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Inexpensive air conditoning for the dock

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/29/2009 : 11:43:06

I'm looking at spending some time on the boat this weekend here in Texas and it's finally getting too hot down below to sleep over. Some guys on the dock are suggesting just getting a portable window unit I can plug in at the dock and putting it in the front hatch etc. I don't need the AC when I'm actually sailing. All I have is a single battery and a solar panel so I don't have enough juice to run it when I'm on the lake. The boat doesn't have shore power but I do have an adapter and extension chord. Does anyone have any experience with using one of these or be able to recommend a unit?

Peter Powers
1979 TR/FK #1390
~Stephanos~
Bayview Marina,
Lake Ray Hubbard
Dallas, TX

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 12:03:20

Derek has one and has posted pics before. You might try searching for it. I believe those are around $300 or so? Then you create a surround and platform for it.
I got lucky and got a Cruisair Carry-on with the purchase of my 89. Those are around $600 I believe. Check Ebay for those. There's a few there and may be better for you if you don't want to block your entry.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 06/29/2009 12:06:12

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 12:23:48

You can get one for less that $150 in a lot of places. I'd start at Walmart.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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1225 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 13:05:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 You can get one for less that $150 in a lot of places. I'd start at Walmart.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah I picked up a Frigidaire 6500 BTU for $149. It's dimensions are:

Depth (Inches): 15.5
Height (Inches):12.5
Width (Inches): 18.5
Weight (lbs.): 49.0

So I can either try to aim it in the front hatch but I notice that the box says to not put it on it's side so maybe it's best if it stays level. So I can get a board to go across the seats of the cockpit to place the unit on and just have it aim in at the foot of the companion way and just step over it when I need to go outside. I wonder what the length is of the foot of my entrance way? Anyways, it was the smallest I can find.

Edited by - PCP777 on 06/29/2009 13:05:55

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 14:24:22

Peter, WE bought a 5M btu unit from Home Depot for $69.95 (even has a remote!). I built a stand for it that sits on the top companionway step level with the "step" and is slanted 1" front to back. I put the A/C on this, insert the top hatchboard and have cut 3 4" thick foam pieces to fit around the sides and top.
Works like a charm and drains into the cockpit.

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KwikSilvr
Deckhand

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11 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 17:27:14

Same thing I have, Only I have the 8000 btu unit from frigidare.. its the same physical deminsions as the 6500.. and trust me, you want the extra 1500 btus in the middle of the day....

i did the same thing Derek did...

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 18:38:01

I have one of the smallest units from Sams club. My dock neighbor gave me the idea os setting it to on side of the mast. With the poptop up and the tent cover it should fit great. He just left on side folded back and tucked it tight around the AC unit. He put small rubber feet on it and a garage door handle on top for carrying. I plan to try it in the next couple of weekends.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 19:46:51

I've got a 6500 Btu unit much like Derek's and set it up the same as he did. Mine has a remote too. It will cool the boat down to 70 or so in about 20 minutes when it's in the 90's outside.

I may have to try the pop top setup when I get a cover. Anyone have one for an '89 they would like to sell?

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2009 : 08:04:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Derek Crawford
 Peter, WE bought a 5M btu unit from Home Depot for $69.95 (even has a remote!). I built a stand for it that sits on the top companionway step level with the "step" and is slanted 1" front to back. I put the A/C on this, insert the top hatchboard and have cut 3 4" thick foam pieces to fit around the sides and top.
Works like a charm and drains into the cockpit.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Would you be able to send a picture of your set up?

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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3321 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2009 : 08:56:28

Peter - I'm racing Friday eve so I'll see what I can do.

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KwikSilvr
Deckhand

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11 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2009 : 09:45:41

Can somebody send me a link to the pop-up tent, I have been wanting one of these.....

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2009 : 18:34:40

I didn't go get the link, but just go to catalinadirect.com and search

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 06:35:18

Ok so we ran my unit yesterday. After debating we decided to set it up on the forward hatch. I didn't want to deal with the heat in the cockpit or the stepping over the unit as part of our mission was to tidy up things down below and remove stuff we're not using. Amazingly the unit fits through the forward hatch so we don't have the danger of carrying it to and from the cockpit. We simply set a long towel over the front of the unit and the hatch cover and it blew in fine although it looked admittedly "hillbilly" from the outside of the boat. We used a small fan to push the air back from the V-berth to the rest of the cabin. Things cooled down nicely.

Like a dummy I set it up angled into the boat and got a fair amount of condensation. This is easy to correct by angling the unit slightly to the back.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the results. The unit itself is very quiet and it actually got cold in the cabin. We do want to build a portable stand to put it on in front of the forward hatch as well as figure out something better than beach towels to keep the air from going out of the sides.

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 07:57:14

If you're any good at fabrication, then you could make a plenum that points the air into the hatch using sheetmetal and riveting it together with sealant. Then surround the openings with a rubber gasket.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/01/2009 07:58:09

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 07:59:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 If you're any good at fabrication, then you could make a plenum that points the air into the hatch using sheetmetal and a riveting it together with sealant. Then surround the openings with a rubber gasket.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm not but I know people that are. That would be a great idea, then I could leave the AC unit on the dock in a dock box and run an air hose to the hatch and the plenum. That I think is ultimately where I'll go with this.

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Kendall
Navigator

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USA
146 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2009 : 17:20:25

I would get one of those "portable" a/c units. It is basically a box with a hose. Put the unit in the quaterberth with the exhaust hose leading up to the clamshell vent. The simplest design IMHO. And you wouldn't have to step over it or leave it in the dock box. More expensive than a window unit though.

[url="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100664979&N=526378+90401"]
Portable A/C[/url]

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