Air Conditioning...

[Broken-Sailor]

Originally Posted by Neeltje

In your neck of the woods, I'd think "relative humidity" would be as much of an issue as "temperature" per sey. Marine (water cooled) air conditioner are designed to run 24/7, which is what you need to keep the R/H down to bearable levels day and night.

Turning an air/air unit on every now and then (or until it self-destructs) only cools the "wet" air long enough to condense it. When you finally shut it down, you don't bake, you broil.

Also, Marine units seem to be much quieter than the portable ones I've seen. Mine's behind the paneling in the salon, right next to the dining room table, but you'd never know it.

I've got a single dual-zone unit with individual controls for the salon/galley and each of the 2 staterooms, and even with 7-8.5' ceilings, it keeps the corresponding 500 sq.ft. of uninsulated steel living quarters as cool as a cucumber, even in 90 degree weather.

How big of a boat do you have to have 7-8.5' ceiling, if I might ask?

[Neeltje]

Broken Sailor,
Neeltje's an old 64' Dutch "Tjalk" (sailing barge). Those ceiling heights are typical for that type of flat-bottom boat.

Jacques

[Broken-Sailor]

Originally Posted by Neeltje

Broken Sailor,
Neeltje's an old 64' Dutch "Tjalk" (sailing barge). Those ceiling heights are typical for that type of flat-bottom boat.

Jacques

Thanks, Maybe I should be looking at those type boats

[RKsailsolo]

A 64' Dutch "Tjalk in SW FL? How cool is that?

So for an active boater, the engineering of a marine unit may be worth it. ( vs a less sailed vessel)

[Neeltje]

Originally Posted by RKsailsolo

A 64' Dutch "Tjalk in SW FL? How cool is that?

So for an active boater, the engineering of a marine unit may be worth it. ( vs a less sailed vessel)

I think a marine unit is especially useful when the boat's tied up and has access to shore power. You can keep the ports and hatches closed and avoid insect infestations. After being on the hard for a year (hence, no a/c) with the windows opened, I ended up with a flying termite infestation that required a $1200 tenting.