Portable Air Conditioning

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D

Denny

Has anyone used the portable air conditioners that vent with a dryer type hose. Was thinking of using one while at the dock in the FL Panhadle hot summer.
 
Jul 12, 2004
285
Catalina 320 chestertown
Portable Air Conditioners

I've not used that type of air conditioner. But, I did use a reqular window air conditioner in the companion way. Worked great. It was 6000BTU and would freeze you out by morning.
 
Jul 12, 2004
285
Catalina 320 chestertown
Portable Air Conditioners

I've not used that type of air conditioner. But, I did use a reqular window air conditioner in the companion way. Worked great. It was 6000BTU and would freeze you out by morning.
 
Jul 12, 2004
285
Catalina 320 chestertown
Portable Air-conditioner

I've not used that type, but did use a 6000BTU window type in a 35 ft boat. Placed it in the companion way and sealed it off with towels. Would freeze you out by morning. *!
 
J

jrpla

Window Air Conditioner

Here is the photo of my Air conditioner on my boat. This was wen first installed, now the wood is varnish and looks great. The cost of the air is $100 in Walmart 7,000 BTU GE with remote control on a 32 foot boat. I even runs the air on the beach with a Honda Eu2000 generator.
 
T

Tom Monroe

A guy down the dock ...

... uses one made by Haier that "slings" the condensate into the exhaust air. The unit is strapped into the notch between the two sides of his v berth (C30). Exhausts through a duct hose that goes through a special little fitting (circle) he made in his forward hatch. It cools his C30 nicely, does have to be "removed" to sail, and doesn't obstruct any access point to the boat. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
 
H

higgs

Why not stay home?

This will get a few tempers up but it should add some spice to this site.... Isn't the whole idea of boating to meld with the great outdoors? If you are going to go down to your air conditioned boat and sit inside watching TV, why not stay home? Same goes for generators. Why does someone pull into a pristine anchorage and fire up their generator so they can sit inside their boat and enjoy the comforts of home. If the comforts of home are so important - stay home.
 
G

Gary

Very good prediction, Mr. Higgs

Do you stay overnight on your boat in February without a heater up there in WI? Try a still night down here at 85 degrees and 100% humidity. I'd rather listen to an obnoxious generator than someone from Iceland tell me I don't need a/c. All generators aren't loud either.
 
G

Gary

Very good prediction, Mr. Higgs

Do you stay overnight on your boat in February without a heater up there in WI? Try a still night down here at 85 degrees and 100% humidity. I'd rather listen to an obnoxious generator than someone from Iceland tell me I don't need a/c. All generators aren't loud either.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
water drain - non window unit

we use one of these in the server room as a backup. dont forget the drain. they have a gravity drain, but you may need a sump pump depending on where you mount it.,
 
G

Gary

Good prediction Mr. Higgs

Do you stay overnight on your boat in February without a heater up there in WI? Try a still night down here at 85 degrees and 100% humidity. I'd rather listen to an obnoxious generator than someone from Iceland tell me I don't need a/c. All generators aren't loud either.
 
Jul 12, 2004
285
Catalina 320 chestertown
Air Conditioning

"Isn't the whole idea of boating to meld with the great outdoors?" NO! I think Mr Higgs is being just a little sort-sighted. Come on, how bout just getting away from home, a change, just being away with a woman. Moon light -- and on it could go. I'm not sure they even know what an air-conditioner is up there in WI.
 
B

Benny

I was just thinking the same thing;

Years ago I dove into lake Michigan in the middle of July and almost froze to death. It is apparent Mr. Higgs has not experienced temperatures in the 90's with 90% humidity and a water temperature of 85 degrees. It gets warm in Wisconsin but the water temperature keeps it comfortable. My only missgiving is that in the middle of summer our Honda 2000eu will only run 5-6 hours on a tankful. Come January when the air and water temperatures dip into the 60's and the humidity drops to 70% we do comune with nature.
 
B

Benny

Denny, they work great.

We have one on an H27 and it works good. Try to get one which exausts condensation or hook a drain line directly into the bilge as the contained tank will fill up in a couple of hours shutting the unit down. Also make the exaust hose run as short as possible as it heats up quite a bit and will act as a radiator fighting the cooling unit. Also avoid using an extension cord as the compressor will cut off prematurely. Figure out where will you fit it and get one with exterior dimensions to fit the space. Other than that, they are quiet and cool the cabin rather quick. It works better than the installed water cooled unit on the H320.
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
The WM "forward hatch" AC

We us the portable AC from WM that sits on the outside of the forward hatch of our 37 Legend. Works great in the Vee birth and OK in the salon if you put the air diverter on (standard equipment). The aft cabin would best be reserved for Mr. Higgs. With the addition of a window fan in the aft cabin and some light colored towels over the skylights the whole boat becomes quite comfortable. We only used it while at the dock while the wife was doing the live aboard thing while she was "deployed" to the Pentagon for the Global war on terror. It also does come in handy when I get to do maintenance on those really hot days too.
 
H

higgs

an apology - sort of

Sometimes I do let the "good old days" take over. When I first started cruising in the 70's., roller furling was almost unheard of. Cutting edge navigation was an RDF and nobody but the rich had hot water, much less a shower, on board. It was a time when boats did not all look the same and only two types of people sailed. The rich - who paid for everything to be done - and the rest of us who went to work blue for the week after painting our bottom. The sailing scene has changed dramatically and I admit it has passed me by. I also admit to liking some of the changes, but others I am slow to accept. Anyone else remember why we used to put an insulater on the back stay or how much a crystal cost for a new channel?
 
B

Bob

Best BTUs for the dollar!!

Denny, We like several others have opted to use the "portable" AC units that are manufactured by a host of folks. Ours is the Haier 10,000 BTU model that is not only afordable ($399.00 at Target), but fits perfectly on our quarter birth (catalina 30)with the accordian hot air vent line (expands to 10+ feet)placed thru a small port. Quiet, modern and on rollers, the condensation get evaporated thru the exhaust hose. No bilge water! Thats a huge plus! Although we could use 4,000 more BTUs in this Georgia heat to stay cool below in the heat of the day, our unit is perfect for evening and morning and makes staying aboard overnight a pleasure. The cruise-n-carry units that are mounted in the forward hatches only produce 6000 - 7200 btus and are just as big as the unit we bought. The Haier can be moved to any interior location with its extendable accordian exhaust hose. When the season is over it goes back into the garage for storage, so its convenience is great. NO, I am not a Haier salesman, but after considering marine AC units for $2,500 + this little jewel was well worth the money. Check em out. Bob Cat 30 Lake Lanier
 
May 18, 2004
385
Catalina 320 perry lake
Different experience.

Don't know what size boat you have but on my Oceanis 281, the portable air conditioner I tried didn't work. At first, I ran the vent hose to a forward hatch. This required a vent hose connector and additionl vent hose. Apparently the extra vent hose overtaxed the unit because the compresor shut of and wouldn't restart. There was nothing wrong with the unit because I tried it at home, in a bedroom the day before and it cooled well. Anyway I got rid of the extra vent hose and ran the supplied vent out one of my opening portlites because this did not require the extension. Let it run for a couple of hours and when I came back to the boat, it had cooled the cabin about 2 degrees. The problem is that it generated a tremendous amount of heat that was being vented to the outside but the heat lost through the vent hose wall just about cancelled the cooling efect. It was a Heire unit. I returned it. It would probably have worked with a larger cabin that allowed the unit to be placed close to the hatch or portlite but no good on my boat. It also took up a lot of cabin space. Bill
 
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