Air Conditioner Blues

Dubraque · Post by **Dubraque** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:27 pm

In looking for a means of attenuating if slightly the heat of summer on the Chesapeake, I was delighted to find online a "Personal Cooler and Dehumidifier" by Freecom, the RCS-M1000T. 4000 BTUs, on casters and weighing only 36 lbs, with an exhaust hose a la the larger portable ACs. 10.6"W by 14.6 D by 25.8' high, 410 watts, ABS case, condensate tank. Sounded promising, so how much could it cost, its bigger 7500 to 12000 BTU brothers run $350 to $550 at most retailers.
Try $1,250.
Oy ve.

DLT · Post by **DLT** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:46 pm

How about:

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=589

I basically took the smallest window AC unit I could find and mounted it in a companionway hatch board.

It is a bit of a pain to get in and out of the cabin.

So, I started (but have not yet finished) a modified hatch board. It will allow the AC unit to swing out of the way like a small door.

Dubraque · Post by **Dubraque** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:13 pm

Saw that, looks good. Have a 500 BTU Heier (sp) I can use, looking into using StarBoard or a similar high density polyethelene board to use instead of wood. UV protection not an issue given its somewhat limited projected use. When I ran across the site of the portable AC, thought I could get around the companionway hassle, and the venting hose can be attached to a vent or shunted through the forward hatch. The cost, when I finally found a dealer listing it, is just too outlandish. So back to the companionway AC.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:07 pm

Mike Dunn (maddmike) pictured an interesting twist on solving the AC dilemma. His AC is mounted over the (26X) aft berth with exhaust routed into a fuel locker. You could choose to mount the AC over starboard berth, just aft of the head, since that space is not too useful anyhow.

LOUIS B HOLUB · Post by **LOUIS B HOLUB** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:24 pm

DLT...I bought my 5250 BTU unit from Sears...and It looks like the one sold at Lowes. I installed mine as you did, through the hatchway with modified plyboard. I have a 'plastic' condensation hose for the unit in order to keep the cockpit dry. It works great for the Mac. The unit is light enough to pack up when going out sailing. We only use ours when overnighting, or longer times spent in the marina.

DUBRAQUE--The above may be a solution..It works well for us. It allows removal of the A/C easily which is a plus.

norbert · Post by **norbert** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:04 am

we do not have any a/c problems here on the baltic sea

! just have a look at my marina webcam (by european daytime)...

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:24 am

Norbert - where are the boats???

Same for us in upstate NY - AC really isnt needed - glad I dont have to lug around another thing I can only use with shore power or generator.

Ive always been in the easier to get warm than cool off school - especially for sleeping....but I was impressed when Chip spent an overnight on the Hudson, when I know it dropped down below freezing that night, in November...

norbert · Post by **norbert** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:38 am

i had snow and ice on the boat for several times... but i have a nice little ceramic heater which only draws 400 watts in the low position - enough to keep the cabin above freeze level and dry... but only with shore power!

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa · Post by **Dimitri-2000X-Tampa** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 8:20 am

Dave, about how much do you think that your unit weighs? Also, where do you store it when you are out sailing?

I have an 8000 BTU window unit that sits in my closet for emergencies but I'm curious how much lighter a 5000 BTU unit would be.

DLT · Post by **DLT** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:19 am

I don't know about the weight... But, a good way to estimate is to go heft one in a box at the store... All the packing material will go away, but you'll be adding a hatch board. They won't be exact, but it'll likely be close enough...

I don't store it on board. I leave it at the dock. The lake I sailed at last season, I didn't have any concerns just leaving it sitting on the dock... Where I'm going, I will have to figure out some way to secure it. Or, if I get the swinging door thing worked out, I may just leave it in place...

Keep in mind that weight is not the only issue. Size is important too... I bet that 8000 BTU unit is going to be real close to the size of the hatch itself... That will mean that your hatch board will be narrow in spots, and therefore not as sturdy...

But, of course, I have a M with a smaller hatch...

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa · Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:31 am

Yea, I keep "thinking" about putting in A/C. Kinda like I keep thinking I might get a full enclosure or a larger engine.

With a full enclosure, I had thought of putting one under the captain's seat where it could vent outside the enclosure and keep the enclosure and cabin cool. What I don't like the thought of is lugging that thing around (probably scratching everything along the way) between sailing and sleeping. Seems like a permanent place to mount it would be more convenient...although I'm sure I wouldn't think that while sweating away on a hot humid Florida night. For now, all our overnighting is typically done in Spring and Fall seasons when you don't need it much. That of course is an advantage of living here, I get to pick and choose my weather much easier than the land locked Macs can...

The installation that MM has is interesting cause its done cheaply, versus a boat that was on here a while ago (from Tampa) which had like 7 batteries and a marine A/C system built in under the fore dinette seat (where my water tank is). The big drawback with that is price (and weight too of course), those things cost a fortune. I don't know if I saw much detail with MM's on how the vent hose seals its way around the rear of the unit to be able to pull off the hot air into the fuel locker.

Hinges on the companionway mount also look interesting, but I wonder if there would really be enough room to swing it much without hitting the cockpit seat? Also, as you mentioned the frame would have to be much stronger...not even mentioning the required hinge strength.

Guess for now I'll stick with planning my long overdue stereo mod.

DLT · Post by **DLT** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:54 am

You've hit on the biggest issue with hinges. I'm using Stainless regular house door hinges from Homedepot and some really thick plywood. So, hopefully, strenght won't be a problem...

Also, with the M, the whole companionway hatch is above the seats. So, I should be able to open it pretty well, until it hits the combing... It looks like, while it may not open all the way, it'll still open enough so that you don't have to climb over it...

I also like MM's permanent mounting. On the M, it might even be better mounted right behind the ladder down into the cabin... But, I'm wary of cutting big holes in the fiberglass... Not to mention replacing floatation with weight...

My way is certainly a huge compromise. But, I don't have to cut anything except some plywood... I like reversible mods...

Dubraque · Post by **Dubraque** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:46 pm

DLT: Agree with you on reversible mods. By the way, the Heier 500 btu AC weighs just under 50 lbs, which is why I was excited by the 36 lb portable AC. With plywood or polyethelene board, its weight the Heier will approximate that of one of the Cruisaire (I think that's the make) through-the-hatch boat ACs, which I think would be more cumbersome to handle and store.

DLT · Post by **DLT** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:29 am

No doubt my solution (I can't really call it mine, since I can't be the 1st to do it) is not the lightest nor the slickest. But, I bet it is the cheapest at ~ $100...

Not to mention relatively easy and fully reversible...

I too looked at those portible units. They were way more than I cared to spend and/or took up too much interior space... One slick thing though, was that if you have an existing vent, you could pipe their hot air exhaust to that and have a real clean/reversible mod...

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:29 pm

I used a $50 Sears window unit to cool the boat this summer. I made a "hat bill" for the unit and sat it in the bow close to the foreward hatch. I opened the foreward hatch and scooted the unit close enough so that the hatch rested on the hat bill. then I covered the works with a piece of tarp. The cool air is funneled down into the cabin and keeps the interior cool while doing projects in the driveway.
When I tried it out overniting, I got some moisture accumulation dripping inside. I'll try to fine tune it this spring.

We have the full enclosure and I saw another boat with full enclosure that had a window unit mounted on the aft cockpit coaming and a cutout in the enclosure panel. I don't want to cut my panels but if I can get another one made with a cutout, that may be a solution.

My concern with setting it under the helm seat is that it would push fuel fumes, since it would be blowing right past the tanks.

Must respectfully disagree with Cat about NY not needing AC. It was sweltering hot on the Erie Canal this summer. Unusually hot acording to the locals. Wished we had AC the whole time.

Greg

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Air Conditioner Blues

Air Conditioner Blues