Who still makes carry on ac's and where to buy?

matt4704

matt4704

New Member
Jun 18, 2010
103
St. Petersburg, FL
Boat Info
Sundancer 270
Engines
7.4 Mercruiser w/Bravo III Drive
I am looking to get a carry on ac for my boat. I tried the portable ac's from home depot and they take up to much room and have a water tray at the bottom that will leak if the water becomes rough...Anyone know who still makes tthe carry on's, and where I can get one? I like the 7k btu..
 
Cruisair is the manufacturer. You can find them new at West Marine. Or better yet, cheaper deals on eBay.
 
I see them on craigslist alot if you want to save some money and buy a used one. prices usually range from $200 - $400
 
We use the Portable AC unit and stick the Hot air duct that blows moisture with hot air out the mid-cabin port hole. Plus it has a remote. Works great for us. Had to remove the roller casters :) LG 9,000 BTUH for $299 at Home Depot. The AC unit that Block the hatch sometime leak from rain and / or condensate as per a friend who had one. John E. G.
 
coralreefer west marine does'nt carry them anymore..87cc same deal..Jeffk they sold the unit....Im just striking out!
 
Theres afew for sale over on the dark side called the BOC. :grin:
 
There is one on sale in the West Marine Flier.
 
JohnEGraham said:
We use the Portable AC unit and stick the Hot air duct that blows moisture with hot air out the mid-cabin port hole. Plus it has a remote. Works great for us. Had to remove the roller casters :) LG 9,000 BTUH for $299 at Home Depot. The AC unit that Block the hatch sometime leak from rain and / or condensate as per a friend who had one. John E. G.
Click to expand...
I wonder why more people don't do this? They are a bit heavy but if you have the room, why not?
 
Bridog said:
I wonder why more people don't do this? They are a bit heavy but if you have the room, why not?
Click to expand...

I think you hit the nail on the head with the "have the room" statement. They are actually pretty large in person. But even if you have the room, I am not sure they're completely ideal unless you have one that draws the condensor air in from outside (two hose units). With most of the common units (single hose units), you're pulling freshly cooled cabin air through the condenser coil and then exhausting it overboard. All of the air you're dumping overboard is replaced with the hot humid outside air being sucked in through... somewhere (cracks, gaps, panels, etc). I've read that they are horribly inefficient for this reason. Some of the units evaporate humidity better than others but in very humid areas I've read that the the evaporation cannot keep up and you have to dump the holding tank out often or else the AC will shut off. Lastly, some holding tanks are not sealed so they can spill while under way.

I had posted this under the Stupid Stuff thread so I might get flamed for a double post but:

I am contemplating attempting a coaxial coil conversion and putting a window AC under my V Berth in my 250.
http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-...arine-use.html
I've been doing lots of research and found the coaxial coil at Packless.com and have contacted my HVAC guy about soldering it in and recharging.

As an alternative, I am contemplating putting the stock AC window unit in the bulkhead between the vberth and the anchor locker then leaving the anchor locker hatch open to vent. A 5k unit at Menards or Walmart is less than $100 and only $50 on Craigslist.
 
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Ok, well, I did it. I mounted a small 5,000btu window AC unit in the panel between the vberth and the anchor locker. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID. Dont even bother. The unit doesnt get nearly enough air and overheats within minutes. I droped it in the companion way and clipped a towel to it and the cabin door and this worked OK, but there's no way my wife is going to climb over the thing everytime she wants in or out.

I am not even going to attempt the water cooled conversion - by the time I buy all the parts its going to cost nearly as much as a small marine unit. Forget it!

Getting into this project, I knew there was a chance this wouldnt work but I thought I would figure it out. Now I have to fill a huge freaking hole in my boat!!! ARGH

I hope someone besides me learns from my idiotic mistake.
 
I tried the LG 9000 and ran the vent out the port side port hole. Cooled great, but as we started to get under way the water pan leaked everywhere...Unit takes up way to much room and is a hassle to deal with..
 
You should be abot to find a good used marine unit for around $500. An extra $300 for parts should have you cool if you can do yourself.
 
RE "I tried the LG 9000 and ran the vent out the port side port hole. Cooled great, but as we started to get under way the water pan leaked everywhere...Unit takes up way to much room and is a hassle to deal with.. "

Thanks for the water heads up. I guess the left over moisture that can't go through the exhaust hose will spill It has not happen to us yet.
I took the wheels off and it doesn't move, mostly due to all the crap along with the unit. I am going to pick up a plastic container to sit it in for thepossible moisture problem
We love it. its beter than waking up with the sun &heat and every thing is damp.
You do Need to leave a window open a little for make up Air... But hey I am already paying for the Electric for the day / night not for the kw. hour.
The remote is cool. I can lay in the front of the cabin and point it at the unit and it "Beeps" as it makes it changes. As far as the Weight its lighter than my dam Dingy with the 4hp 4stoke. John G
 
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I bought this portable 8k a/c unit for my DA250, for $289 at Target.
http://www.achooallergy.com/haier-CPRB08XCJ-portable-air-conditioner.asp
My plan is to vent the hose out one window, while cracking another for fresh air intake.

The nice thing about this model is that it vents all of the moisture out the hose- there is no drip pan to empty/spill. It does have a small nipple at the bottom for dehumidifying drainage- but Haier claims this is not utilized while in A/C mode.

I have not tested this yet, but plan to use it next week while at Put-in-Bay.
 
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Update: Used our lg-9000 for 3 very Hot humid day. Worked great. Checked for water after use. All good. JG
 
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