AC when NOT on shore power

[connorflyer@aol.com]

Traded in my Monterey bow rider for a 2001 Four Winns Vista 248. I’m new to Cabin on boats. Is there any way to keep my AC, microwave and range working while out for the day?

 

[GA_Boater]

Got a generator?

 

[connorflyer@aol.com]

No, I was just looking at some quiet options. Any ideas? Could I put one in the engine compartment?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Marine water cooled generator

 

[GA_Boater]

That I don't know. The boat may have had an optional generator, but no idea if it did or if one could retrofitted. Most likely if it did have a generator option, it would be a water cooled genny.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hey Scott - Stop copying me. Or did I copy you? LOL

 

[GA_Boater]

You don't want to put a Honda or other non-marine generator in the engine bay. Other than water cooling, a marine generator has USCG approved electrical parts so sparks don't ignite any fuel vapors, just like starters, alternators and the like.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Hey Scott - Stop copying me. Or did I copy you? LOL

Insane minds think alike

 

[alldodge]

Have found none that came with a Gen. Have seen some other boats use a small honda kind of gen on the swim platform for short periods. Always would want some wind to help keep CO from building up and never let it run and go to sleep. The inverter is just not an option

 

[sam am I]

What if???

What if a guy dropped a hose down into the lake/water a bit under the surface (say a couple feet depending on the surface temp at the time), pumped the lake water up through a heat exchanger (radiator/heater core), put a variable high volume fan behind it and re-cir the cabin air through it?

Where are the resident HVAC guys to do a load calc on this?

Is it do'able? Say.......Given 60'ish degree intake water temp with a given fixed'ish heat loss rate of the cabin with outside temp of 100........ What volume of water would have to be moved through the exchanger? What size of exchanger? What is the volume of air that would be required of the fan? What is the total current of the pump and fan?

Given the above and if this is attainable, what is the total time to bring a 100 degree cabin down to and sustain 60'ish (or whatever the lake water input is).

 

[GA_Boater]

Summertime temps of the lake I'm on are 85+. You would be better off with a misting system and use the fan for evaporative cooling of your body. Or jump in the lake.

 

[sam am I]

I got 42 all year around at 50 feet down.....but my lake isn't all lakes

 

[Scott Danforth]

summer and the water gets to 90 here

 

[sam am I]

summer and the water gets to 90 here

That's bath tub temp........Perhaps my lakes are just too cold. But as I said, IF the lake (intake temp) was for example 60 (the "couple feet" down under the surface is as in deep enough to pull in that 60), not 90, not 85! And no, not ALL lakes/waters obvious would work if they're a bath tub temp

 

[alldodge]

Fresh water lakes have their thremoclines around 20 to 25 feet. So water on top is 90 and under that its 50 something. When it gets real hot for long periods, just need a small bilge pump to pump cooler water to the surface for cool swim area.

Might be able to have something similar work, but then you have cooler temps but still humidity is high

 

[Scott Danforth]

https://www.seatemperature.org/north-america/united-states/bradenton-beach.htm
http://www.beachhunter.net/thingstoknow/gulfwatertemp/index.htm

 

[GA_Boater]

20-25 feet is a lot of lift for a bilge pump. If the pump is suspended into the cooler water, 20-25 feet is a lot of head to overcome.

A submersible well pump would do the job. LOL

 

[sam am I]

Fresh water lakes have their thremoclines around 20 to 25 feet. So water on top is 90 and under that its 50 something. When it gets real hot for long periods, just need a small bilge pump to pump cooler water to the surface for cool swim area.

Might be able to have something similar work, but then you have cooler temps but still humidity is high

Yes, I used my live well pump and did just this with a heater core.........I'll cooled the core down cold as the water which was 50/60 at the time. I put a small fan behind it and it blew cool air. It's all a matter of the right volumes of water and air and where i live, I think i'd work.........maybe? Not sure but, seemed to.

 

[sam am I]

20-25 feet is a lot of lift for a bilge pump. If the pump is suspended into the cooler water, 20-25 feet is a lot of head to overcome.

A submersible well pump would do the job. LOL

I believe the head to calculate is only once the water is above the surface......

 

[Scott Danforth]

actually, simply moving air with a fan is more than enough with temps 90 and below