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Hello, Has anybody fitted a household mini split a/c unit on their craft? I am new to the forum and also new to cruising. I have been a boating for 30 years and the thought of a/c never crossed my mind. I recently picked up a Cruisers Inc, and have aspirations of taking the family up to lake champlain through the locks. This would mean sleeping on the boat in August. I've been eyeballing the r/v units and the mini splits a/c heat pumps. Should i bother or just go right for a marine unit? I haven't kept a boat for more than three years in my life.
A mini split should work in a fresh water environment. The outdoor unit needs to be out in the open with good avail. airflow. It is about the size of a large suitcase, whats that gunna look like mounted to your boat? It will also need a 240vac source.
Hello, Has anybody fitted a household mini split a/c unit on their craft? I am new to the forum and also new to cruising. I have been a boating for 30 years and the thought of a/c never crossed my mind. I recently picked up a Cruisers Inc, and have aspirations of taking the family up to lake champlain through the locks. This would mean sleeping on the boat in August. I've been eyeballing the r/v units and the mini splits a/c heat pumps. Should i bother or just go right for a marine unit? I haven't kept a boat for more than three years in my life.
I think you'll do much better with a marine unit. The marine unit uses water, not air for cooling and heating. It's designed and built for a marine environment and it should fit in your boat just fine. Other boats like yours were likely factory equipped with reverse cycle AC so just find out what was used in them and put the same thing in your boat.
You will be very unhappy with a household A/C unit on the boat. It's noisy, looks like heck, and will ruin the value of the boat. If you only keep boats a few years, that means you'll be selling this one. I think a mini split would cost more than a marine unit anyway. If you are looking for cheap/easy, consider one of the hatch mounted portables. Not sure the size of your boat, but these work for many smaller cruisers, especially in that neck of the woods.
Agree with the hatch air concept, I have one for one of my boats, and it's great and you can find one on craigslist, etc for 300-400 bucks.
__________________ Roger
1986 52 Hatteras
1968 41 Hatteras
1965 34 Hatteras(for sale)
1999 36 Dakota, 250 zukes
20 Sea Ray in back yard in slings
1720 Pro Key West
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One more thing to consider: How will you power the air conditioner? Will you be staying at marinas? If not, does your boat already have a generator? If you're planning on using the boat's generator, be sure it has the capacity to start and run the AC unit.
I'm going through this dilema myself. Pompenette makes the most compact unit iv'e found if space is the issue. Im also looking at Cruise an Carry. I'll be traveling on the Champlain canal first week in Aug. also.
If there is anyway to install a self contained A/C system, ala cruiseair, mermaid, etc., you won't regret it. Fit it under the dinette or vee berth. They are quiet, efficient, and you'll be so happy you did it. It's a substantial project, so get some help if you plan to do it yourself. Dealing with the hatch mounted A/C, while a low cost solution, means that you will have to install and remove it daily as you cruise, worry about storm leakage around the collar, and where to store it while running. They get dirty, wet, leak water on the deck (or worse, through the hatch) and are a general nuisance. For the occasional weekend, maybe, but a big hassle if you are cruising. Of course, YMMV
I keep my boat on Lake Champlain. I really don't think you will need air conditioning here. Maybe some nights in a marina it would be nice but there is almost always a breeze during the day. You will get some nasty looks especially from blowboaters if you crank up a generator in a quite cove.
The lake and mountains are awesome you will enjoy the trip. Locks are no big deal.
Once on the lake air is not needed I agree, but overnighting in the canal is hot and buggy. A boat with inboards will be hot if cruising all day.I've done the trip many times with and without air and air is the way to go.
A couple of safety points regarding household A/C. The are not ignition protected, so if you have a gas boat, you are asking for trouble if it's anywhere near fuel source (as in mounting the compressor in engine room). Household appliances, as a general rule, have the neutral tied to the ground, a big no-no on a boat (it could provide a path to water for electricity, really dangerous in fresh water).
Household appliances are not as tough as marine units are either. They corrode faster. They don't tolerate slamming loads as well. They require lots of cooling air flow to operate. If you are going to the trouble to install a unit, you might as well get one made for the purpose and do it one time.
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THANX for all of the input, I'm going to take a better look at the marine units and see if i can find one at a reasonable price, The hatch unit may be the ticket for me as well
split a/c unit vsall in one ? 
