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Air condition

  • June 25, 2013 6:13 AM
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    Message # 1326512
    Deleted user
    Is starting to get hot here in Florida, and I was wondering what most people are doing about air conditioning their boats.
  • June 25, 2013 9:15 AM
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    Reply # 1326665 on 1326512
    Deleted user

    James......

    I keep TAMZIN down in Rockport Texas where a 'good' summer day is only 90+.  I tried the small window units.  As I recall a 10,000btu was the largest one that would fit.  It sort of worked. Circulation was lousy, even installed a coach roof hatch to centerlize the air distribution but no better.  I now have a 16,500btu central unit from Seabreeze that's ok.  It will drop the cabin temp about 10 degrees but at over a 100F outside that doesn't help all that much. The problem with central units is they're water cooled which is great until the ambient water temp and air temp are the same.  Also it tends to suck up the jellyfish which is an issue all of its own.  I would suggest 1) insulate everything, coach  roof, cabin sides and hull and then 2)install something that puts out about 20,000btu or more  3) with an exterior grid and internal flush on the raw water system.  I haven't gotten quite that ambitious yet.
  • June 25, 2013 11:14 AM
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    Reply # 1326772 on 1326512
    Anonymous member

    James,

    This year I take lots of showers and hang out under the fans. In years past I set a small window unit(6500 BTU) in the companionway and it kept things reasonably cool at night as long as you didn't wander too far from the main salon. I slept in the pilot berth and was fairly comfortable. Coming aboard was a bit of a nuisance clambering around the thing and dropping into the companionway. One year I set the unit over the forward hatch so I could use the V-berth. I had to build a plenum of sorts to direct the cold air away from the return.  I see lots of upright units now that can be brought aboard and set up just about anywhere, just needs a porthole to dump the exhaust air. I actually survived the entire summer last year on the hard in Titusville, Florida without a/c. Mosquito spray and cold showers were in high demand.
  • June 26, 2013 10:39 AM
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    Reply # 1327584 on 1326512
    Anonymous member
    Contact Butch Rasmussen in MD.  He and his wife Vicki live aboard their W32 Legend, and Butch has a refrigeration and air conditioning business.  He can give you the straight scoop on what works and what does not.  vicandb@gmail.com  They are once again sponsoring the Chesapeake Bay rendezvous this year on September 6 - 8.
  • June 26, 2013 1:04 PM
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    Reply # 1327675 on 1326512
    Deleted user

    We have a 'central' AC system which I installed on W42.

    Second summer running. 

    18500 BTU.

    Opted for heating coil.  Works well also.

    Cools well on 90 + days. Heats well to 40 F days.

    Mfg Flagship Marine.

    Biggest challenge was running 4" duct work, drilling 4 1/8" holes, etc.

    Downside to AC is added blower noise.  Blower and minor compressor water pump noise/vibration also present.

    Did my install in the early spring of 2012.

    Best,

    Tom

     

     

     
  • August 05, 2013 7:22 PM
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    Reply # 1359259 on 1326512
    Deleted user
    I broke down tonight and changed over my head to a utility room. I lasted with my macho MO for 3 days. The trouble with 95 degrees in Florida, is that it saps the life out of you. I was walking around semi comatose today and hardly got any work done on the boat My Haier AC portable unity fits nicely on some blocks of wood next to the jabsco and the 6" output pipe fits snugly through the port hole. I have closed the door between the head and the salon and the V-berth is nice and cool now. Hopefully I will get some sleep tonight for a change. Please excuse the mess
    Photo
    Peter
    www.onapua.com
  • August 12, 2013 12:12 AM
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    Reply # 1363242 on 1326512
    Deleted user

    I am  in the Pacific NW and we have another problem, to little heat. and breathing causes condensation. - When I was in the Sea of Cortez, it was hot 24h and I cooled off soaking in the water next to the boat.  When going spear fishing and diving down (just free diving) one suddenly hit an ice cold layer in the Sea of Cortez. I never dove in the Caribbean, I visited once friends in Charlotte Amalie and the water around there was cooler than the air but too murky (sharks like murky water) but it was not that uncomfortable temperature wise as a breeze was blowing strong enough to keep the Wind generator going. Btw., soaking oneself next to the boat saves on deodorant use!

    My big question is: What do you do for power on a W32 to run an air conditioner? I do not like to be tied to a marina if I can avoid it, and the preceding posts do not mention any power source.

    Thanks Mike

    Last modified: August 12, 2013 12:14 AM | Deleted user
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