Air conditioning options for CD 22 or Venture 23

If you get a roof top, be sure to get the Coleman Polar cub, It is the low profile, lower power unit, (still plenty of cooling for a C-Dory). I think they are 9200 BTU verses 13,000 BTU on the standard models. You generator will have an easier time with the lower power unit.

About $600 at PPL RV supply here in Houston and they ship anywhere.
 
Sat we got back from the beach in the 110 degree heat advisory (WAY north of Naples), and the FIRST thing we do after tying dock lines is hooking up shore power and turning on the Coleman 13.5 BTU AC with 1 click. Takes under 1-2 minutes. Then 30-45 min for cleanup and washdown, 15 min twin engine flush, window covers (with Bob's bubblewrap on the most sun exposed front windows) and reconfig for dock working together on the 16 item Departure/Return Marinas Flight Crew Checklist.
I cannot imagine lugging out and stashing some Cruise-Air or window unit compared with a $700 Coleman permanently installed in a simple 14 inch roof cutout with simple direct AC wiring and ready to turn on immediately. It 'looks' better than any alternative other than below-decks water-cooled AC with all its complex plumbing and 2 extra through-hulls which is flat ridiculous in a CD and close to it my prior Regal pocket cruiser (which would have required removing the entire engine if one needed to remove just the generator). When the seawater pump (which was always losing it's prime) sucked some sand it was over $500 to replace just that. A trisistor was $300. The seawater intake Perko strainer served mainly as a jellyfish and seagrass trap. Clean your rooftop Coleman filter monthly and you will NEVER find jellyfish or seaweed in it.
You can't power the 13.5 unit with a Honda 2000iu. We have two of them, and we could parallel them and do it, but that is WAY more trouble than it's worth since underway with an opening front window and good fans you won't be too hot with cabin temps under 92 degrees and some iced Gatorade.
If anyone is unhappy with their rooftop RV AC, sing up.
Happy shopping!
John
 
I suppose it depends on where you are and how much you use your AC. In my case the times we don't use it outweigh those that we do by a large margin, so the window AC is fine for our application.

My AC actually gets used more when the boat is on the trailer in front of my house than when it is on the water.

Perhaps if I move somewhere warmer or when global warming makes things too hot where I live now, I'll reconsider the AC options.
 
Mike,
I purchased and used a small window mount AC unit in the front center window in my 22 for several years. It did a good job for us, but did pose several issues.
The bow of a 22 is real small, so juggling a window AC at a piling only dock means that you and the AC are on the bow, usually when you are moored in a tight spot that has no wind and the temps seem to be near 100.
On one of these occasions, I almost lost the AC overboard and did drop the GFI AC plug into the salt water. That was the last trip with a window unit. I purchased a low profile roof unit. cut a hole and installed it. The roof unit also has a heating coil. My wife and I could not be happier...no more juggling a window unit on a small bow.
The down side is that the unit is very noisy "outside", so you do not want to tie up next to your friends. The noise inside is absolutely minimal and the unit will provide more cooling and more heat then the 22 needs.
 
I researched many ac options and ultimately went with the low-profile coleman cub. I could not be happier! I plug in my honda 2000 with long run tank and sleep very cool all night. I understand the first post was looking for other options because of the looks of RV ACs and I agree but the pros by far out weigh the cons for me. By the way I installed the AC myself in a few hours. By the way AC is a must in South Alabama if you are planning to sleep..
 
srbaum":16gum839 said:
...The bow of a 22 is real small, so juggling a window AC at a piling only dock means that you and the AC are on the bow, usually when you are moored in a tight spot that has no wind and the temps seem to be near 100.
On one of these occasions, I almost lost the AC overboard and did drop the GFI AC plug into the salt water. That was the last trip with a window unit. ....
Click to expand...

My window AC unit goes in and out of the center window from inside the cabin (when standing in the center aisle). The cord is always inside the boat. It would be very difficult for it to fall out of the window. Any falling will cause the AC to stop when it got cocked in the window opening (there is about 1/4" clearance on the sides and about 1/2" on the top). It would also just land on the v-berth roof at the back end of the berth hatch. When installed about 1/3 of the AC unit is inside and the rest outside.

The unit I have makes more noise inside the cabin than outside (or so it seems). This is a white noise and is very handy for drowning out exterior noises (like the bar at the end of the dock) when we want to sleep. Unless you are right next to the front of the boat, you probably can't hear the AC from the outside.

The open center window also does a pretty good job of keeping the rain off the AC unit (although they are made to get rained on).
 
We have the $100 WM special A/C for the window of our CC23 I just use it when we go on one of our cruises a few times a year . I should have put in the RV A/C years ago .Now that I put on a new motor 115 merc CT I plan to keep the boat . ( I was always thinking of getting a tomcat or a 25 c-dory ) So after 8 yrs I'm committed to the CC23 .I think the CC23 has a strong enough roof that we could mount the polar cub right up there .

Right now we have landscaping projects and a new RV coming so the boat has taken a back seat to our $$$. Hopefully this winter for a good project put in the RV A/C time will tell Jim
 
I too bought a 5000 btu AC from Walmart that works nicely in the center front window on my CD22. There's a photo of it in place here:

http://smittypaddler.com/cds/ceb/Florid ... G_5007.JPG

When not in use I store it under the port side aft seat, above the water tank. I had to raise the seat about an inch so it just fits. The problem, as others have mentioned, is lifting it into place in the front window. I'm 74 now, so the effort to lift it from its storage place to the front window is getting harder, overcoming my resistance to cutting a hole in my roof.

I've Googled "Coleman RV rooftop AC" but all I find are links to big 15,000 btu units, when all I want is a small 5,000 btu unit. Is there anywhere a thread that discusses small rooftop AC units for the CD22, with model names, where they might be bought, and descriptions of installation and any problems?
 
Na Waga,
I truly understand where you are coming from. I too have arthritis in my joints, so lifting and rotating my hands and arms sometimes can become very uncomfortable. It hurts enough, that I even removed the mechanical steering and install the SeaStar hydraulic system, so that 6 hours at the helm could be more enjoyable.
Cutting holes in any of my boats is something that I do not want to do, ever! I love 3M Velcro and will mount a block of wood to a surface with 5200, in order to hard mount anything to the boat.
My point here is that after cruising for a long day in a hot humid environment, then mooring in a windless spot, the last thing that I wanted to do was try and move my previous window AC unit into position.
In June 2014, after a trip the previous month, where I struggled in the heat, I purchased and installed a roof top unit. I purchased a Coleman RV Cub Mach 8 unit from www.adventurerv.net this was the lowest power draw unit that was on the market at that time and I was able to get it when it was on sale. I also added the heating kit to the unit, as it is already wired for that.
My wife and I have truly enjoyed the AC and the heat and are very happy with the decision that we made.
Best regards,
Steve Baum
 
We love our AC Coleman 9200 BTU We had a great weekend in Ft Myers but it was A90 degree weekend during daylight hours it cooled it down so it was comfortable At night it was way to cold a Meat locker in main cabin comfortably in v berth
 
I picked up a 5000 BTU unit from walmart (GE) and to my surprise, it doesn't fit in the front window. It's just a tad too tall. I'm looking online at all the other 5000 BTU units I can find, even the Arctic King, and they all say they need a window height of 14". I didn't have my tape measure with me to measure the window but I measure the AC unit back here at the house and it's about 12.5" tall. If that doesn't fit how are you guys fitting the unit's in your window?

You actually slide it all the way in the window right? You don't just set it on the V-berth "doorway" with it's back end sitting at the window?

She's a 2004...window's didn't change size over the years did they?
 
Yes, not all 5000BTU AC units are the same size. The first one I bought for my boat didn't fit through the window. You also have to allow that the window opening is rounded in the corners and not square. If your AC unit is close to the full width of the opening, this will limit that usable height because of the corners.

Need to measure the window opening and then carefully check the AC unit you intend to buy or else buy it from someplace with a good return policy. I just took mine back and said it didn't fit in the window I that I intended to use. They took it back without question.

How far it slides back though the window depends on the arrangement of the AC unit vents and controls. On one AC unit I had the air came out an angled area on the top front of the unit. The one I have now has a flat front where the air comes out. The current one sits farther into the window (i.e. more outside) than the previous unit.
 
Window in 22 is smaller than 25. I can measure the size or our Fridgaire. I have used the "Arctic King" in the 22. The larger unit will work on the floor, but then you have to have some curtain coming to the top.

We have wooden skids on our AC in the 25, which should have the same window as your 25. I cannot get measurement right now (puppy sitting with Gigi.) But will measure later in the day. The "Seaweed" album has photos of the installation and it may have dimensions...
 
I had Mobile East Marine put a rooftop Mach Polar Cub on my 22’ Swee Pea. I have a have a hatch a/c for sale for $200 for anyone interested, pick up in Bath, NC or Fredericksburg, VA. I just wanted something more permanent.

John
 
To each his own. I could not bring myself to cutting a hole in my roof, but I did cut one in the rear bulkhead. Check out another option for mounting your AC. Slide out to use, in to store, or leave it home in the cool seasons. No lifting required. Pics section "EZ DUZIT".
 
Found an air king in stock at Walmart and it fits. They have 2 models but the one I found is just a little if 12” tall.

Sitting here in a transient slip in Annapolis Harbor for the 4th, I have to tell you, AC is a game changer.
 
Yep. That’s why I had Mobile East a Marine cut it😉. I don’t like the looks of a house a/c sticking out the bulkhead or front window. And yes, to each his own. Oh shucks, now I can’t put a tent on the top.😂

John
 
Yes, it is true, if you don't need it you can leave it home. The advantage of a roof top is that it will run on a Honda 2000 generator and can be used anywhere you go. If so ordered, it can use it to heat your boat with a heat strip. Cost is higher, granted, and you lose space on top of the roof to haul stuff.

It all boils down to the type of boating needs an owner has. We dock at our property in NC and when we do a short weekend trip from VA, it is a pain to haul our trailer, so we sleep on the boat. We need AC. I just refuse to use a window AC on the boat for one, because I hate the look. But that's me. I used to use the Crusair but I got tired of taking it off every time we went cruising out on the boat. I am sure that the window unit has to be removed as well. Having the AC on the roof solved that problem. So I saved my pennies and dimes and had it professionally installed by Mobile East Marine who did a fantastic job. It has a clean look in and out.

I had always vowed never to put a roof top AC on my boat. But the more I needed one and the more I looked at them, the easier the decision.

I am sure you will agree that sometimes we try to improvise to solve a problem, especially in the boating world, because of costs. Seems like if it something for a boat, it doubles in price.

When all is said and done, each owner must must do what they think is right and is best for their situation. I know I do not regret the roof top AC.

I may not like the look of a window AC on our boats, but I do not judge others. I just would not put one on my boat, even to save some money. I just "bit the bullet". I'm glad I did.

John
 
The roof top AC has the advantage that you can run it when underway. (But that brings up the issue of where the generator is "safe"--and you are "safe".).

For us the space on the roof (dinghy) and inside the cabin (we have a rack under the overhead which holds life jackets, and the full camper back for the 25. Because of our bad backs, we have rigged a hoisting 4:1 block and tackle to pull the AC from the floor to the shaft, and easily slide it forward into the window--takes about 2 minutes. We have a dedicated AC outlet right by the window, and a very short cord. We put a rain fly over the foredeck which protects the AC and gives more shade. There is a skirt with insulation, which snaps around the periphery of the window.

Another advantage is that the window AC units can be run with a Honda EU1000, or the Honda EU 2000--2200, in eco mode. We have run it under way, but that has some issues, and we did it only at displacement speeds. Another option is to put the window unit in the doorway, and use fans to direct the flow up. It is amazingly effective. We store the window AC in a reinforced Terry cloth bag, which slides easily under the V berth on the 25. Just another solution. We have run it full time for months when on the trailer in our yards.

The 9200 RV AC can be run on eco mode by the Honda 2200, if you put in the "Easy Start" Module. (Cost of 2 or 3 window units for this alone)....

What works best for you--is the solution--there are always trade offs. We have used both the RV and window/door.
 
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