Air Conditioning, is it difficult to rig on a boat?
 

I need to install air conditioning to my canopy MTI. Is this difficult to install? Any ideas on what system to use and how to rig it? I did place a call to NautiCool. I am not sure if they sell to end users or not. I want to rig it myself. Not sure how much either.

I bought a 5K BTU Cruisair unit and installed it myself on a 31 ft Formula. Hope you don't mind drilling a few holes in your boat. It cost me about $1,500.00 and around 40 hours to complete the project. (you can look it up in old threads in the Formula Forums.)

Pretty easy actually! Mount it, locate the water pump/pickup, run the plumbing to the unit, locate the thermostat control, install an inverter and run the duct work. :cool:

You don't want this....

So then I guess this is out too......;)

Brad you are looking for something that you can run while under way are you not. I believe the setups above are for when you are already in a slip.

OH....He's right, These things need a constant water supply and 120V.

I bought an Ocean Breeze 10k BTU with heat for $1200 off eBay included everything & digital thermostat, it took me about 20 hours to complete. The unit runs off a 2000w genset, and is not a reverse cycle heat, so you don't have to be in the water to run heat, you do for the AC...

Yeah, I need the system that runs off the engine much like a car. Weight is slight factor as well. It is going in a race canopy boat. Need to keep the cockpit cool at 100 mph.

Hmmm, in that case redneck AC
.....hold you hand up in the air and make a scoop to deflect the air to inside. Cheaper and it works! ;)

There is a Nauticool for sale in the classifieds for a great price!!

I saw it the other day.

The Eliminator 36 Daytona Coupe has A/C. You might see what they used.

Michael

I believe it's Nauticool....

Nauticool, talk to John B. I was told about $$3600 for the system and around $2000 for install.
From Johns E-mail
"The standard system is $3595.00 and installation ranges from $1000.00 to $2000.00 here at our location, depending on the difficulty level of the install."

LF

How about a car junkyard??? Conversion should be pretty easy, no?

Wow that is pricey. There are complete auto kits for under $1000 for hot rods. I may look into that.

Yeah, just mount the condenser in the tunnel!:p
As with the marine 110V air conditioners, my bet is you're paying for the heat exchanger. 5000 BTU Walmart window unit $100, 5000 BTU Cruisar $1000.
Gary

This woukd not be had to do. I have never looked into aftermarket systems but if it was me I would look for one you can buld custom hoses so you can custom fit it to your system I know there are companys that make one for school busses. The hard part will be to get the condenser in a location that will alow air flow to it to do its job

Realistically, I dont see why you couldn't use an auto compresor (pulley changed for corect rpm), an auto dryer and evaporator. And the marine freon to water heat exchangers are simply a copper tube within a tube. If you couldn't salvage an old marine one, I would think you could make one.
Anyone want to try?
Gary

I have looked into this as well. MTI has had some problems with the nauticool systems and no longer offers it as an option. Gary did convert an automotive system for GC Motorsports that works well.
I think the best option is a 110V system with an inverter mounted in the storage space infront of the cockpit. Outerlimits uses this system in their GTX's, only they use 2 A/C units and one small generator. This is also what will go into Gold Digger as I understand it.

I sell Webasto AC units, I have 5 and 9k BTU units in stock, PM if you would like a quote.

Big boats, Fast boats and now AC? :eek:

What you would need to do an engine driven Ac system are:

Compressor, belt & bracket. Evaporator & condensor. You will also need fans to move the air over the evaporator & condensor. One needs to be cooled & one will need to blow the cool air in to you. You would need to make up custom lines & you will need a pressure switch for the compressor to keep the ac line pressures in check. Oh yea you will need some 134a refridgerant too.. You could probably search the web & build this ala carte.. Jamie / Lakeside

I would just use a small (5000btu) self contained marine unit and run it off the batteries with an inverter. You may need to add a battery or go up in size for the ones you have but if you are going to use it while running you will have plenty of juice from the alternators to run it. The only thing it will need is a constant supply of water.

I have a mermaid marine 5000btu unit in the cabin of my 28 daytona and it will run for more than 8hrs off the batteries with an inverter (engines off). The whole setup was less than $2000 and was easy to install. The unit only weighs about 30 lbs. PM me if you want.

Ttt
 

Has anyone come up with a recipe for cooling the cockpit with an engine driven system?

I would think a vintage air system with a modified heat exchanger to use raw water from the engine system in place of the air cooled automotive one would be pretty easy to make work. I plan to build a custom system at some point

I did just find this company for coolers...
packless.com

I'm going to investigate if between vintage air and packless to come up with cockpit ac, heat, and defrost...