How do you keep your cabin cool?

[LadyAnya]

I am new to the boating world and I just bought an 88 Sunrunner weekender. I wanted to know how you keep your cabin area cool on outings. Do you use fans, A/C, vents, etc. It can get hot in there sometimes and with a young daughter, I would like to have it refreshing.

 

[Todd157k]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I bought a box fan "Endless Breeze" it was called. It plugs into a cig lighter and has 3 speeds. I made a small 'block off' plate out of wood and put the fan in my top hatch (blowing in). It keep it reasonable when we were at Havasu @ 110*.
I've also looked into small window air conditioners however bringing a generator and all just didn't seem worth it.. unless you have to sleep on the boat at 100* nights.

 

[seabob4]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Cabins are a b!tch in the summer, really, all you can do is put a fan on the hatch or in the companionway. Not going to do much when it's 98 degrees and the humidity is at 90%...

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Fans are a good idea. I also though about using a bilge blower in there somehow with a power regulator of some sort.

 

[rwidman]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I am new to the boating world and I just bought an 88 Sunrunner weekender. I wanted to know how you keep your cabin area cool on outings. Do you use fans, A/C, vents, etc. It can get hot in there sometimes and with a young daughter, I would like to have it refreshing.

I have AC in my boat but only at the dock.

Away from the dock, I have a hatch, windows, portholes, and an oscillating fan. These (except the fan) all need to be closed underway or water will get into the cabin.

When anchored, the boat will point into the wind unless the current turns it. The breeze is usually enough to make it comfortable. If it's hot, we don't wear a lot of clothes.

 

[rwidman]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Fans are a good idea. I also though about using a bilge blower in there somehow with a power regulator of some sort.

A bilge blower?

 

[Stachi]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

A bilge blower?

maybe because it could be ducted easily ??? I wonder what her idea is with it...

 

[JoLin]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I have AC in my boat but only at the dock.

Away from the dock, I have a hatch, windows, portholes, and an oscillating fan. These (except the fan) all need to be closed underway or water will get into the cabin.

When anchored, the boat will point into the wind unless the current turns it. The breeze is usually enough to make it comfortable. If it's hot, we don't wear a lot of clothes.

I don't have AC, but ditto to everything else.

LadyAnya, where do you live?

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I thought about a bilge blower because I could suck in air from outside or another cool area of the boat. The outside air might not be a good idea because its going to hot.

I live in Miami, FL

 

[Stachi]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I thought about a bilge blower because I could suck in air from outside or another cool area of the boat. The outside air might not be a good idea because its going to hot.

I live in Miami, FL

woops

 

[LadyAnya]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Miami, fl

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I have A/C.

 

[DANZIG]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

I thought about a bilge blower because I could suck in air from outside or another cool area of the boat. The outside air might not be a good idea because its going to hot.

I live in Miami, FL

Mmmm.... Run the "ducting" through a cooler full of ice??

That has me thinking now,,,,,,,, Wonder how long the ice would last?

OK, who has a spare blower, thermometer, a watch, and a old cooler laying around???

 

[seabob4]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Actually, that's not a far fetched idea for keeping a little one cool on a summer afternoon. Chest of ice, with a fan set up behind it. It's not like we're looking for 16 hours of cooling...

 

[CaptainSkip]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

They make em cheap, plugs into 12v...don't know how good they work...
http://www.kooleraire.com/

 

[DANZIG]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Pop a couple holes in the side(s) cooler, loop/coil the "ducting around inside, exhaust into the cabin.

I reckon it would work, but for how long on one fill of ice?

 

[DANZIG]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

They make em cheap, plugs into 12v...don't know how good they work...
http://www.kooleraire.com/

Nifty! But as space is at a premium in my cabin it would be very handy to be able to pipe the air in from "outside".

One of the testimonials claimed 6 hours on cubed ice.

 

[Cofe]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Was looking at Harbor Freight Tools and wondering...........

They have 12 volt power inverters up to 5000 watt continuous 110v output.
Would a small window air conditioner from wally world work with a inverter?

Would be "cool" if it did.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

They make em cheap, plugs into 12v...don't know how good they work...
http://www.kooleraire.com/

Neat idea.

 

[arks]

Re: How do you keep your cabin cool?

Neat idea.

Those are called Swamp Coolers: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-swamp-cooler.htm
They cool the air but don't remove the humidity.

After 20+ years of sweating onboard I finally got a boat with A/C. Love it!