Cockpit Air Conditioning in FL

[Aerobaticflyer]

How many of my fellow Florida boaters would put a high premium on having cockpit A/C on your boat.....or your next boat?

Also does anyone know how difficult it is to add it later to a 40 foot Dancer?

Thanks!

 

[waterlogged]

I don't have it, but don't do much "summer" boating (which may be why!). Next boat for sure.

 

[Boulder GT3]

In my experience, it depends on the boating you do. I have two cockpit units and never use them Oct-May. June-Sept I use them all the time and that is the best water on this side of FLA. It's nice to be able to go out to dinner at night and not get all sweaty. It's also nice to be able to pull the canvas off the boat, turn the A/C on and have it be cool and ready for guests in a few minutes. I don't leave them on when the covers are on.

Going to Miami and to the Bahamas I use it very little when underway. On the ICW, I use it all the time.

For me, it's probably doubled the amount of time we go out on the boat in the summer.

That said, it's more to take care of and more to break. Just depends on how you use the boat.

 

[fc3]

Cockpit air can be a good thing if you need it. However it is difficult to retrofit unless your generator has enough capacity to start and run the unit in addition to the other house loads. Plus a canvas top allows a lot of heat to soak though. It's easier to cool the cockpit when the boat has a hardtop rather than a soft top. You'll need a bigger unit with a soft top to get the same effect.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[rhoudini]

I have A 40 DA 2008 I do have from manufacture air conditioning in the cockpit area it is actually located under capt chair. I am in Florida and really I can not feel the difference.... I guess my air conditional is just too small to cool my cockpit area..

if any body here have a suggestion I will appreciate!

rob

 

[Herculite]

I live in Chicago. Factory air is located under help passenger sear. Everyone on my boat thus far comments on the air. There is only one vent that blows on me, but it does keep it cool on an 85 degree day. I can't imagine it would help much in Florida.

 

[Skeetobite]

I would love to have air in my cockpit. My fishing friends would laugh at me, but I would just smile and wave...

I actually put a higher premium on having air on the bridge though. That's my next major project. I sized the genset in anticipation of this added load but never got around to doing it.

 

[Aerobaticflyer]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. The 390's I'm looking at are hardtops but if the A/C doesn't cool the cockpit effectively that would clearly make that option less "mandatory." I cruise a lot of ICW all year and with all the slow speed zones the A/C would be great if it cooled effectively. I have boated many years without it though so I guess I won't put it in the "must have" category.

Thanks Again

 

[Hampton]

It will definately be in my "Must Have" category on my next boat. My cockpit heater on my 250 did little more than blow warm air on my hands and face, and it would be a must have on a smaller boat if I were to down-grade. It's really nice to have at least one small spot to go to in order to get the right temp air on your face.