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

"FamilySailor" wrote in message ...

There goes the neighborhood.

Try cruise air or aqua air.


Joe



Happy sails,
John

Sounds like moving to a trailer park would be you solution with that kludge

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

Won't it be kinda noisy for sleeping? Did it come with a remote? A
buddy just bought a nice little $75 unit for his small office, and it
has a remote. I always figgered to put one in the cockpit, let it
drain to the scuppers, with air duct for the incoming cold air,
especially now that they have remote controls for them. Should be
quieter.

Scotty


"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

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

PS - I'd use the Water Cooled Tube-In-Shell Condenser # 012-0600
Capacity with 3.5 gpm water flow and 15C degrees delta T (water) = 2,650
watts (9,050 btu/hr).
Don't forget you need a small water pump too.
Scout


"Scout" wrote in message
...
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

Hummm.... I need to do more research I guess, but this will help us get into
the cooler fall season. Those that pick on us for wanting to sleep in
comfort must not live in this high humidity climate!
This is heat-stroke country. Most people don't even come down to the dock
here in August. With a little ingenuity, my whole family will want to stay
on the boat happily. Sail a mile in my shoes..... ;o)
Without the AC the cabin interior is 102 degrees inside.

Hey Scott,
Actually the humming will drown out the sounds of cars and car doors and
people around the dock. It will be like sleeping to the hummmm of a diesel
engine (like when I commercial fished) or the sound of rain on the roof. I
hope it humms enough to drown out sounds.

Sea Yawl,
John

"Scott Vernon" wrote in message
...
Won't it be kinda noisy for sleeping? Did it come with a remote? A
buddy just bought a nice little $75 unit for his small office, and it
has a remote. I always figgered to put one in the cockpit, let it
drain to the scuppers, with air duct for the incoming cold air,
especially now that they have remote controls for them. Should be
quieter.

Scotty

Try cruise air or aqua air.

One day maybe. Do they have a $78 model? I am saving real money for sailing
items, like new sails...

Sounds like moving to a trailer park would be you solution with that
kludge


For you maybe, but that is not an option for me. I was raised on the water.