Stayin cool on a 23!

[BruceW]

I use fans and one of those gel pads that are used for pets. This stuff takes the heat right out of you.

However, for long hot muggy nights, I would like AC. I think a cheapo small unit mounted in the lower hatch board would be pretty easy to work with. I think I could climb over it Certainly a lot less expensive than those other marine AC units.

[Mas]

Thanks Tom for the suggestion! The hatch is the most logical for enjoying the air especially when asleep. I agree the Cruise n Carrys are overpriced. Maybe if i find one in the $200 range. Still would have to set something up as Heave suggests to use the hatch in rain. I like the Breeze Booster that Shawn mentioned and maybe it can be modified to both funnel wind and block rain. Even in the $200 range i could buy 2 small 5000btu window AC's!

It is not in the cards expense wise anytime soon as other projects such as the dodger mentioned earlier, a portable refrigeration unit, a little solar, new chain and rode, and a few other misc. items are far more pressing than Ac unless a cheap solution. It is interesting to ponder the construction of the Kruisin Kool device using one of the new generation self contained reverse cycle units that take up so little space.

http://www.dometic.com/USA/MS-11346-Marine/PG-11359-Cruisair-Branded-Air-Conditioning/PG-11365-Self-Contained-Air-Conditioning/MD-143282-Stowaway-Turbo-Series-Boat-Air-Conditioning/SK-143963-Stowaway-Turbo-6000-BTUh-115V60Hz1-Ph

Just would not wish to even try to permanently install such on a 23. I would be willing to have it removable and use it like the Kruisin Kool. We already have an extra above waterline thru hull and slightly oversized a thru hull we needed to replace just cuz it didn't cost much to do so. The advantage would be the heating capacity as well and its ability to move to a larger craft, though not much larger. If we ever move up in size it will be to have the ability to stay on the boat for extended times as measured in weeks to months instead of days to weeks. Probably something in the 27 ft. range. That is however way down the road if ever!

So the advice so far is, use a regular window unit for cost, have fans to move air regardless (got those), rig up a hatch covering (good for many reasons), install ac on hatch. Keep the ac small enough to move easily and either store at end of quarter berth or on shore. Then the other option is New England which sounds good!

[HeaveToo]

I would think long and hard about the refrigeration unit.  Consider the price of the unit and the necessary 12V power to run it.  Now put that towards a bag of ice every other day.  Which one is more affordable?  I had a friend of mine do that and figured out that it was VERY expensive for him to keep cold beer with the refrigerator. 

Get a good cooler and get ice when needed.  You will need to go in and get diesel and water anyway and it is available almost everywhere on our cruising grounds.  Trust me, you will do a fair bit of motoring in the Chesapeake Bay if you are trying to get places and with the motoring comes the need for fuel.  Ice is just a few extra bucks and you are already at the dock.

[Mas]

Hey Heave, I hear ya! It is a lower priority but the portable Engle units use very little juice and can actually freeze stuff if wished. We would get it for use also in our land yacht that we take to many music festivals. If block ice were more readily available getting ice would be a good bet. It is not going to happen this year! Coleman makes an Extreme series that are very reasonably priced and perform as well as the Yetti types that cost many times more. We think we are good on bear intrusions! Will definitely start there.

[Mas]

oh as far as motoring more, we need to anyway as the diesel has been little used (356 hours on a 1990 yanmar 10gm). and it needs some more use. It lived in fresh water for it's first 8 years and only was in salt water nonstop for the past four years. Still serviced every year since it was new. It also had a fuel polishing system installed so the fuel was free of water and organic solids. We should have 4 days of non-stop motoring if a full tank to start. More motoring means more charging for battery banks as well.

[BobK]

I sail in South Carolina - mid 90's with similar humidity.  The Krusin Kool keeps my 27 in the 70's where I keep the thermostat and removes the humidity.
BobK

[Mas]

Thanks BobK for the feedback. would seriously consider one if could find one. If you hear of one let me know! One of the reasons i am researching this now is winter is a good time to get good pricing on AC! The only concerns would be it not running enough to dehumidify. As you know a 27 is not just 3 feet longer, it is much bigger below decks. Ya wanna sell yours?

[Mas]

OBTW, what are the physical dimensions of those units? Still also have the space issue on a 23. Do they sit below the waterline or above?

[Mas]

"However, for long hot muggy nights, I would like AC. I think a cheapo small unit mounted in the lower hatch board would be pretty easy to work with. I think I could climb over it Certainly a lot less expensive than those other marine AC units."

Hey BruceW, missed this earlier. By lower hatch boards i assume you mean the companionway drop boards? That is clearly the easier install just concerned about the easy access after that. Still is an option however and can be accomplished with the least amount of extras. Thanx again for the feedback.

[HeaveToo]

Don't forget the diesel additives to help keep your tank fresh.  I use to put a few different things into my tank to prevent biologics. 

I freeze my own blocks for the start of a trip.  You can pick up blocks pretty regularly around the Bay.  Solomons Island has them at Spring Cover Marina and a few other places.  You can also find block ice at Smith Point Marina.  There are a lot of us that are slaves to the iceman.

Another diesel trick.  When you change a fuel filter, like a Racor, fill the new filter with injector cleaner such as Diesel 911.  It gives it a kick in the butt to clean it out and keeps your from having to put a small amount of diesel in the filter.--Damn I miss my diesel.

NoMas, I think that we should develop a shark proof cooler for marine use.  We can patent it and make a fortune.  LOL   Then again, you have to watch out for Chessy and those darn Chesapeake Polar Bears so we may have to go with the high dollar Yetti. 

[BobK]

It's below the water line on my boat but will work either way.  I enjoy it too much to sell it.  I found mine on craigfind.com (searches all craigslists). I have seen them sell for $300 - $650.
BobK

[Mas]

"NoMas, I think that we should develop a shark proof cooler for marine use.  We can patent it and make a fortune.  LOL   Then again, you have to watch out for Chessy and those darn Chesapeake Polar Bears so we may have to go with the high dollar Yetti."

There actually was a Chesapeake polar bear gathering in Urbanna! Gotta think alcohol had to be involved.

Hey BobK. What key words did you use to search for it on craigfind?

[BobK]

Krusin Kool.  I looked earlier today and there wasn't one.  I had to look for about a month before I found one at the price I was willing to pay.  I think there is one at my sailing club for $400.  I could check if you are looking.
BobK

[Mas]

Many thanx BobK, would appreciate you looking into it. Also curious as to its dimensions. Need to find a place it could live aboard hopefully not on the cabin sole. Was hoping to get it not under foot. Hope ur weather has been good.It's been pretty cold up here!

[Bilgemaster]

Fans, Fans, and more fans.  12V fans at anchor, 110 fans at the dock.

Not all 12V fans are equal.  Get a Camframo http://www.wholesalemarine.com/sirocco-marine-fan-7-3-speed-white.html?gclid=CKa-sKmy48oCFYEsHwodsPsB_Q  They push more air for less electricity than any other fan.

Bit tardy to the party, but for the benefit of anyone else who, like me, happens to come stumbling along looking for tips on staying cool, I would heartily concur with HeaveToo: those Caframo Sirocco fans are really tip-top and super quiet (I mean, quiet).  I saw one in a big display of various fans at a well-known marine chandler not known for its bargains (As in, "Hey, are these prices in American Dollars? 30 bucks for a quart of regular paint thinner? Really!?"), but where one could compare various brands and types, and I was impressed enough with that Sirocco on display to take a photo of it for future reference.  Their 747 Ultimate model (with a suction cup) also looks good, and was rated by Practical Sailor magazine as a "Best Buy."  Owing to its non-permanent flexible mounting, this is the one on my wish list (though I've other bigger fish to fry first, and so am contenting myself in the meantime with a semi-craptastic plastic Chinese $10 12V eBay gimcrack on a suction cup.  It's hardly softer-than-a-nun's-whisper-quiet like a Caframo, but good enough for now). You can see more Caframo goodies for pretty decent prices at Defender by clicking here (and just for the record, I am not now, nor have I ever been, affiliated in any way with Caframo or Defender, except as a satisfied customer).

Another super cheap and handy way to keep at least a little air moving around the cabin, if you've got USB plugs here or there as I do (on the stereo, on a couple of cigarette lighter plug-in style inverters, and on one of those Harbor Freight 5-in-1 Power Centers I have on board as a backup battery/power source) are those little flexible USB fans that you can get for about a buck each with free shipping from China.  They draw maybe 1 Watt, if that.  They won't blow your hair back, but just plug 'em in and bend them in whatever direction, and they'll keep a nice little airflow moving around the cabin.

I still have one of those old 12 volt "swamp cooler" evaporative cooling units similar to this one, but with a sort of little integrated ice chest and water reservoir below.  I got it years ago for my '67 Amphicar and for my former "tow beast" a '77 Dodge van with no AC, which, without it was basically a rolling Comanche Sweat Lodge during torrid DC summers.  The cooler won't really cool down an "area" like a cabin or room, so much as blow a nice steady and lovely chill breeze at you that you can adjust nicely for a couple-few hours...until the ice melts...then it's just a "coolish" breeze--just how "coolish" depends on the humidity.  Still, it makes those real scorchers here quite tolerable.  Some day I might get a "real" AC unit into the boat, but for right now, this old evaporative "swamp cooler" gizmo and some nice little fans here and there will do the trick on the cheap.

Lastly, if you want to see a really slick dockside or generator-run real AC system mod, then check this thread out over on the Macgregor 26 "Powersailors" Forum.  Now, although the Macgregor 26X's cockpit layout lends itself particularly well to this sort of mod, I can imagine that something similar might be worked out for a Com-Pac--even a little 16 like mine.  My hunch is that one of those sleek little Noria units (still in development as of August 2016 for availability next Spring, but which may be preordered now for $299) might do the trick very nicely indeed.

Well, that's my latecomer's tale...Stay cool you crazy kids!