Air Conditioning

colbysmith

colbysmith

Active member
Ok, I know there are quite a few other threads on this subject...but all seem to be kind of outdated, in that the few that have photo references, don't seem to have the photos..... I'm thinking about air conditioning my CD-22. I'm probably just going to get some nice 12vt fans, but if I decide to go with something that actually cools, I'm wondering how folks use and store the cheap window air conditioners. If anyone has some current photo links on how they do it, what it looks like, I'd appreciate it. I did think about the RV style roof units, but don't really want to do the work involved with reinforcing the roof and the installation...also I have a roof top mounted Radar Antenna, and don't want to affect it's "view". Thanks. Colby
 
My boat is a little older then yours, so I do not know if your center window supports are located like mine... I purchased a cheap small window unit from Craigslist for $30, duct taped a grocery store cold bag around the sides and top, that fit into the window opening. Around the inside of the window frame I applied Velcro tape and applied the other side of the Velcro to the grocery bag to hold it in place. The A/C unit fits outside between the window supports without removing them.
I store the unit on the v-berth starboard side against the helm bulkhead (the unit is on a mat to keep the metal from the bunk or the bulkhead and use the same mat under the unit when the A/C is installed for use). I use a simple ratchet strap to hold it to the bulkhead.
I don't have great photos handy, but if you go to the James River 2013 album, you can see photos.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php

My boat did not have an AC circuit panel or plug outlet, so I purchased and installed one just like the OEM installation. I can take photos of this if you need them.

We truly enjoyed the A/C on those hot days and plan to take it along in the future, if we will moor during hot weather periods.
 
Thanks Steve. I do have the shore power on my boat, and I also have a Honda Eui2000 generator that I can use if necessary. Do you have any other pictures of your installation and how you store the A/c when not in use? Just wondering what holds the unit up in the window. I'm sure there are a few others too, I've just never seen one...will Bixbys Cub, but his was permanently mounted in the rear window. ;-) Also wondering about the units that use to mount in the hatches? I wasn't able to find any of those googling yesterday, and wonder if they still make them or if they just didn't work that well. I also believe they were a lot more expensive that the small window units. Colby
 
Thanks Ray. Now we're talking! ;-) I'll have to review this a little closer later, and may come back with some more questions. Colby
 
I have no pictures, but we stored ours between the fuel tanks (just put it in a large garbage bag. We used shore power and the eu2000i a few times. We don't have it anymore, but cheap enough to repurchase if we need it again.
 
Ray's install is more elegant that ours - we use a pool noodle for the air conditioner to sit on in the window opening, and enclose it around the a/c with Sunbrella. Here's a photo...

LiftBridgeE.jpg

The backside of the a/c is resting on a closed foam kneeling pad (on the edge of the front hatch). When not in the window, we put the a/c in a plastic bin and leave it in the cockpit. If we aren't cruising in hot weather, it stays in the truck or at home.

When it's really hot, we keep the a/c in the boat... my preference is to avoid the weather extremes. Our first year doing the whale watch biz, we carried the a/c in the truck... in case it was hot in Friday Harbor. Yeah, no need to take it out of the truck, and it didn't go with us last summer. 8)

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Colby,

We use a small 5000 BTU window unit. I detach the brackets from inside the window, leaving them attached to the bottom of the window. The brackets act to hold the window up in the fully open position. I slip the AC into the window opening and it rests on 2 pieces of 4x4 that I cut to fit to level the AC. Add a piece of 2" AC foam across the top and a couple of pieces of 2" blue tape on the sides and it is pretty well sealed. Power is from a Honda 1000EU. Honda is on the port lazarette during operation with exhaust to the rear. Bungees hold it in place. I run a 15' cord from the Honda thru a hole a drilled in the rear bulkhead and along the interior up to the AC unit. Pictures of the whole project are the the Comfy Dory album. We can literally get the temp into the 60's if we want. Very comfortable to sleep in the Summer. We store the unit in a plastic container under the V Berth while not in use.
 
Thanks, I'll have to check out your photo album for a better visual reference. Thanks to all for the replies. Right now, I don't know if I'll follow through with air conditioning or not. Probably just going to get the Roadpro 10" 12vt fan first. But if I find myself doing more "camping" on the boat in not so comfortable climates, I will be ready to set up A/C! ;-) Colby
 
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