Cheap A/C

[xyzpilot]

Has any one rigged up a $100 Walmart window AC to a boat hatch?

If you did, did it work?
How long did it take for the salt air to kill the unit?

If it works you could junk a lot of $100 units for the cost of a marine system.

[Sailmonkey]

Our boat was cooled this way for many years. After installing a built in unit we gave away the window unit, and it's still going to this day. Our location doesn't see a lot of salt in the air, and we never went sailing with the unit mounted. There's a picture of the box I built under albums in my profile.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Ita]

Been using my second hand unit for 5 years. I remove it when sailing. The box is made out of a plastic storage bin, replaced several times due to sun damage.
Don't forget to add a fan to suck the cold down


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[jstevens]

I am running a $100 unit in the cockpit companionway. I built a small shelf that installs as a companionway slide to mount the unit. I have a forward companionway hatch that allows me to go in and out of the cabin without having to move the A/C. Others have mounted their A/C on hinges in the cockpit companionway so it can swing out of the way.

The 5,000 BTU unit just barely keeps my cabin temp in the upper 80s here in FL with consistent afternoon temperatures in the upper 90s. This unit is a backup for my built-in unit, which is not working at the moment.

John

[a64pilot]

Thousands, maybe Millions use a window unit.
Take a look at a "portable" air conditioner though, a little more, but if you have the room, all of it can be put inside of the boat, just stick the exhaust hose out a port.
I have a 10,000 BTU one I got at Lowes, cost $300 I think, I don't use it on the boat, but no reason not to.
Shop Hisense 10,000-BTU 300-sq ft 115-Volt Portable Air Conditioner at Lowes.com

[DavidLGCrawford]

We tried a portable unit with the hose that goes out a window (hatch). The problem is they pump so much air out that it causes a vacuum inside our boat. You have to open another hatch to allow (hot) outside air in or the unit stops pumping out.
So we got a $100 Walmart window ac and I built a wooden box for it. It sits over top of a hatch and directs the air down into the boat. Works great. A 5000 btu will cool one hull on our catamaran more than is neded. I find it a litle too cold, but the Admiral likes it.

[Cheechako]

It works very well indeed.

[Sailmonkey]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...icture6022.jpg

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I put a low cost Home Depot unit in the forward hatch on my boat. I have some heavy duty canvas (old Army pup-tent) folded around the hatch to help insulate from the heat that helps. It didn't cool down a whole lot at first, then decided to put some cardboard, then plastic to separate the intake/output vents. The cold air now gets down into the boat and a box fan helps circulate the air. I took time off from work last week to do some work on my boat and the highest inside got was 81 while outside was "95, feels like 118" but got down to 64 overnight.


https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxLxwlHzJ...0/IMAG1494.jpg


https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQZR9Q2xU...0/IMAG1634.jpg


Even though it warmed up during the day, most of the morning stayed in the low/mid 70s so I could do the work I needed. SO much better than going without.

[DavidLGCrawford]

Oh, I forgot to mention. As Rhapsody pointed out you need a board between the air intake and exhaust to stop the cooled air from going right back into the ac unit. I built it into my wooden box.

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Thorne]

+ 1 on having the spacer between the intake and the cold air output.
Makes all the difference.

I personally use a plastic bin top folded a bit to fit in the port hole up against the air conditioner.

Blows right down on my captains chart area.

Allows me to work from the boat in Florida.

Love it.

Cost 120.00 at walley world.

[zeehag]

there are many doing exactly that down her ein tropical areas. is HOT, if ye live on board and want to be not dead, air conditioner is way to go.i got lucky-i only pulled out a window panel and shoved a 5000 btu into that formosa window whil ein marinas. works perfect. others use a hood on coachhouse roof to hold the machine.