Run boat equipment on lift?

T

timinfla2

New Member
Sep 22, 2008
578
Hi folks,
sorry for yet another boat lift question, but i'm new to this style of boating...

So in my slip up in Michigan, the boat was kept in the water. I would run the AC to keep the humidity level down.

Here in FL, being on the ICW, the boats running by on full tilt creates a huge wake, so I must keep my boat up on the lift at all times. However, doing so means that the water intakes for the AC would be out of the water as well.

Is there a way to run the AC on the boat while it is lifted out of the water? Perhaps a hose running directly to the strainer? I just don't know...

I guess it's possible I don't have to run the AC in the boat to keep the humidity down. We do have damp rid after all.

However, I like the option of using the SeaRay as a 'guest house' out back when I have out of towners coming in and I can't imagine them staying happy in there without AC, and electricity :)

I'd love to hear some opinions on the matter.

Thanks,
Tim
 
Hmmm. Interesting concept. You could run the hose to the inlet side of the AC pump or modify a strainer cap to take a hose bib and connect up to that. But that's an awful lot of water pumping overboard (think water bill). Also, when the AC cycles off, the water is still going to keep running through the AC unit - it is a passive system with no stops on water flow that is under pressure. I dont think it'll damage the unit (no parts to get ingested) - just give it a real good flushing out.
100_0849.jpg
 
Great point on the water bill - I never thought of that.

I wonder if there's a way to connect a hose down to the water from the intake on the hull...
 
Wont work. These pumps are not self priming and cant draw water up that far. Only thing you could maybe do is get a cheap-o bilge pump, submerge it into the seawater, run a hose up to the intake side (or the modified strainer cap) and let it run continually.

Cant think of any other way but that's an awfully elaborate system. Just give your guests a nice oscillating fan!
 
Yeah, I guess in the end it might not be possible - it's just a nice thought. I think I FINALLY found a drawback to a boat lift (besides the excruciating costs, LOL).
 
The "guest house" idea is a good one (done it, guests love the privacy). I'm on a dead-end canal and don't have a wind/wake issue.
You might look into finding a small, self-priming AC powered seawater pump. You could pull seawater from the dock and run it into the strainer like you were thinking about doing with the freshwater hose.
I have a catalog from Depco Pump Co. that has a "Primetime", self-priming AC, 3/4", a little over 1000 gph capacity- should do the trick...
800-446-1656
 
Nice, thank you for the tip - I wonder what GPH rating the AC pump has and if it's potentially harmful to pump too much water into it. I might just have to nix the guest house idea and open the couch for business.
 
Check the specs for your air conditioner, probably a pump in the neighborhood of 500 gph.
Don't worry about pumping "too much" water- the more the better, so long as you're not actually pressurizing the system by trying to force more flow than the lines can handle.
You can always reduce the flow by adding a ball valve after the pump.
 
Your pump would probably be about 500GPH for one AC unit.

How bout just dipping the boat in the evening when your guests retire. Does the water traffic lessen after a certain time?
 
It 'lessens' but that's not to say that I'd be cool letting it float. The other problem is one of water depth. At low tide, it looks like I'd be sitting on bottom. I don't know this but I'm just going off of what it looks like. I'll know for sure in a few days.
 
Seastheday2 said:
Ever resolve this? I am looking at the same thing for slightly different reasons.
Click to expand...

When your in the dog house???

Interesting idea. I liked the idea about a submersible pump constantly supplying the system. I imagine it would take a hefty pump to lift the water vertically (maybe 8ft?) and still have enough flow to keep the system working properly. I know pond pumps will list gpm along with vertical feet it can be lifted. Mind you the hose would have to be connected in the bilge and still have the capability to close the hatch. Maybe have a hookup similar to the city water supply in a convenient area and plumb that to the strainer with a selector valve?
Well those are my thoughts!
 
A couple of boats in my marina have hooked the fresh water house water. The marina has well water so no water bill issues. Was thinking pulling the water from the Bay makes more sense but seems complicated.
 
I would think this is doable. Put a y valve and double throw switch between your current pump and the ac unit and run a hose and wire to a water fitting and plug somewhere in the cockpit. Get an appropriate size 12v bilge pimp and attach to a piling at the pier. Rum the hose and wiring up to the 12v plug and water fitting. The when on the lift, the overboard pump would cycle in the same manner as the regular pump. Just a thought.
 
The use of a bilge pump is probably the only practical way to lift sea water high enough. The Y valve would allow the system to be closed off when launching too, since it doesn't take much for the system to drain and need re-priming.
 
I follow the concept of the bilge pump and the y valve but where would I attach it? Trying to envision how easy it would be to hookup and use.
 
A friend does this exact thing. He used a "Y" after the strainer and before the AC pump. The added hose has a shutoff vale and is routed to the port rear hull vent and terminates with a brass quick connect secured out of sight. Once on the lift he closes the thru hull sea cock and opens the "Y" line valve and connects the dock hose that supplys sea water from a pump hanging below the dock. I think he uses a basic bilge pump hooked up to his 12v dock lighting. Works like a champ.
 
Another aspect to consider in pumping sea water up to the boat on the lift is that at the end of the system, all of that water will have to fall back down the same distance. The constant splashing on the surface below from that height could be pretty loud, especially for those trying to sleep inside the boat. You might want to try holding a running garden hose at the A/C discharge thru-hull height to see if this would be an issue.
 
Hi Tim: We use the AC only when the boat is floating. If used for a "floating cottage" I'd say to use the AC but be sure there is enough water under the boat for all night operation. We have a 20K 6 piling Deco lift for ours and the boat/lift are rinsed after each outing. With the marine growth here in Florida, I'd say to keep the boat up and rinsed off when not to be used. We also have remote flush kits on the engines and they each get a 5 minute run/flush after an outing. This can be done either in or out of the water as we have Bravo 2 outdrives. Good luck with your boat! Griff4
 
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