Lemme bounce an idea off you guys...
Under the sink on the X there is actually a lot of room, if you remove the plastic insert (I know, I saw it on a video, where a chap installed a cupboard in there).
So there's room to stick a 'window' aircon unit, I'm thinking..? Yet where to vent out the hot air?
I'm thinking some form of cooling finned vents... angled towards the stern.
Pointing up they'd catch rain water and spray, pointing down they could catch spray, pointing forward they could catch spray - but I figure if I have water over-taking the boat from the stern then I maybe have bigger problems than a flooded aircon?
Another silly question - I've never owned a generator, but I presume they have a little exhaust pipe somewhere? Could such a generator be mounted in the same place, under the sink, with an exhaust outlet?
Yes, a CO2 detector and care to prevent exhaust fumes leaking, but surely this must be possible? Many boats have entire inboard gasoline engines, so what's the difference?
I'm just thinking that space is big enough for both the aircon and the generator, which avoids long, high-voltage power cables, and both the generator and aircon need an outside vent/exhaust, and if putting them both in the same place then some efforts at sound-proofing that compartment could be done...
Do I need more sleep (1.22am) or am I making some sense here?
Edit: I've had some sleep now. I still think it's an idea with potential
However instead of trying to find some way of extending a genset's exhaust, which will be very hot and able to melt fiberglass, I'm thinking of a couple of exhaust fans!
Yes fans!
They, with an inlet for air to get into that compartment, could take away both the hot air from the aircon AND the exhaust fumes from the genset.
A single unit like this RV window thingy can shift 5 cubic meters of air a minute on it's lowest setting:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000533151340.html
2 of them would be replacing the air inside that compartment every few seconds, yet when underway you can batten down those little hatches (which are black and match the
)
I'm sure a local electrician could wire it so if the genset is running, so are both fans and you can't run the genset without them.
Advantages of this cunning plan:
- Both aircon and genset are quite low down, inside the boat for balance
Both towards the rear, the most buoyant part of the boat
Both are inside, away from the worst of salt water, wind, rain etc
Pre-made hatches that batten down and are designed for rain etc
Both are inside, away from thieving people, curious children etc
No chance of the genset falling off into the water and electrocuting swimmers
Rubbery mounts and soundproofing all in one place
The genset is powering its own exhaust system, so no battery drain
Can build a sliding rail system to slide them out for maintenance (out of the rain or sun)
Can use affordable domestic units, as easy to replace and they're quite sheltered
This space is actually wasted in the X anyway
Downsides
- You would need a lot of soundproofing and vibration damping, but at least it's hidden so you can just go crazy without worrying too much how it looks
Need to be extremely careful to ensure the aircon doesn't end up sucking in exhaust fumes (a partition between them could help?)
Even if the fumes are all outside it's potentially possible for wind to blow them back into the boat (though they would be seriously diluted by then)