Window Air Conditioner questions

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
Hi C-Brat Friends,

I'm interested in one of the window a/c units that folks have been putting on their boats. Has anyone here posted photos of the 5,000 or 6,500 BTU units in use? Where are you putting them when trailering? Do they do a decent job of cooling a 25? Do you need some sort of support under the unit when in the window? How are you closing any gaps between the unit and the window frame?

I checked at Wal-Mart, and the 5,000 BTU Arctic King mentioned in other threads isn't available at our WM. They now have a Frigidaire 5200 unit. We've checked on-line for the units available at Home Depot and Lowe's. One better than the other?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,
I mulled the airconditioning thing over for a few years. I didn't really want a roof top. I liked the classic roof line. I saw boats at a gathering and someone had one stuffed in the front window. For me wasn't the look it wanted. I looked at Byrdman's album again real nice but not for me. The marine units that circulate raw water seemed like the way to go but the thru hull and jellyfish jams an the like some reported turned me off. Minnow from New Jersey I believe has one of those thru hull type systems. After much deliberation I had Wefings install a roof top unit. I had prices quoted from $1200 to $1600 installed. I saved the piece they cut out of the roof it's about a foot square. It works like a champ, it's quiet and set on low cool with the temp setting on the coolest it will have cuddling back up to momma pronto after short trips in the middle of the night. I carry a Honda 2000 generator along if no shore power is available. I have made prototype mount that attaches to the swim platform bolts and sits back in the splash well at about a forty five degree angle to the transom . No new holes required. Someday I'll get my album on this site. If you check with Bob Austin he has posted about using a window unit as does Pat and Linda of Ohio. I could not deal with more stuff in the cabin. You know all the chairs, bicycles, kayaks, bumpers, life jackets, the wife's wardrobe, wads of cash, etc.
D.D.
 
You've got a boat AND "wads of cash"?? :shock: I'll help you with the latter if they're in the way!! :thup

Don't need no more boats! Don't tell Sally though! :lol:

Charlie
 
Hi Dave,

Yeah, I'm good with the warmth. When we're on the water in the summer, it's usually in the northland, so finding cool is easy. This will be the first time heading out of Texas in July with Wild Blue, so we're thinking we'll need some way of staying cool while we stay in the boat on the road. It's either that or motel-ing it, and I'm not a big fan of that.

So, the in-the-water a/c units won't work while on land... I'm not looking to mount an RV type unit on the roof... so that kinda leaves me with the Sanford and Son, through the front window solution. :wink: We tried one of the free-standing units and were less than enthralled with the performance... plus it took up valuable real estate inside.

Thanks for the responses thus far (and the PM, Pat). We have a LOT of warm weather states to go through to get to the cool. 8)

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim I've got the Artic King and it cools fine in my 22. I store it in the v-berth in front of the helm. In my album in modifications section are pictures of it in the window and what I use to support it. I just stuff towels around it but some use black pipe insulation.
 
When I picked up "FanCdory" it had a new window mount sitting in the floor, along with several swim noodles used as window sealing, a piece of plywood to put on the front hatch, and a blanket to put under it to keep from scratching the hatch. After moving all of the "stuff" 2 times I put a roof mount on, 9000 BTU, and have been very happy, no muss, no fuss, no bother, and my Honda 2000 runs it fine. The identical unit on our Sprinter Van runs on 7-8 amps.
 
Jim we have used the fridgedere 5200 with our c-22 and now our cc23 it fits fine just stuff in some towels or some noodles . We keep our A/C mostly inside with a small outlet for the water to leak out off . It works fine I need to put up pictures .The nice thing is its a meat locker within a few min. For a $100 or so its easy A/C When are you coming down to fl again will you be at the applachicola gatrhering in oct?
 
Dave W - this is the first we've felt the need for a/c... cutting a hole in the roof for the a/c is more than I can stomach right now, not to mention it's where the dinghy goes. Glad to hear it's working for you, though.

Jim - not sure where we'll be come October. We do like Apalach... we'll see. Meat locker, huh? Well, that would be a change. :wink:

It must be karma... a check showed up today that would just cover one of these small a/c units - a dividend from an electrical co-op we belonged to years ago. Good use of electricity, I guess. :D

Jim
 
Go with the Sanford & Son look....you need to get down to earth and enjoy the thrills the rest of us poor people had come to love...not by choice.

The window A/C will store on the floor with a few towles while trailering...and is quick setup when you pull into a campground or rest area for the night. KISS

Joan will think so much more of you for not spending her money on thrills you won't need in the north. Leave it in the truck when you launch for the Erie cruise.

Have a great and safe trip.
 
I mounted a window 5000 BTU unit on a shelf in the transom. You need a camper back with a rear zippered panel of course. I was concerned it wouldn't cool the berth from there but no problem. It's quieter back there too. I used foam double stick tape to mount aluminum channels on the AC unit and then made a channel reinforced styrofoam panel to slip on and surround it. Pictures in my album (page 4), works great the few times we actually need it.
 
Charle,
We don't have a home in Maine. But we are going up there later this month on car based recon mission. About the wads of cash, it's a "Pittsburgh bankroll" all one dollar bills.
Jim,
You might want to take the air conditioner along on the Erie Cruise. Besides you wont lose it when they steal your truck! :P August even up here get get pretty sticky. Not usually dry heat. It can be pretty muggy.
D.D.
 
Jim - no guts !?!? My saw is in my pickup over at the Seneca Park, if we're both there together I'll make the first cut for you .... :D

We lived in Norway many years ago and bought a new Volvo. With 100%% tax on auto it was a pretty pricey car - first thing I did was order one of the after market sun roofs to put in (sun in Norway ??). The neighbors about passed out when they spotted me cutting the hole in the roof of the brand new car - but they sure liked it when finished.
 
Well, in spite of Dave's offer to cut, we just got back from Lowe's and the Frigidaire is in the front window. I'll be doing some "fitting" with foam to make it more air-tight, but it's on and cooling as we speak... er, write and read. Joan asked a question, that I don't have an answer for: when you take this thing out of the window, is there water in it that will leak or run out as you move it from the window to the berth?

'Cause I just know if I drip water all over the v-berth, I'll be sleeping out in the cockpit without air conditioning or other benefits. :wink:

Thanks again for the suggestions, advice, and offer to cut. :mrgreen:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim,
Better get her a rain coat, a diamond necklace, and a sleeping bag for yourself. You can purchase these in any order you choose, but I would start with the necklace and then explain the water part. You will be fine. Just hold your hand on your chest and start wiggling around and say Elizabeth I think this is the big one I'm coming to join ya!
D.D.
 
Jim, there will be some condensation left on the coils if you take it out when it's cold. Most of the condensate will drip out the little drain on the back. Make sure it's tilted towards the back of the unit and it will run off on the deck. If it's mostly level, water will pool under it and splash when you tilt it. Let it warm up before you move it if you can.

Get a big plastic trash bag you can put it in before you put it on the bunk, that'll take care of most, if not all of it.

Charlie
 
hello Jim,

This sounds like a delicate situation. Perhaps a solution is for one of those heavy duty Rubbermaid-like basins or tubs that would contain ANY run-off from the AC unit and help you avoid sleeping in the cockpit. I'm thinking of a basin sized just big enough for the AC unit; that would let you 'drag' it around without scuffing up the deck, v-berth, etc. Our Home Despot carries numerous sizes/weights of these basins/tubs.

Just my $0.02. YMMV

/david
 
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