Alibuma
New Member
So, I am not sure I even have a need for AC but the thought sure is nice. The cost and power requirements for typical AC units seem extreme and thats probably the biggest reason I am willing to live without (until I can afford my next, bigger boat). I dont have a generator to power the typical AC units and we're not always on the dock in the middle of the day when it's the hottest.
I used to be into skiboats and have installed a few HeaterCraft heaters in my day. For those who dont know what those are, its basically a small radiator (liquid to air heat exchanger) with a blower fan. Hot water from the engine is pumped through the radiator and the blower fan blows air over the hot radiator to push the heat into the cabin. My thought for a poor man's AC unit is to pump seawater through the unit instead of hot water. The lakes and rivers in the northern climates here can reach high 70's in the peak of summer but are typically 10-15 degrees cooler than that most of the year. If a person really wanted to go the extra step, they could extend the pickup tube down 5 or 6 feet into the cooler water. http://www.heatercraft.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=15
A quick google search and as it turns out, cities are using this technique for their central plants. They suck cold seawater out of the ocean, exchange the cool for the heat from a separate closed loop system that is pumped to the buildings. This works much like our hot water heaters in our boats work, but again, in reverse. It cools instead of heats. http://www.makai.com/p-swac.htm
I really do want to add the HeaterCraft Heater and it might hard to resist the itch try this idea out if I did install the heater. Like I said, I dont know if I really have a need for AC but lets just say I get the itch, does anyone have any more thoughts on this? :huh:
I used to be into skiboats and have installed a few HeaterCraft heaters in my day. For those who dont know what those are, its basically a small radiator (liquid to air heat exchanger) with a blower fan. Hot water from the engine is pumped through the radiator and the blower fan blows air over the hot radiator to push the heat into the cabin. My thought for a poor man's AC unit is to pump seawater through the unit instead of hot water. The lakes and rivers in the northern climates here can reach high 70's in the peak of summer but are typically 10-15 degrees cooler than that most of the year. If a person really wanted to go the extra step, they could extend the pickup tube down 5 or 6 feet into the cooler water. http://www.heatercraft.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=15
A quick google search and as it turns out, cities are using this technique for their central plants. They suck cold seawater out of the ocean, exchange the cool for the heat from a separate closed loop system that is pumped to the buildings. This works much like our hot water heaters in our boats work, but again, in reverse. It cools instead of heats. http://www.makai.com/p-swac.htm
I really do want to add the HeaterCraft Heater and it might hard to resist the itch try this idea out if I did install the heater. Like I said, I dont know if I really have a need for AC but lets just say I get the itch, does anyone have any more thoughts on this? :huh:
