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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Air Conditioning

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Lonnie
Deckhand

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USA
8 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/13/2012 : 15:38:59

The summer heat in north Texas is brutal. I have seen that many may have A/C. Can you give me some ideas to consider.

Thanks

2002 C250 #604
Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2012 : 15:51:31

Lonnie, hopefully there will be an article in the next mainsheet magazine ( Jan / Feb 2013)

When it is out I will post the pics here. :-):-):-)

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2012 : 18:34:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Lonnie
 The summer heat in north Texas is brutal. I have seen that many may have A/C. Can you give me some ideas to consider.

Thanks
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I use one very similar to one of these except mine is a Frigidaire and I think 6500 Btu's -->> [url="http://www.homedepot.com/Energy-Star/Appliances-Heating-Cooling-Air-Quality-Air-Conditioners/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbv43Z1z141o3/R-203656160/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UMqBYG9QXNg"]Air Conditioner[/url].

It will cool my boat down from 95 to 68 in about 15 minutes during the summer.

I set the back end on a bucket and the front on the lip of the companionway. I put the top board in the companionway and then drape a plastic tarp over it. Keeps the rain and heat out and the cool air in.

Edited by - GaryB on 12/13/2012 18:37:57

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2012 : 19:06:28

That's a simpler solution than mine, Gary.
I built a stand to sit on the top step of the companionway, with the back 1" higher than the front. The A/C sat on this with the back of it sticking out into the cockpit. I cut 2 pieces of 3" foam to fit around the sides, put in the top hatchboard and then draped my companionway cover over it.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2012 : 19:16:46

Just a teaser

AC System Covers
Once the system was installed on it`s shelf I made ply covers for the two exposed sides. The aft cover is secured to a strip mounted vertically on the inboard side of the locker bulkhead and the inboard cover is mounted to the new bulkhead. Both are secured to the mounting shelf and a fillet on the front edge of the aft cover connects the two covers on the inboard aft corner. The tops are not attached to anything but have reinforcing strips on the inside. A few screws and the entire front cover comes off for maintenance. The Flexible duct connects to the air output on the AC unit and the air discharge vent on the new bulkhead.
</center>

Paul

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bubbagulf
Deckhand

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21 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 11:16:28

The previous owner of our 250wb installed a small window unit. The method employed was similar to a window unit in a house. He cut 1/2" plywood using the companion door as a template and cut the insert for the window unit. This method is only good for a/c while in the slip with shore power.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2013 : 19:18:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bubbagulf
 The previous owner of our 250wb installed a small window unit. The method employed was similar to a window unit in a house. He cut 1/2" plywood using the companion door as a template and cut the insert for the window unit. This method is only good for a/c while in the slip with shore power.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I've been wanting to do this since I got my boat but I keep putting it off because what I do now works.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2013 : 12:39:14

The window unit in the companionway hatch is a common solution. I like the portable units that vent thru a hatch. But the teaser looks cool. Literally. Spill it!

Sten

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bsmalley47
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2013 : 08:56:50

We purchased a window unit to fit in the companionway at the end of the summer. Tried it once and it worked well. Now looking forward to cooler Virginia summer nights at the slip!

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2013 : 10:32:43

<center>[url="https://www.catalina-capri-25s.net/cgi-local/MBR_gallery.cgi?Album+1000+76"]

Air Conditioning Installation[/url]
This was the first major mod to JD. After our first Summer (2005) long weekends onboard in Biscayne Bay, the decision to install AC was an easy one. I hope that this album provides enough info for anyone to be able to feel it is within their ability to do a similar install.

The plan was to install the system aft of the head and inboard of the head locker. Install the pump in the bilge aft of the water ballast tank. Install 110v power management in the head on the aft bulkhead and install the cooling outflow on the port side aft of the head locker bulkhead.

</center>

Edited by - britinusa on 01/13/2013 10:33:25

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2013 : 21:11:40

Obviously Paul's method is the right way to do it if you are in a very hot area and staying overnight on your boat in the slip a lot. But for those of us in more temperate climates, or maybe planning to sleep over more infrequently (a few nights a year), converting a window unit might be less expensive.

However, I've never liked blocking the companionway hatch with a window unit. It just seems unsafe. And the units for the forward hatch are big, bulky, and expensive.

Just today I had a brainstorm for a possible alternative, and I wanted to run it by you guys to see if you think it is feasible. What about setting a window unit on top of the C250 pop-top blowing toward the stern (with the hatch down in its horizontal position and the slider hatch fully open), installing the U-shaped tube support above the companionway, and then draping the vinyl/canvas pop top enclosure over the U-bracket and over the air conditioner (leaving the hot air exhaust uncovered)? Perhaps you could even screw some snap heads into the window unit to make the vinyl enclosure more secure. The cold air would blow inside the canvas enclosure toward the stern, but could be redirected into the cabin with a clip-on fan.

Have a look at the below picture, and try to imagine the window unit box fitting under the forward part of the pop top enclosure:

<center>

</center>

What do you guys think?

Edited by - TakeFive on 01/20/2013 21:13:47

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2013 : 22:02:57

I've seen a couple of people in my marina that built a box made from the fiberglass and aluminum foil a/c duct-board material that attached at the front side of a window unit and went over the forward hatch. The window unit was set flat on the deck blowing into the forward hatch.

Not sure how well that worked but they lived on board all summer here in the Houston heat so I have to assume it worked OK.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 05:45:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 I've seen a couple of people in my marina that built a box made from the fiberglass and aluminum foil a/c duct-board material that attached at the front side of a window unit and went over the forward hatch. The window unit was set flat on the deck blowing into the forward hatch....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'm not sure that's viable on the C250, because the forward hatch is so much further forward that there's very little deck there on the anchor locker.

That's why I suggested putting it on the pop top hatch - there's a lot more space there, and it's easy to access.

I'm interested to hear if anyone has tried either of these methods.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 07:05:30

Paul, I clicked on your link for the AC installation, and got a paragraph of text with no photos. Am I doing something wrong, or is my hardware misbehaving?

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 08:24:30

I have a Carry-On Airconditioner for the forward hatch. I got it with the boat. I know they're expensive when buying new, but used ones are relatively cheap these days. Do some searching on ebay and craigslist.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 08:36:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 I have a Carry-On Airconditioner for the forward hatch. I got it with the boat. I know they're expensive when buying new, but used ones are relatively cheap these days. Do some searching on ebay and craigslist.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
As I mentioned, the C250's hatch is further forward, severely limiting space for these carry-on air conditioners. It might work, but I know some of the units are too wide to fit.

Since this is the C250 sub-forum, I'd be interested in hearing people's experience fitting an air conditioner on a C250. Has anyone tried putting a window unit on the pop-top, like I suggested?

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 13:12:52

I use a window unit on Penny II resting forward of the front hatch and blowing into a chute I made with plywood and duct board. I use it on the hook powered by my generator. Just below the chute I run a 12" fan, from Walmart, to circulate air to the rear of the boat. My window unit has a remote so I can control it from inside. This set up will reduce the temperature in the aft birth enough to require a lite blanket in the summer. I should have thought it through a little more and got the heat pump for year round use.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 17:49:27

Steve,
let the page load, it has a lot of pics.

Paul

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