Replacing AC

[SailingShadow]

I have hull #1 it is in great condition but the AC is out.
It has a 6000BTU self contained mounted under the starboard seate .
The owner said it was too small. I am in South Texas lots of hot sun.
I am thinking of either a split system replacement or a carry on.
Has anyone had success with AC on the Com-Pac 27's

Thanks

[redfishnc]

I have experience with a Cruisair and a $99 window unit.  The Cruisair was big and heavy and I thought did a poor job of distributing the cool air by blowing straight down in the hatch.  Man-handling that beast to the hatch was a bear.  Sold it and went back to a cheap window unit markdown from $139 to $99 at Home Depot, cut a piece of 5/8" plywood and fit to a/c.  It is better at distributing the air as it blows straight through the boat.  It is worse at entering and exiting the boat.  I have actually had two cruisair a/c units.  The other was in a Catalina 30 which it also would not cool.  Went to a window unit and it worked great.  Both my Cruisair's were 5k BTU.  Some are 7000.  My window units were 5k BTU.  I did look for the smallest footprint I could find and I do not have a great place to store so if you come up with any ideas I'm open to them.

Wayne
Sea Witch 27

[relamb]

I was considering adding built-in A/C for Florida, but needed to get something going fast and cheap, so I took an old 5000 btu window unit and set it in the companionway.  Made some temporary hatch boards to fill in the rest of the opening by just cutting some 3/4" foam board.  Didn't like climbing over it, but it worked great.
Leaving it run with the boat shut up, it would freeze you out.  If I end up in FL again during the hot months, I plan to make a frame like a swinging door so I can pivot the unit over sideways onto the cockpit seat.   Another issue was removing it when I went sailing, but fortunately it was a small light unit, and I could set it on the dock, and it even fit in the dock box.  I would bolt a barn door handle on the top or one on each end, next time.
I think I bought this unit on an end of season closeout years ago, for like $65 from Lowes.  So at the time I bought two.

[redfishnc]

Rick,

I have a great pic of a slip in hatch door with a/c mounted as one unit.  Will try to post.  I don't think I have room under my dodger to lift it clear.

Wayne

[BruceW]

A friend offered his window unit to me for my CP 23. I haven't picked it up yet, measured it or the opening lately, so who knows if it will be suitable.

I would enjoy seeing how people have mounted these things; I guess I would put it on a slab of plywood, with something under it to keep it level-ish in the companionway, if it fits. Then I have some of that interlocking rubber flooring I can use to fit around it. Maybe, if lucky, I can do that and put the top hatch board in over it.

I guess I will practice my high-stepping routine, haha.

This would only be good for me to use while the boat is in the yard at the club. I can plug it in, and be able to sleep. Then, I would need to remove it. Since I singlehand, the idea of the swinging door to move it over to the seat would maybe work for storage? No, probably would take it out to sail.  I will have lots to check on once I get the AC unit down to the boat.

[SailingShadow]

I just finished replacing the Mermaid Ac with a MARINAIRE 6000 BTU unit.
I had to take all the wires off the control box to mount it in the head, the AC is starboard under the seete.
It works Great, really wanted a 9000 but it was too big.
Two afternoon naps in AC cooled cabin priceless.

David