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xeon_tsd · 30-04-2013, 18:49

Soo the boat I am looking at does not at this time have an Air Conditioner... OK I can add one. Priced that in... the question is... will I need the AC away from the dock??? There is also no genset.

Solar panels, so as far as Fridge/Freezer/Radio/etc we are good. I would rather not add a genset if I don't have to do so.

Most likely will put her in Kemah, though I am also considering Port Aransas / Corpus Christi

Thoughts comments etc etc

gasngo · 30-04-2013, 19:08

I would consider the A/C as a must. A gen set and lots of fuel would be the cats meow but if you are tied up in slip and have shore power then you can cool down and sleep comfortable. I just purchased a 27 Catalina with A/C it happens to be a 18,00BTU unit with heat. The guy I bought it from did not want a wimpy A/C. I have yet to get it in the water but I will say I would have never even considered the boat without it. Being a born Texan I love the sun and the heat BUT! when its down time I want to be comfortable. I split the purchase price with a buddy of mine [WOW A WOPPING 2500 BUCKS TOTAL] with the cradle. We are hoping to have the resto/fix up done by mid summer and put in at Corpus Christ. Ill have some pics soon of the cabin refinish.

xeon_tsd · 30-04-2013, 19:21

100% I will put in an AC unit... it is really the gen set to power it out of the marina that has my wallet scared... umm err yeahhhh thats it.

Sailmonkey · 30-04-2013, 19:30

There are really only a handful of times at anchor that I would consider ac mandatory. I am a little more heat tolerant than most though.

svBeBe · 30-04-2013, 19:32

Whether or not A/C is a necessity will depend on how you plan to use the boat. We are from SE Texas and sailed the tropics from Caribbean west-around for 5 years, now in the Med for the past 2 years. If you plan to spend a lot of time in marinas then you will require A/C. If you plan to spend most of your time at anchor then it isn't so important.

Our boat has 3 A/C units and a 6.5 kw Onan generator. We often use the A/C to cool down the aft sleeping cabin for a couple of hours as I prepare dinner when at anchor. We would never run the genset all night or all day to run the A/C. That would burn a lot of diesel, put too many hours on the generator and be unnecessary noise in otherwise peaceful anchorages. Even in the worst heat of Texas coastal waters it cools down enough at night in anchorages to sleep semi-comfortably as long as you have a fan blowing right over your head. But marina life absolutely requires A/C.

Judy

gasngo · 30-04-2013, 19:37

Well I cant deny the fact that the Gen Set will be a big ticket item. The A/C will be no cheap add on but less than a Gen. There is a used marine store in Kemah that gets a good rotation of items from A/C to Sails and all in between. My boat has one unit. Would a 40 ft use 2 A/C units? I saw some lower BTU units around a G new in a box last time I was there. That was quite a few months ago but as I said the rotate a lot of stuff. Heck its a cool place to visit for that matter. Boaters Resale if I remember look it up.

**skipmac** · 30-04-2013, 20:12

I can usually tolerate the heat. Spent a few years as a liveaboard in the Bahamas and Caribbean, summers included and at anchor very seldom was I uncomfortably hot.

BUT, there have been a few nights over the years when I was anchored at an island where the bugs attacked and I was driven below decks and forced to batten down the hatches, a very grim prospect on a hot, muggy night.

So, for those very occasional nights when I have to have the AC I will use a Honda EU2000 generator (about $900) which should be just enough to run the AC and have installed a Victron inverter 2 kW ($1700) that has the feature of automatically boosting the AC power when the compressor first kicks in.

So for about a third or less the cost of a built in generator you can have AC.

gasngo · 30-04-2013, 20:45

I was going to comment on the Gens. They are quiet. A rack mounted on the stern [I know a little redneck] but effective until the bank account recovers. I think they go to 3000 in the quiet units.

nimblemotors · 30-04-2013, 21:02

Just wondering if solar panels can generate cold during the day? Running a gen and inverter to power an 120vac A/C unit seems inefficient and expensive solution.

Sailmonkey · 30-04-2013, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

Just wondering if solar panels can generate cold during the day? Running a gen and inverter to power an 120vac A/C unit seems inefficient and expensive solution.

That's a lot of watts!!!

**bstreep** · 30-04-2013, 23:05

We have lots of friends with boats that don't have a generator. They seem to be OK with that. But, there are times they stay at home instead of anchoring out.

We do have a generator, and we do run it. Often. Sorry, but mamma's comfort is... important. And no, you can't hear it - the only noise it makes is a quiet cough of exhaust water.

A/C is an absolute.

Cavalier · 01-05-2013, 01:36

As others have said, it depends on your usage: if you're going to be in a marina most of the time and may not have a breeze blowing over your bows then AC is a must.

We currently have 2 AC units - one attached to each of our two AC panels. We're solar powered but have the opportunity to run the main saloon's AC (which also covers the owner's cabin) from our Magnasine inverter while the engine is running - this is while we're away from a dock's AC. If we're at anchor in the usual end of the SE trades then we can get away with a open forward hatches and companion way (while moving slowly as not to produce too much body heat).

Mostly, the AC option is desired between April and December - except this year which has been uncharacteristically cold!

**skipmac** · 01-05-2013, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

Just wondering if solar panels can generate cold during the day? Running a gen and inverter to power an 120vac A/C unit seems inefficient and expensive solution.

Like sailmonkey said, that's a lot of watts. A small air conditioner will draw 10-15 amps which is 1250-1875 Watts. That is a lot of solar panels, at least 6-8 large panels and that would be if they are running at max output. Also not very useful if you want to run the air con at night.

**boatman61** · 01-05-2013, 06:35

Never had one.. or use one.. even in Panama last year..
I hate walking into shops that have them as my body explodes with sweat the instant I step in... then I get chills..