Moodyjim
New member
do they work on a boat? We are in Aguadulce for the rest of the year and could do with some form of air conditioning. Got two scoops on the way and some big fans. Advice appreciated
thanks.
thanks.
Portable air conditioners
- Thread starter Moodyjim
- Start date
KellysEye
Active member
Yes, we have one. Any domestic AC unit is fine, you probably need an 8,000BTU unit, perhaps more if you want to cool more of the boat.
Put it on deck in front of a hatch. Using plastic bags and old box cardboard (put in card in plastic to weatherproof it) build a cover that encloses the front of the air conditioner and the hatch.
Before Duct taping it up you need to separate the cold from warm air. Get a piece of card and line it up horizontally between the cold air output and warm air intake. About 6 inches from the unit bend the card 90 degrees to go down the hatch. The card should cotinue about eight inches below the level of the hatch (i.e. into the cabin). Tape the sides and the front together, then the card that hangs into the hatch, then the top. Look up from the inside and tape anywhere you can see light. Takes about half an hour. If you use thick garden bags you can remove the tape without tearing the plastic and use the cover again.
Water will come out the back of the unit. We cut a plastic water bottle to fit under the unit and shove the neck in water hose that hangs over the side.
Put it on deck in front of a hatch. Using plastic bags and old box cardboard (put in card in plastic to weatherproof it) build a cover that encloses the front of the air conditioner and the hatch.
Before Duct taping it up you need to separate the cold from warm air. Get a piece of card and line it up horizontally between the cold air output and warm air intake. About 6 inches from the unit bend the card 90 degrees to go down the hatch. The card should cotinue about eight inches below the level of the hatch (i.e. into the cabin). Tape the sides and the front together, then the card that hangs into the hatch, then the top. Look up from the inside and tape anywhere you can see light. Takes about half an hour. If you use thick garden bags you can remove the tape without tearing the plastic and use the cover again.
Water will come out the back of the unit. We cut a plastic water bottle to fit under the unit and shove the neck in water hose that hangs over the side.
gosh
New member
I always thought that there was a problem with the startup power requirement which would be too much for the usual marina power supply. Don't want to blow a fuse when everyone else is preparing a meal!
Do you have any figures for start up current and normal running current and how do these relate to normal marina supply. All the AC units I have looked at seem to be too highly rated for marina use. We are planning a couple of years in and around the Canal Du Midi and want to keep reasonably comfortable.
Do you have any figures for start up current and normal running current and how do these relate to normal marina supply. All the AC units I have looked at seem to be too highly rated for marina use. We are planning a couple of years in and around the Canal Du Midi and want to keep reasonably comfortable.
Moodyjim
New member
Thanks, will take a look at it and see how it would work on the Moody. Don't know about the power draw but fridge/microwave etc. seem to work OK. Turn them off for start up i suppose. How are the ABCs?
Salty John
Active member
We had one of these in the US, worked a treat: http://www.cruisair.com/carry.html
Also quite common in US marinas is a conventional window unit mounted on a plywood board that slots into the companionway, where the washboards go. The downside is you have climb over it to get below.
Also quite common in US marinas is a conventional window unit mounted on a plywood board that slots into the companionway, where the washboards go. The downside is you have climb over it to get below.
KellysEye
Active member
The startup power requirement isn't in the manual but ours has a 15amp fuse at 110 volts, so it can't be over that. In the Caribbean that's not a problem, don't know about the Med though.
KellysEye
Active member
>How are the ABCs?
We wanted a change of culture from the Eastern Caribbean and Venezuela, they are really nice islands with good supermarkets (Marmite!!), wouldn't recommend Aruba though. The snorkelling and diving are some of the best in the world, particularly Bonaire. The only downside is the wind - normally 20 to 25 knots, sometimes over thirty and just the odd day under 20. After months of howling rigging it gets a bit tiresome.
We wanted a change of culture from the Eastern Caribbean and Venezuela, they are really nice islands with good supermarkets (Marmite!!), wouldn't recommend Aruba though. The snorkelling and diving are some of the best in the world, particularly Bonaire. The only downside is the wind - normally 20 to 25 knots, sometimes over thirty and just the odd day under 20. After months of howling rigging it gets a bit tiresome.
DavidJ
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
I always thought that there was a problem with the startup power requirement
[/ QUOTE ]
We bought a domestic unit when sweltering in Port Vell Barcelona and it worked well. We had no startup power problems. Check the size of your cabin door before purchasing, ours only just got through. Of course you will become hooked on AC (as we are) and I now have a proper boat installation (for about 10x the cost of a domestic unit!!)
I always thought that there was a problem with the startup power requirement
[/ QUOTE ]
We bought a domestic unit when sweltering in Port Vell Barcelona and it worked well. We had no startup power problems. Check the size of your cabin door before purchasing, ours only just got through. Of course you will become hooked on AC (as we are) and I now have a proper boat installation (for about 10x the cost of a domestic unit!!)
KellysEye
Active member
Just had another thought. We put ours on a small hatch that you can't get through, so it's safe to leave the boat without dismantling the AC.
thechevychase
New member
Jim,also in Agua, altho in UK at present. I have a unit that was purchased at B & Q . Identical unit is in Leroy Merlin at Gran Plaza , price I think was €295 (a bit more expensive than UK ) No problem with Agua marina power. I have made a plate that allows the warm air to exit through a side window.
Trevethan
New member
We ran one of the cheaper oones you can get at Robert Dyas foir a couple of seasons in Limnehouse (very dodgy power) and St Kats. Worked a charm -
Ours was in the pilothouse with the plastic hot wet air outlet tube fixed over a dorade. Squirted all the hot air out and kept boat lovely and cool. Power consumption drove up the electric bill at Limehouse 00 St Kats is on a flat rate -- boat was always wonderfully chilled there!
Be warned they can be noisy
cheers
Nick
Ours was in the pilothouse with the plastic hot wet air outlet tube fixed over a dorade. Squirted all the hot air out and kept boat lovely and cool. Power consumption drove up the electric bill at Limehouse 00 St Kats is on a flat rate -- boat was always wonderfully chilled there!
Be warned they can be noisy
cheers
Nick