John,
As long as you do this with the attitude that it's an experiment and a
gamble, you won't be disappointed. Sounds like you bought the same 5K
Fedders unit from Walmart that I bought (I made the water cooled heat
exchanger; read "damned heat" 7/25/04).
I use the ultra-quiet Honda genny (EU2000); it's light and quiet and has no
problem with up to a 13,500 btu AC unit.
If your rig doesn't work out for you, consider buying a water cooled
condenser and install that (or hire an hvac guy for a few hours to do it).
Jeff Morris posted this site, they have suitable and reasonably cheap heat
exchangers you could use:
http://www.rparts.com/Catalog/Major_...vaporators.asp
But, regarding your current setup, here's the good news:.
1. it won't cost more than $78 plus incidentals.
2. it might work fine
Here are the cautions:
1. the condenser fan is not designed to develop the higher static pressure
needed to move air through duct (the motor amperage will climb as static
climbs). That is why you don't see 'propeller type fans in ducted systems.
2. that unit PROBABLY pulls condensing air in on 3 sides (are you blanking
the other two sides off?)
3. Fedders has a history of running with high head pressures (they go cheap
with condensing coil) - so with the modifications, don't be surprised if
your unit moves significantly less than 5,000 BTU/hr. You're never going to
move the volume of air intended for that unit, so head pressure + amperage
will go up, capacity (tonnage) will go down. If you reduce the air too much,
the compressor will start cycling off on thermal overload.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Scout


"FamilySailor" wrote in message
...
Well, I bought one of those 5,000 btu window air conditioners from
Wal-Mart
for $78 to put on our sailboat. we are going to just use it at the dock
with
shore power. You have to do something here with highs of 98° and 100%
humidity. I have to keep the Admiral comfortable and happy ;o)

Anyway, I digress. I don't want to have a huge ugly AC unit blocking the
entire hatch way like some do, so here is what I am going to try.

I am going to keep the AC unit stowed away normally and set it up when we
are wanting to use it. Here is what I am thinking.

1) I will set the AC over my sink which is just inside the hatch and to
starboard (that way the condensation will drip into the sink).
2) I have added 2 ducts to the AC (I bought some nice looking 4" dryer
duct
that is flexible and made of aluminum, it looks sharp.)
3) I have one duct going to the side where air is sucked in.
4) I have the second duct coming off the back.
5) I made a second (lower) hatch board with 2 holes cut for the two ducts
to
go through.
6) I may get a second piece of ducting hose to attach on the other side of
the hatch so the hot air will not be blowing into the cockpit.

Well, I am still making it. Any comments.
Oh, I bought a Fedders Ac and it only draws 4.6 amps which I am sure I can
get a small generator to run if I have a mind to.

Happy sails,
John