How Do Boat Air Conditioners Work?
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Definition
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Boating for more than a few hours is nicer when there is a cabin for relaxing, or even sleeping. Radiation from the water makes temperatures inside a boat rise at an alarming rate. On open water, concealed in a fiberglass shell, the temperature rises faster than it does in a sealed automobile. Boat air conditioners keep the atmosphere on board pleasant even in extreme heat. Two types of boat air conditioners solve the heat problem.
Size
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Find the proper size air conditioner for your boat. Too few BTUs will not have the power to cool down a big space. BTU stands for "British Thermal Unit" and is the measure of kilojoules used by an air conditioning unit. Too many BTUs will shut the unit off too soon and while the temperature is cool, the humidity is too high so the air still feels sticky. The formula for the optimal number of BTUs is 14 times the number of feet in length of your boat. The formula for a 26-foot boat is 26 times 14 for a total of 364 BTU.
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Hatch Style
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Hatch style boat air conditioners are portable units stored inside the boat when it is moving and placed on the hatch opening on the roof of the cabin when at rest. They are easy to handle and anyone can install them. They do not seal firmly to the opening, however, letting a lot of the cold air they create escape. They take longer to cool the cabin and use a lot of energy.
Built-In
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Built-in air conditioner units have the main air conditioner in the engine compartment and runs cold air through a duct system like a house. The power comes directly from the boat's main circuit breaker and requires professional installation. They are powerful enough for any size boat.
Obstacles and Efficiency
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Boats with a lot of window surface facing into the cabin make air conditioners work harder and use more energy. Boats with dark color hulls attract more heat also creating a more difficult environment to cool. Start the air conditioners before the hottest part of the day. It is easier for the air conditioners to cool a boat before temperatures peak, and keep it cool than it is to fight extreme heat.
Cost
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Boat air conditioners vary in price from several hundred dollars for portable units to several thousand for very large portables and for built-in units. Built-in air conditioners are much more expensive than portable hatch air conditioners. Professional installation of built-in units drives the price up even higher.
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