Air Conditioning for the TomCat

[helm]

Mike, why don't you go run the boat for while and see if you even need the darn thing. On the East coast facilities are close and you probably won't be anchored out for days on end. If you are on your way to Alaska might be a different story.

On the the loop most people with small boats like the CD 25 and Tom Cat with generators use them if at all only rarely, and those who have a generator regret the decision to carry it.

Eric

[Mike...]

[Alok]

Mike:
You are working through the problem having decided that you want a 13,500 BTU roof top unit. That is your controlling factor, but it necessitates a larger, heavier generator, which is turning out to be impractical.

After looking at the generator options (just as you are doing), many of us decided that the Honda 2000 offers the best compromise between portability (weight) and output. We then made the generator the controlling factor and let the "cooling" decisions flow from that. And we came to different (and satisfactory) answers, depending on our specific situations and needs- Dr. Bob has a rooftop unit, Dr. John has a portable unit inside the cabin, and Dr. Al (that would be me) has a $100 window unit in the front hatch. This is beginning to sound like a medical convention!

A smaller A/C unit combined with fans to keep the air moving in the cabin seems to be a better compromise than a larger A/C unit with all its attendant complications. I use a 120 v Lasko high-performance carpet-drying fan; others use multiple smaller 12-volt DC fans. BTW, to attain any kind of comfortable cabin temperature on a 90+ degree summer day, you are going to have shade most of the windows.

I agree with Eric. Use the boat, then decide what you need, and then decide on the compromise. There WILL be a compromise

[Best Day]

Doesn't Yamaha make a 2400 generator that is only slightly heavier then the Honda 2000?

Bill

[Alok]

The Honda 2000 is 47 lbs.
The Yamaha 2400 is 70 lbs.
That 23 lbs makes all the difference in the world! And then you add the weight of the gas...

The Yamaha is also 5 inches wider (16.5 vs 11.4 for the Honda)

[Mike...]

[Alok]

Mike:

I totally understand the fun of exploring the possibilities.

Just for kicks, if you have not already seen this thread from 2006, check it out. It will make you smile. We even had a simultaneous "generator" thread going, just like now.

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=3983&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=air+conditioning&start=0

Good luck in your explorations!

[Mike...]

[Doryman]

[drjohn71a]

Mike,

You know, in the beginning, I liked the numbers of the Yamaha units, but the size, weight and shape did not fit into any scenairos I could build myself.

Portable A/C units are specially designed to have low amperage draw starting compressors. This reduces the size of the genset you need.

I am now using an 11,000 BtU A/C unit that will start with a Honda i2000 generator running in Economy mode. That is around a 9 amp starting draw.
I don't think you'll find many rooftop units operating at that low a starting draw. yes, they do make special rooftop units like that, but they are heavier, need special mods to your boat, special wiring, etc.

As far as getting on and off the boat from the transom, I have had no problem with that be it while camping on the hard in transit or anchored in the water. The genset box is not as high as the transom and you have to get your legs over the transom, so there is no greater effort involved than if there were no genset box. In fact, it is easier in rough seas since you just sit down on the genset box and rotate your feet over into the cockpit with no need for delicate balancing.

I like the genset so I can run cooking appliances, TVs, charge computers, etc., not just for A/C. It relieves me of having a huge Inverter setup with heavy extra batteries to maintain, yet I always have backup power. The Honda i2000 has a built in charger system with an outlet and battery charger cord set.

In any case, the genset box only needs 4 bolts to remove or install - no holes, no fiberglassing, no external wiring. You just plug your 30 amp shore cord into the genset socket. The generator simply sits in the box with no screws/bolts, so all you have to do is lift it in or out of the box. The box has a lock so theft of the generator is minimal risk and you can put other gear in there if the generator is not in there.

The Honda i2000 sucks cold air in the front and blows hot air out the back along with the exhaust, so putting that hot air exhaust out the big flap is safe and leaves a cool, well vented casing for the generator. I am at 3 years of use now and have had no untoward experiences with this setup.

The A/C unit I use now is not the one pictured in Tom a Hawk's album, but it is held in place with ONE rubber shock cord, can easily be moved on it's built in wheels, and can be moved and mounted in 3 or 4 different places inside the TomCat cabin.

So you have more options with fewer needed modifications and NO irreversible changes in your boat.

John

[Doryman]

[drjohn71a]

Warren,

I have the Permatrims on the Hondas so can get up on the swim platform without any ladder, so I do not usually have the ladder in place. If we are doing a lot of going on and off the boat, I put the ladder upside down in the brackets with a safety lanyard and a shock cord to hold it in place. You can see this in the first few photos of my Seattle trip album in Tom-a-Hawk's album. Due to my livewell tank, the fuel filters are on the outside of the stern so I have never been able to snap it in place there on the transom.

When down in the water, it has a tendency to float up and out of the bracket, so I wedge a rubber strip on a lanyard into the bracket to hold it down.

The ladder is usually stored up at the front of the forward bunk when not anticipating it's use. I can shock cord it to the aft rail if we are stopping and starting water activities on a frequent basis.

It is nice when one falls in the water, to have the Permatrims to sit or stand or kneel upon to aid in re boarding. If too tired, one can just reach the tilt switch and it will elevate you up and onto the swim platform.

John

[Mike...]

[Captains Cat]

[Mike...]