on dozens of times. There is just enough slack in the cable to slide it aft to the forward hatch when I need it. I just slip the cloth cowling on. When I sail, I lock it to the dock. Get the diverter which takes it's vertical air flow and changes it to horizontal. This makes a big difference in how fast your boat will cool off. Stay Cool, D
M3S, I purchased a Cruisair in July 01. Between late May and mid October, it "lives" cable-locked to the top side of the forward deck of my Catalina 25. It spends the rest of the year in my garage. Weather does not seem to affect it, as it has been rained on dozens of times. There is just enough slack in the cable to slide it aft to the forward hatch when I need it. I just slip the cloth cowling on. When I sail, I lock it to the dock. Get the diverter which takes it's vertical air flow and changes it to horizontal. This makes a big difference in how fast your boat will cool off. Stay Cool, D
Poor Man's A/C
Last summer I made a hatch enclosure as shown, to fit around the $78 Home Depot A/C I bought. I also made it "dual mode" by cutting an opening in the front of the pop top enclosure, so it would fit between the side of the enclosure and the mast. In either case, the drain runs into the cockpit or over the side. The poptop "mode" naturally is not as efficient in 110 degree Arizona days. But unless I have not been on a boat in a long time, I choose not to be holed up in the cabin on 110 degree days. Can't say how well it would hold up in a salt water environment. However, the disposable units (@ $78 each) are hard to pass up compared with the new Cruisin Air. Just for fun, I measured startup current for the unit and it ranged from 15A to 21A. Normally it runs slightly under 5A. Hope this helps. Steve <>< _/)
Last summer I made a hatch enclosure as shown, to fit around the $78 Home Depot A/C I bought. I also made it "dual mode" by cutting an opening in the front of the pop top enclosure, so it would fit between the side of the enclosure and the mast. In either case, the drain runs into the cockpit or over the side. The poptop "mode" naturally is not as efficient in 110 degree Arizona days. But unless I have not been on a boat in a long time, I choose not to be holed up in the cabin on 110 degree days. Can't say how well it would hold up in a salt water environment. However, the disposable units (@ $78 each) are hard to pass up compared with the new Cruisin Air. Just for fun, I measured startup current for the unit and it ranged from 15A to 21A. Normally it runs slightly under 5A. Hope this helps. Steve <>< _/)
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Thanks
Thanks all for the responses. Right now I am leaning towards trying out one of the portable non-marine units (Sunpentown, Haier, Maytag) as Chuck suggested since they are reasonably priced. Hopefully this won't be a false savings for me but I'll let you know how it works out. Larry
Thanks all for the responses. Right now I am leaning towards trying out one of the portable non-marine units (Sunpentown, Haier, Maytag) as Chuck suggested since they are reasonably priced. Hopefully this won't be a false savings for me but I'll let you know how it works out. Larry
If you're gonna spend $700+
which is how much the CruisAire portable costs now, and if you're somewhat mechanically inclined, do a permanent installation instead. Mermaid Air (on the net) has a small unit for about $800, and Weaver's, outside of B'more advertisies small ones for $825. I used the portable CruisAir on my H31 and, while it's ok, the built is is FAR superior in all regards. For the price difference, do the perm install.
which is how much the CruisAire portable costs now, and if you're somewhat mechanically inclined, do a permanent installation instead. Mermaid Air (on the net) has a small unit for about $800, and Weaver's, outside of B'more advertisies small ones for $825. I used the portable CruisAir on my H31 and, while it's ok, the built is is FAR superior in all regards. For the price difference, do the perm install.
Kruzin Kool...
SeaSurplus is advertising factory refurbished kruzin Kool. They are near the factory. Something to consider. Marc PS: I sucked it up and had a central AC unit installed.
SeaSurplus is advertising factory refurbished kruzin Kool. They are near the factory. Something to consider. Marc PS: I sucked it up and had a central AC unit installed.
Installed versus Portable AC
Blackhawk Marine on the South River at Liberty Marina did the installation of my Mermaid unit at prices competitive with Weavers's in Baltimore. The installation is top quality.
Blackhawk Marine on the South River at Liberty Marina did the installation of my Mermaid unit at prices competitive with Weavers's in Baltimore. The installation is top quality.
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