July Bareboat trip--AC? Yes or No?

[bevyates]

We'll be headed out for our first bareboat trip to BVI's in late July with 3 year old. I've received mixed opinions about whether AC generator is a must? We're from South Carolina where there's NO air and humidity is high! Can't imagine being on a boat with temps as high as they get here. Any advice? Currently looking at 45 ft monohull that has fans in staterooms--late July trip. First bareboat trip--a bit nervous.

[bobola]

One option is to buy a 3 speed box fan there, and bring an inverter to power it.

I lived on my sailboat in Ft. Lauderdale and used a box fan for sleeping at night. Not only did it keep me cool but it kept the mosquitos away.

[camaraderie]

If you plan to anchor out or take moorinngs...fans will be all you need and most boats have them. If you plan to take nights at the dock in harbors then you can lose the breeze and need the A/C or a bigger fan as suggested. We were there once in August and never felt the need.

[Sunspot Baby]

The adults should do well enough with just fans. My concern would be the comfort and happiness of the 3 year old. If he/she is used to AC at home, he/she will probably be very uncomfortable without it on the boat. An unhappy/cranky 3 year old aboard seems IMHO certain to make a miserable cruise.

For the few extra bucks, get the AC. If you are comfortable without it, turn it off. Measured against the total cost of travel, charter, and provisioning, the AC is a small percentage.

Sunspot Baby

[Ed Steele]

We agree with “Sunspot Baby”. Our experience has been that if you are at anchor or at a mooring, you have to charge the batteries anyway. You delay charging until suppertime. Then fire up the generator and A/C for a couple of hours. The cook gets to prepare supper in air-conditioned comfort (you are then more likely to eat real food rather than the sailor’s traditional diet of granola bars and Heineken). Since cruiser “mid-night” is 9:00 p.m. you can shut down the generator and put the kids to bed in the comfort of a “cooled down” boat. Chances are that it will now have cooled off “outside” and cabin fans will do the job for the rest of the night.

[never monday]

I did a week over fourth of July last year. I wish we'd have had air and a genset. Keeping the hatches open and getting woken up by the night time shower sucks. Keeping the hatches closed is realy stuffy.

[GordMay]

what Ed, Pat & sunspot all said.