Adding Window AC. Thoughts, Opinions, Suggestions?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I just picked up a portable unit for now. I like the idea of the marine unit and may do that later but seeing as this is our first boat I want to get a little bit of use out of it before going to deep. Plus with summer coming to an end I dont want to start any major projects. Just PLEASE no one ask me how I plan on powering it. I know how this board views a certain power source haha.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I just picked up a portable unit for now. I like the idea of the marine unit and may do that later but seeing as this is our first boat I want to get a little bit of use out of it before going to deep. Plus with summer coming to an end I dont want to start any major projects. Just PLEASE no one ask me how I plan on powering it. I know how this board views a certain power source haha.
No problem. We’ll watch for your obituary.
 
I won’t go on and on about your power source, as you requested. Since you mentioned this your first boat, just make sure you read up on the electrical and mechanical differences between marine and non-marine.
Things such as tinned-wires, explosion/spark proof electrical relays, switches, and motors. The ABYC and NMMA have good reasons for that.
Your AC unit was designed for terra-firma, not bouncing in a boat all day. All the wiring and design of the compressor and mounting brackets will take a beating. Connections work loose, brackets fracture, internal resilient mounts fail. I went through the same thought process ten-plus years ago when I got my Cuddy Cabin. After wrestling with all the issues you are thinking about then looking at my children, I decided to get a larger boat with a factory generator and AC. You can find 260 Sundancers with both.
 
Sounds like you are going to do it. Make sure you get a Carbon Monoxide detector for the cabin and for gods sakes don’t put the generator on the bow or in the cockpit. CO is no joke. You go to sleep and die.
 
Sounds like you are going to do it. Make sure you get a Carbon Monoxide detector for the cabin and for gods sakes don’t put the generator on the bow or in the cockpit. CO is no joke. You go to sleep and die.
Naawww.... this is yet another example of a new boat owner that comes into the forum and asks for advice on a topic. When they don’t get the advice they want to hear they ignore countless years of boating experience and do what they want. I’ve seen it time and time again.
 
Naawww.... this is yet another example of a new boat owner that comes into the forum and asks for advice on a topic. When they don’t get the advice they want to hear they ignore countless years of boating experience and do what they want. I’ve seen it time and time again.
But there are accounts on other forums where people say "I've been doing it for years and it's been fine" so based on that, it MUST be perfectly fine... but then, I suppose we never really hear from the ones where it didn't work out so fine...

I know someone who doesn't wear a seat belt and says that he's been doing it for decades and hasn't had a problem. With his logic, he then assumes he will always be fine.

Toolbox - I know you didn't want advice, but sometimes people don't know what they need to know till they learn it. Search this site for a post about this subject made by Frank Webster - it's a very well written post about the potential dangers of using a portable genny on a boat.

After you read that, share the info (be unbiased when you do) with your family and see what they think. If you and your family are well informed about the subject and still want to proceed, well, that's completely your call. But the thing is, this is one of the areas where you may not get a second chance if you're wrong. 1st world convenience shouldn't trump safety.

Now, as a suggestion for how you can get around this... you'd be surprised what a couple good fans can do. Endless Breeze is an excellent one.
 
People come to forums to look for opinions not get lambasted by know it alls. Give some good advice if you wish and walk away. No need for the negative condescending arrogant crap.
 
The people that are dead are not writing on these forums to say: "Don't do it, I tried it and died". You have to go to the internet in the afterlife to get those views.
 
Welcome to the site and whatever you do, good luck and enjoy your boat....

My .02 is that I think you got your answer from the majority of Searay owners that posted and have years of boating experience on this site.

Now take the logical next step and go on to some other boating sites and maybe eventually you will find the one that will get the answer you like. this might help: This site is comprised of owners (generally speaking) that are experienced, admire the great looks of a beautiful boat, believe that safety always comes first, and try to avoid doing dumb-ass things. You need to find a boating site perhaps that is comprised of people who might have the opposite viewpoints?
 
People come to forums to look for opinions not get lambasted by know it alls. Give some good advice if you wish and walk away. No need for the negative condescending arrogant crap.

Except for when you're planning to do something that might be lethal to yourself, family and a bunch of unsuspecting other boaters. Then the 'negative crap' is entirely appropriate
 
Except for when you're planning to do something that might be lethal to yourself, family and a bunch of unsuspecting other boaters. Then the 'negative crap' is entirely appropriate
You conveniently forgot the "condescending arrogant" part...
 
People come to forums to look for opinions not get lambasted by know it alls. Give some good advice if you wish and walk away. No need for the negative condescending arrogant crap.
Mr. Hawk, I normally offer advice if I have something positive to offer. I am usually respectful and like to see new boaters on the forum. We were all new once. However, when a person new to boating asks for advice and is given advice from multiple, experienced members advising against doing something that has the potential to kill people, and then appears to disregard that advice, I'm sorry, respect goes out the window. My disrespect was an effort to get this guy's attention and if insults or a 2x4 across the chops is what it takes....so be it. Sorry if you were offended but....too bad.

Every boating season people die using portable generators on boats. Yes, some people still do it and say they've never had a problem. No one has a problem....until they do.
Shawn
 
IMG_5596.JPG

Great thread. "I'm gettin' me a window unit for my new to me boat and I'm gonna run it off a Honda 2000. That's my plan and I'ma stickin' to it you ignert muthas. Thank you very much."
 
From Mr. Webster:
PORTABLE GENERATORS ON BOATS


Carbon Monoxide

Is simple to grasp, breathe it in a confined space and you don’t wake up. Permanently mounted marine generators have their exhausts plumbed to exit at or very near the waterline and away from closed occupied spaces.

Un-contained Fuel System Vents

The fuel systems on Honda and other portable generators are vented to the atmosphere and their carburetors have a bowl drain that releases fuel inside the generator case. That means where you run it, store it or put it under way will have gasoline fumes released in the area and if the bowl drain leaks, you have raw fuel spilled and an explosive liquid in the compartment with the generator.

Lack of ignition protection on electrical devices

The electrical components on portables are not ignition protected like marine generator electrical components are. This means you could easily have an arc or spark anytime contact opens or closes or whenever something is plugged in or disconnected.

Lack of Continuous Grounding

Portable generators pose an additional shock hazard since the portable is not grounded to the boat or to a shore side ground. Likely not a problem with a drill or power tool, but if you connect it to your boat's AC system, you have essentially disconnected the green wire.



The Honda iU series generators are inverters. An inverter drives both line and neutral so it is possible to have voltage between neutral and ground. With ground bonded the the boat's bonding system, which mean to the water, this means a shock hazard may exist that normally would not. Anyone who ignores all the above risks and insists on using a portable generator should use a very good, sensitive multi-meter to throughly prove out the electrical system. That the reverse polarity light is lit is clear indication of a potential problem.



The USCG governs only boat manufacturers and the manufacturers voluntarily subscribe to ABYC guidelines, so there is no "law" against using portable generators on boats. However, both the USCG and ABYC say using portable generators on boat is a bad idea and regularly caution boaters against it.



In spite of the fact that Honda’s advertising says that boating is a popular use of their generators, They have not addressed the grounding, gas fume and ignition protection issues and those risks do indeed exist.



If you are one of those who jumped on the CO train and the relatively few deaths attributed to CO, you are not fully considering all the risks of using portable generators on a boat. While accidents may be rare, you do substantially increase your risk of becoming a "statistic" when using a portable generator on a boat.......you put your family unnecessarily at risk when you do.
 
I have a window unit in my horse camper that plugs into 120 in the camper. I'm going to install a window unit in my 250DA on the outside of the cabin to outside air that plugs into 120 GFI shore power. The drain will drain to bilge. Window units are almost indestructible and last forever. Easy peezi.
 
I have a window unit in my horse camper that plugs into 120 in the camper. I'm going to install a window unit in my 250DA on the outside of the cabin to outside air that plugs into 120 GFI shore power. The drain will drain to bilge. Window units are almost indestructible and last forever. Easy peezi.

No doubt this can be done and economically, Shore power is the right way to power it.

The issue is the portable gas generator to power it.
 
Well unless your gonna sleep on the ocean why would you need gen Power underway. We plan to use it at marinas or camping areas on the water overnight on shore power. In some places like the keys generators are not allowed. I have seen generators on the diving decks which might he ok as long as your cabin is well sealed .when we horse camp we have to put the generator as far away as possible because of noise and fumes. I'm probably not gonna put it on the boat. Battery power will run the fridge and lites.
 

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