Split AC Unit

[BillyK]

I'm trying to avoid another through hull.. and of course the cost of a water cooled AC system.. I found this system and i think it could work..

Link

Mount the head unit somewhere in the salon and the chiller unit in the port side locker in the cockpit.. I'd put in a porthole to mirror the starboard port on the floor in the cockpit for additional ventilation and use one of the vent holes on the transom to pull the hot air out.

thoughts?

 

[BillyK]

Here is an even cheaper system considering the free shipping

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If I were you, I'd get the specs and install manual from the manufacturer. Two show stoppers may be the size of the head in a 30 ft boat and the power requirements (220VAC?).

 

[BillyK]

indoor unit is 36"wide x 10"high x 8"deep
120 volt

 

[rbmcintire]

We have the Webasto/FCF water-cooled heatpump (12,000 Btu) slipped in under the V-berth next to the water tank. The previous owner really put his family's comfort as a priority and it really made the boat a top choice when I was looking for C-30's. The intake is tee'd to the head sink with a in-line screen strainer and there's an above-the-waterline, 1/2" discharge thru-hull. Not too tough of an install, no need to haul the boat, even. Put the control/ t-stat on the nav station and the line voltage to an appropriate 120v breaker. The unit is all-in-one contained, with the blower section having a box to connect two 4" flexduct lines. One goes under the head cabinet and thru the bulkhead serves the port side; the other in the bottom of the hanging locker, then up, thru the bulkhead to serve the starboard side of the cabin. I'm going to put a tee in one of those sides to add flexduct for the V-berth. That thing cranks! The unit is marinized, compact, out of the way, relatively quiet, built for the job and you have no split-system issues with running refrigerant lines between the condenser and evaporator. Nor the issue with getting rid of the heat from the condenser. I've seen a 9500Btu unit online for $950. Now you won't run this out on the water, and I have to use the galley sink when it's running, but it's nice to have down at the marina. I'm looking into the small Hondas and Yamaha generators, but with my other list of need-to-do's, maybe next year.

 

[jrowan]

All that stuff sounds pretty complicated just for AC. Why not just buy a used over the hatch mounted portable AC unit. There a bit of a bear to lug into place, but being self contained & draining there a lot easier to deal with. I sold ours with the last sailboat, cause we only used it twice, & it was heavy & took up a lot of space in the aft berth.
But like most sailors, my aft bunk is just a storage space anyway. I wouldn't subject anyone to sleeping in that stuffy spot anyway.

 

[shipwreck66]

Honestly, we just put a normal $89 5000btu unit into the forward hatch with Owens insulation around it, works great, doesn't weigh much, and is small enough to stow away.

 

[BillyK]

Thanks rbmcintire..

We are just going to go with a real water cooled marine unit. costs more, but when it comes to comfort, that's going to be number one with the little ones and the wife. Especially since being comfortable is a condition of use, for at least the wifey. We have a 2000watt yamaha generator that will be able to run it when away from the doc...

 

[rbmcintire]

After the initial install, there's only to turn off the unit and close the thru-hull when you leave the boat. No obstructions in the companionway or hatch, nothing to take down, disconnect or store anywhere. It's actually quite easy to deal with. Winterizing takes 60 seconds: putting the intake hose into a gallon jug of RV grapejuice, using the handheld remote control to turn it on, letting it cycle thru the heat exchanger, turning it off and then closing the valve at the strainer.