Hull376
03-22-2010, 06:25 PM
I looked over the forum and only saw a few references to air conditioning on Ariels/Commanders, so excuse me if I missed an existing thread.
The problem: Ariels are small boats. Air conditioning is bulky and expensive. But it gets hot in the south which makes sleeping on the boat in the summer a non starter without air conditioning. I've wrestled with this problem every summer and haven't liked my solutions to date.
Potential solutions:
1. fit for purpose portable marine air conditioners such as the Cruise Air hatch model (Taylormade). Pros: strong construction, controls accessible inside the hatch, mounts to various sized hatch openings. I started out using one of these, the 5,000 BTU model. Cons: Heavy (70 lbs +) takes two to get it on and off the boat, getting it on the foredeck is not easy. Expensive ($799). Doesn't cool well in daytime temps of 95 degrees with sun beating down on the deck. The newer 7000 BTU model may work fine, though. Storage is a problem on an Ariel. Won't fit in the cockpit lockers. Hard to get down our tight companionway, have to put on the sole or on a bunk. Need to work out at the YMCA before attempting to move it into the cabin. But better tie it down good! Mine fell off bunk once, broke the ties in heavy weather. Won't fit down the front hatch either.
2. Permanently installed system. I don't have experience with these, but looks like around $1500 to outfit an Ariel. I think space loss and cost are again an issue on a small boat like the Ariel. But this would be a Cadillac solution. Maintenance issues??? Hummmm....
3. Cheap window mount air conditioner installed in the companionway or in the hatch. Lots of folks in Texas mount window units in the companionway. In the companionway, its easy to install but.... you have to move it every time you want to get in or out of the cabin. Not fun! but pros are its cheap, and can be stored in the anchor locker (more on this). Hatch mount? this is the point of this post. Experimentation. Can it work? I wasn't sure.
I've done the cruisair thing and its no good for an Ariel. I've done the companionway window air conditioner thing and its not ideal in an Ariel because it blocks access to the cabin and the steep entry makes it almost impossible to step over it and land on a step inside if you don't move it out of the way. I haven't tried the "built in" approach because of cost and complexity. Soooooo...... that leaves me with the hatch approach. The keep it simple ----cruisair approach with a window unit.
Posts below show my experiment with my $99 window unit (5,000btu) mounted similar to the cruisair. Benefit would be cold air (more than the 5,000 btu cruisair) light (35 pounds versus 70+) quieter, simpler storage options, low cost, can fit through the front hatch, one person can handle it. But the issue is how to get it to take in hot cabin air and then blow out the cold air, all down an 18x18 inch hatch, when the window unit isn't designed to do this.
The problem: Ariels are small boats. Air conditioning is bulky and expensive. But it gets hot in the south which makes sleeping on the boat in the summer a non starter without air conditioning. I've wrestled with this problem every summer and haven't liked my solutions to date.
Potential solutions:
1. fit for purpose portable marine air conditioners such as the Cruise Air hatch model (Taylormade). Pros: strong construction, controls accessible inside the hatch, mounts to various sized hatch openings. I started out using one of these, the 5,000 BTU model. Cons: Heavy (70 lbs +) takes two to get it on and off the boat, getting it on the foredeck is not easy. Expensive ($799). Doesn't cool well in daytime temps of 95 degrees with sun beating down on the deck. The newer 7000 BTU model may work fine, though. Storage is a problem on an Ariel. Won't fit in the cockpit lockers. Hard to get down our tight companionway, have to put on the sole or on a bunk. Need to work out at the YMCA before attempting to move it into the cabin. But better tie it down good! Mine fell off bunk once, broke the ties in heavy weather. Won't fit down the front hatch either.
2. Permanently installed system. I don't have experience with these, but looks like around $1500 to outfit an Ariel. I think space loss and cost are again an issue on a small boat like the Ariel. But this would be a Cadillac solution. Maintenance issues??? Hummmm....
3. Cheap window mount air conditioner installed in the companionway or in the hatch. Lots of folks in Texas mount window units in the companionway. In the companionway, its easy to install but.... you have to move it every time you want to get in or out of the cabin. Not fun! but pros are its cheap, and can be stored in the anchor locker (more on this). Hatch mount? this is the point of this post. Experimentation. Can it work? I wasn't sure.
I've done the cruisair thing and its no good for an Ariel. I've done the companionway window air conditioner thing and its not ideal in an Ariel because it blocks access to the cabin and the steep entry makes it almost impossible to step over it and land on a step inside if you don't move it out of the way. I haven't tried the "built in" approach because of cost and complexity. Soooooo...... that leaves me with the hatch approach. The keep it simple ----cruisair approach with a window unit.
Posts below show my experiment with my $99 window unit (5,000btu) mounted similar to the cruisair. Benefit would be cold air (more than the 5,000 btu cruisair) light (35 pounds versus 70+) quieter, simpler storage options, low cost, can fit through the front hatch, one person can handle it. But the issue is how to get it to take in hot cabin air and then blow out the cold air, all down an 18x18 inch hatch, when the window unit isn't designed to do this.