small air conditioning units

[lilianroyle]

we are thinking of returning to the med for a bit, but after our last experience in 2003 (abandoning the boat in Sardinia as the temp hit 40+ for a week or so) we were thinking that some cooling system (even if only for the occaisional marina stop might be a good idea) we have a small (31 foot) boat, so suggestions welcomed.

 

[aran01]

Try this!
http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/%7Egmilburn/ac/pete_ac.html

 

[DavidJ]

Sounds like you don't want to spend too much. We had a similar experience in Barcelona a couple of years back and bought a domestic unit for 200 quid which was great (make sure it isn't too big to get through the door- ours just made it) We were so impressed that I fitted a proper marine unit (8000 BTU's enough for the saloon and one cabin) but it cost 2000 quid all in. There is one I've seen that fits outside over the hatch which others may help to identify.
best of luck

 

[Salty John]

When we lived aboard in Florida and Texas we found there were three options for airconditioning:
1. On board marine unit. Sheer luxury! We have a 15000 btu unit on our present boat but at that time this option was way too expensive.
2. Cruisair carry-on portable unit that fits in a hatch. We chose this method, buying a second hand 7000 btu unit for $500. It was brilliant, but not easy to stow. Google Cruisair Carry-on and you should get dimensions and weight. They are about $850 new, but I've not seen one in UK.
3. Buy a domestic window unit. Most such air conditioners I've seen are fitted in the main companionway hatch; the unit is bolted to a piece of plywood which slides into the weatherboard slots. This is just like window installation with the body of the aircon hanging over the cockpit into which the condensate drains. Makes access to the boat tricky, usually requiring that you lift the aircon out and then refit it once inside.
Good luck.

 

[David_Jersey]

Although not aircon, I have seen stuff like these down in Thailand - they really make a difference when you keep the doors closed cos it seems to recool the air every time it goes through the fan. The ones I saw were a bit smaller than this one, but dunno how small they can get though.

Read somewhere that an ice block / bucket of ice in front of a normal fan makes all the difference, but from my own experiance plenty of normal "Fan Power" does make a big difference.

Also when I was googling I found these:-

Small aircon units


Dunno if this would be impractical............but size wise seems ok

WindChaser

 

[David_Jersey]

This looks interesting..........unfortunately not being a techie I have no idea what it all means, but USD250 seems quite "Cool" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Benefits
Costs almost nothing to operate & cools 400 feet
Totally portable and inexpensive to operate
Editors Pick***

Specifications:
Cools up to 400 sq. ft.
Holds 5.5 gallons of water
Dimensions (on stand): 41.5"H x 25"W x 18.5"D
Weight: 46 lb.
Power: 120 V/60 Hz, 210 W
Permanent split capacitor fan motor
2,800 CFM - More CFM than any other evaporative cooler in its range




Arctic Breeze 1500 - Cools 400 SQ FT - Evaporative Cooler & Humidifier

Actually this seems to be quite an interesting website, maybe worth an explore.............

 

[Swagman]

Many people make an assumption that the low cost 'evaporative water' type units work more efficiently by getting them to recycle the same air in an enclosed space - I see someone has made that suggestion above.

This is actually incorrect.

They work best by allowing them to take fresh warm air from outside, cooling it and circulating it into the space you need to be cooled, and then allowing that same air to flow back out of the space via an open port or opening. A continual air flow all the time in and out.

It is only with a true aircon unit, where the heat exchanger dumps the heat outside and keeps the cooled air inside, that will work most efficiently in a recycling mode.

Cheers
JOHN

 

[mikewilkes]

Waeco make one for motor homes fits a 400 x 400 hatch and sticks up about 200mm. Start up current less than 3 amps. Waeco Cool Air 1000

 

[shamrock]

obviously, air con is now standard on many cars, and fitted into a small space (though it only has to cool a small space too, but it might be enough)

so ebay is the place to start - eg item 280008513104, a complete renault heater and aircon unit for less than 50 quid. I don't know what else is needed to make it work, possibly a radiator for the aircon, but there has to be a way of getting this to work on a boat.

nick