Air conditioning options for CD 22 or Venture 23

Z50":1rzj0t3y said:
Zero Breeze Mach 2.
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I'm curious about this one. Online reviews say its much louder than a traditional AC unit. What is it that you like about it. I do like the idea of a portable unit.

Talk me out of cutting a hole in my roof, because i'm leaning towards the rooftop unit.

BTW, it looks like we're neighbors. Come by and talk boats sometime.
 
Zero breeze is only 650W of cooling, this works out to about 2200 BTU. Depending on where you boat, this may not be sufficient. I boat in the Mid Atlantic area and there are times were 5000BTU barely cuts it. Because a C-Dory is poorly insulated (unless the owner has done something), I don't think 2200BTU is going to help much unless that air is blowing right on you. The website pictures seem to show this device used as more of a personal fan than a device to air condition a space.

I also notice that the web page says "Blowing air temperature can be 30F lower than ambient within 10 minutes". Reading this as meaning the air coming out of the unit, it seems like a long time for the thing to produce cold air.

The other thing with the zero breeze is dealing with the intake and exhaust hoses.

For $1500 you can buy a lot of window style AC units.
 
A photo of Swee Pea appears in my photo Album, 7th page. I can not for some reason upload a photo to this message and can't figure out why.

John
Swee Pea
 
It is possible that the "Zero Breeze Mach 2" would keep the V berth area cool, if you put insulation around all sides, top and had it petitioned off from the rest of the boat. No way would it cool the Cabin of a C Dory 22 to a comfortable level. It appears more to be the type which blows in your face, or you stuff under your insulated jacket to keep the torso cool...
 
Resurrecting this thread, as we plan on spending some time in Phoenix in August, the hottest month of the year there. While our current plans are for a hotel, we are also looking at the cheaper option of a campground for the week we are there, staying in C-Traveler. The only way we'll do that is if we have air conditioning. I've been perusing some of the threads discussing AC, and stopped at this one. Would really like to see some more photos of how folks have managed their setups with a small window unit in the front window of a 25. And brand and model numbers of units that fit. Colby
 
this is on my CD22, and has worked out well for me
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=29858
Pics are in my album.
This is a more permanent solution, without cutting a hole in your roof. Once you have it created, you can convert it back in probably an hour or two.
While Bixby’s Cub did his with aluminum (I think) I did mine with plywood.
Check out my pics in my album, it may give you some ideas.
Colby, I know you have a 25, so your mileage may differ.
 
That does look like a really nice setup. On the 25, that window is in the head. But there is always the other side. :) Although that would get in the way of an opened cabin door. However, I don't think I want to make any kind of permanent or semi permanent installation. While we've been in a few situations where a/c would have been nice, those situations just don't happen that frequently, and normally running one or two of our small fans suffice. But they definitely won't cut it in the Phoenix August heat. So I'm still looking at something much more temporary in the front center cabin window. Plan would be to carry the a/c in the truck bed until we got to the campground, then install and use it, until ready to leave. I don't plan on using up additional space to store it in the cabin, so have no desire to use it on the water. (Unless we were planning to stay in one location for some time.) Again, I do think you did a great installation, and can see where you could remove it and put in a replaceable window of sorts. I could almost see doing something like that if I still had my 22. Colby
 
colbysmith":1zb5nfx6 said:
Resurrecting this thread, as we plan on spending some time in Phoenix in August, the hottest month of the year there. While our current plans are for a hotel, we are also looking at the cheaper option of a campground for the week we are there, staying in C-Traveler. The only way we'll do that is if we have air conditioning. I've been perusing some of the threads discussing AC, and stopped at this one. Would really like to see some more photos of how folks have managed their setups with a small window unit in the front window of a 25. And brand and model numbers of units that fit. Colby
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I don't recall the brand or model of the window A/C we used in the front window of Wild Blue. It was around $100 back in "the olden days," so it would be at least twice that now, I'm sure. That said, it worked when we did the Erie Canal, NYC, and Trent-Severn in July, Aug, and Sept. We used it on occasion when on the road...

LiftBridgeE.jpg
A shot from the Erie Canal.

We have been to Arizona at least once every year for the last 22 years. (Our daughter and son-in-law live there, in Goodyear.) Speaking from experience, August in Goodyear is as close as you will find in this earthly world to the Gates of Hell. I can't imagine any window air conditioner able to keep you from frying to a crackly crunch inside that boat (with no insulation), even if you have the silver bubble foil in every window and wrap yourself in it.

Yes, we have had our boat in AZ (passing through) in the summer. There is a reason most RV parks in that area are relatively deserted during the summer: even an RV with insulation in the floor, walls, and ceiling can't keep up with just a single A/C (that would be significantly more powerful than a window unit). We put our boat in a storage lot and spent a couple nights at our daughter's home; before fleeing to anywhere cooler. (Which is... anywhere.)

We generally visit there in February into April, with our motorhome. (Late December andJanuary are too cold for this island boy, and it starts getting seriously hot by the end of April).

For some further perspective: it can be hot and humid at our home in the Tropical Tip of Texas during the summer. Just putting that out there so you know I can deal with the heat. It would take a serious situation to get me to go back to Arizona in August. (Our daughter continues to lobby for us to move there, because... apparently, I'm not getting any younger. Neither is she. And, she lives in the damn desert. But, I digress.)

It's hot there. Real hot. Measure the opening of your center window and find a window unit that is that size or smaller. We used a pool noodle (sliced) to put on the bottom of the window, then put the silver bubble wrap around the sides. Added the window covers along the sides for one more layer. Be sure to mount the A/C so it leans slightly down towards the front of the boat to the water that collects inside the A/C will drain outside the cabin. When you remove the A/C, be careful that the water inside it doesn't slosh into the cabin.

Oh, and stay cool.

Added note: if the A/C unit is 5,000 to 6,000 btu, it should run fine on a Honda 2000 generator (or the equivalent) if you are somewhere without a plug in.
 
With Phoenix heat, I would suggest that you go with a motel! I have been there, in the summer on the way to Powell. We had taken motels most of the way with the 25. We were OK at 3,000 feet up the mountain, but not in the Phoenix heat.

I and another experience with 105* in Pateloma, CA. With all windows covered with reflectix insulation, and the 5,000 BTU AC, we were OK--at night when the temp went down--OK.

Even in Las Cruces it was too hot for the 25 and we got a hotel there.

I think the only possible option is the window unit. The 25 can take a bigger AC than the 22. I don't know if you can get a 7500 or 10,000 BTU unit which would fit the window.

Look at the Thataway, CD 25; that had a nice installation, where we put handles on the AC, used a block and tackle to get it in place, and there were wooden runners on the bottom so nothing get scratched by the metal of the AC. There probably are some photos in the "Sea Weed" album also.
 
Thanks James and Bob. I have my own doubts how cool a small ac would work in an uninsulated boat. I grew up in Phoenix and have made a few summer visits. All either staying in a hotel or at my sisters. The last few years our visits have been boatless in November, a great time to be there. We’re returning from the planned Catalina adventure, so it’s August and I’ll have the boat. We do have a favorite hotel in Goodyear, we stay at occasionally that has no restrictions on parking the boat, as long as there is room in the lot, so probably what we’ll end up doing. But still might be worth trying an ac just to see if it would be bearable at night, if we leave it running all day with curtains closed. James , just curious, where do you store your boat when you’ve had it with you there in Goodyear? Colby
 
might be worth trying an ac just to see if it would be bearable at night, if we leave it running all day with curtains closed.
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There is some advantage leaving it AC during the day, but I doubt it will make a difference after cooling the boat for an hour after sundown.
 
colbysmith":ejf4ajre said:
... James , just curious, where do you store your boat when you’ve had it with you there in Goodyear? Colby
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We have used Westview Storage, that is connected with Cotton Lane Golf and RV Resort, and River Crossing Self-Storage on Van Buren. They are both set-up for long-term storage, so you have to sweet-talk 'em to get just a few days (or pay for a month). Another issue is having to empty everything from the boat that would be affected by the heat (everything in the fridge, other food, medicines, etc) for just those few days.

Traveling coast to coast and spending months at a time on the boat, there were times that window A/C made life onboard more comfortable. I will admit that we joked about being The Beverly Hillbillies as we set up the A/C. Unlike Dr Bob, we didn't have anything to winch the A/C in and out - I did the lifting and Joan helped guide it into place. We kept the A/C in a Rubbermaid bin in the cockpit while towing. A 2x4 on the space just aft of the hatch over the V-berth was a good way to keep the A/C supported when in the window. We never traveled with the A/C in place (land or water).

We did try one of those stand-up units with an exhaust hose out the small window on the port side - it did a miserable job. The window unit was much better, and with a small fan, you can direct some of that cooling air into the V-berth area.

An RV A/C mounted through the cabin-top is a more elegant solution, IF one were going to do most of their boating in hot climates. We generally traveled with a dinghy (or kayaks) and occasionally bicycles that went on the cabin-top while underway, and that would mean having to work around a cabin-top A/C. For the few times we needed A/C in years of traveling, the window unit was the easiest, least expensive alternative, with no permanent changes to the boat.
 
An RV A/C mounted through the cabin-top is a more elegant solution, IF one were going to do most of their boating in hot climates. We generally traveled with a dinghy (or kayaks) and occasionally bicycles that went on the cabin-top while underway, and that would mean having to work around a cabin-top A/C. For the few times we needed A/C in years of traveling, the window unit was the easiest, least expensive alternative, with no permanent changes to the boat.
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That last sentence is exactly how I feel. And I also put stuff on the roof occasionally. So far, there has only been one other time that we really needed A/C, and that was at Lake Powell on the water, in late August! (We left there and went on to Yellowstone NP. Where on the morning we left, we woke up to 2" of snow and 30 degrees. Our Webasto works great!) I really have no desire to find storage space on the boat for the A/C when we're cruising. While Boaterhoming, I have space for storage in the pickup bed. 8) And this is probably the only time I foresee the need for A/C in that situation. Colby
 
Our CD22 came with a Dometic a/c unit installed. We’ve used it twice in two seasons. It works, it’s just the whole point of boating for us is to be outdoors. That said, it’s going to be very useful for overnight trips when we (eventually) sleep aboard.
 
Living in South Florida it has been a requirement to have a/c on the boat. We have the 13,500 BTU roof mounted a/c. Last year started using it 90% of the time all day, underway all the time in the summer. Like sitting in the truck on the but on the water. When the outside temps are 98 deg. with 100% humidity , inside temps are 75 deg. 45% humidity. Sliding the side window open and saying wow its humid and hot outside (while making 15kts). That's being a REAL Brat.

Powered by a 2200 Honda EU, burns 1 gallon of gas for 5.5 hours of coolness.
Totally worth it.
 
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