Air conditioning

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Air conditioning

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Air conditioning

Posted by Kevin Smith on April 04, 19100 at 11:00:02:

Summer is coming, and I'd like to find out if anyone has installed their own air
conditioning in a PDQ 32. If so:[/i]

- what unit are you using?
- where is the unit mounted?
- where is the ductwork?
- how big (BTU)?
Also, has anyone had any experience with the "portable" units?
- Kevin Smith
s/v Phenix

Follow Ups:

Re: Air conditioning Cindy 07:19:45 5/01/100 (0)
Re: Air conditioning Ron Wolff 04:51:58 4/20/100 (1)
Re: Air conditioning Seednik 07:31:44 7/24/100 (0)
Re: Air conditioning Martin McKim 18:17:03 4/07/100 (0)

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Re: Air conditioning

Posted by Cindy on May 01, 19100 at 07:19:45:
In Reply to: Air conditioning posted by Kevin Smith on April 04, 19100 at
11:00:02:


Kevin,
I am from Chicago and know from growing up there that it might be a bit much to
install a pricey A/C unit for the 2 to 3 weeks a year you'll actually need it

Go portable!
We liveabord on the Chesapeake Bay and we bought a Home Depot window a/c unit
for less than $200 that gives us 8,000 btu's. We have it sitting over the salon
hatch with the htach itself leaning on the unit to help deflect the cold air

Then we wrap and seal it (leaving a space for the unit to vent the warm air)so
no air escapes and it flows basically down into the cabin using the hatch to
deflect.(same concept as the West Marine $700 units, but home made)
The up side -- cheap, portable, powerful, draws off shorepower (just need
another cord and a splitter)

The down side - bulky and unattractive. A bit heavy when moving off the boat to
go for a sail, but manageable

Other hints - curtains are a must to keep the cabin cool. Cover ALL hatches and
ports and that alone can make a 10 degree difference. if you want to really
reflect heat, try putting aluminum foil in the hatches and ports under your
curtains - it makes a huge difference

We also don't try and cool the WHOLE boat. We close off the head and the work
room (this is on the 36)or any spaces you're not using long term

And finally - any sort of canvas you can drape over your boom to add additional
shade will be a plus

Just a thought - it seems a bit much to pay to install a reverse cycle for
Chicago summers

Hope this helps!
Cindy
p.s. Folks in our marina who have the West Marine portable like them. Easier,
but more expensive and not as many btu's. The thing to do is get a used one

Look on the Boat US auction site or local marina ads and usually someone who had
one for one season and is now going cruising or something is trying to unload it
at half price.

Follow Ups:

Re: Air conditioning

Posted by Ron Wolff on April 20, 19100 at 04:51:58:
In Reply to: Air conditioning posted by Kevin Smith on April 04, 19100 at
11:00:02:


Chesapeake Catamaran Center installed our AC before we took delivery. It is (1)
16000 BTU Cruiseaire Rev cycle A/C and heat system. We have a large vent in main
cabin and 2 in each of the hulls. In the 2 years of ownership it has worked
well, and I wouldn't change anything about it. The unit makes the boat
comfortable below 95 degrees and tolerable when outside is above that. It
doesn't get cold enough in GA so that the heater was not comfortable. You might
call them before proceeding.

Follow Ups:

Re: Air conditioning Seednik 07:31:44 7/24/100 (0)

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Re: Air conditioning

Posted by Seednik on July 24, 19100 at 07:31:44:
In Reply to: Re: Air conditioning posted by Ron Wolff on April 20, 19100 at
04:51:58:


Do you mind me asking how much they charged?
Thanks.

Follow Ups:

Re: Air conditioning

Posted by Martin McKim on April 07, 19100 at 18:17:03:
In Reply to: Air conditioning posted by Kevin Smith on April 04, 19100 at
11:00:02:


Shan't be able to give details till later this year (hopefully). Generator and
watermaker must come first! However, you will be looking at two separate units,
approximately 12000btu and 7000btu, as there is no room to run ducting between
the salon and the cabins. I'm also looking at the possibility of a larger unit
for the cabins (16000btu) which will also cool the cockpit, as we have the full
enclosure

I've no experience with the portable units, but I'd consider one for one of the
cabins if I didn't want the hassle of installation.
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