[Rhodes22-list] Brad - Air Conditioning

[Alex Bell]

Phillip, Brad,

Frigiboat is marketing a 5k dc air conditioning system. They also make 
holding plate refrigeration systems for boats. Real pricey, and not 
really pratical for R22's.

Concerning AC on boats, the Cruisair units do a good job, especially the 
split systems. We've got the 16K system on Kizmet with the air handler 
in the cabin and the compressor in the cockpit lazerette. It's much 
quieter than the self contained units. If you wanted to run an AC aboard 
the R22 you could install the self contained unit in the laz and run 
your cooling line up under the seat, cut a hole in the bulkhead and you 
have AC. Not real pratical either.

Installing a home type AC over a hatch is not very pretty. It works for 
some, and we've got a couple of boats here at the marina that do that. 
They're usually boats in the 32 to 34 foot range and are of the "hanger 
queen" type. Never leave the harbor. People use them for a floating 
getaway condo. Maybe you can do a better job of installation so that 
it's easy to remove and reinstall. The handles on the one in the pics 
looks like a good step. My luck, I'd drill into the cooling fins and let 
all those ozone attackers out of the tubes.

 As to making canvas to fit the AC and hatch, we could make something 
like that, but we've got a 6 month backlog for large projects and aren't 
taking on anything of that nature right now. I would suggest that you 
pattern up something that works and take it to a car upholstry shop in 
your area. That might be far cheaper.  We use 6 mil clear shrink wrap to 
pattern with. You could cut cardboard out to do the same thing. Cut your 
pieces of  canvas out  and  sew  inside out. Flip it  over and it's got 
a nice finished look. Trying to make it out of one piece of cloth 
requires some sewing experience like Pamela has. You end up with pleats 
that are hard to make equal on each side. From your pictures included at 
that website, I think you could do a decent job, but I would add a line 
around the AC unit from one side to the other with my favorite material, 
the bungie. Put a couple of gromits in the side and it's going to stay put.

For those who think they want to do some canvas work on their own, look 
at the Sairlrite website. They sell sewing machines (that's where we got 
our first one) and have lots of helpful information on how to do it. 
They have plans for different projects that might appeal to youo. They 
even have kits for dodgers and biminisa. NOTE TO ALL... The dodger is 
the single most difficult project we make. We charge  $2,200 to $2,800 
for a typical dodger. They cost that for a good reason. They're hard to 
do well. But some people have done dodgers with kits from Sailrite 
(including frames) and they came out fine. I'd encourage anyone who is 
thinking about getting a sewing machine to do canvas work to look at 
their site. They have very good machines and also have an area where you 
can buy or sell used machines. We sold ours in 2 days after listing it 
on their site.

If you need help in patterning something like this, I can give you some 
guidance. I think Sailrite has some helpful stuff on their site. They 
even have videos if you've got good connect speed.

Alex Bell

Philip Esteban wrote:

>Brad,
>   Is that a twelve volt system or is it only for when you are in the slip?
>
>Philip
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of brad haslett
>Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2005 1:54 PM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Alex - Sailing and Sewing Question
>
>
>Alex, 
>
>Rik's e-mail jogged my memory.  Didn't you and Pamela
>start a boat sewing business?  Forgive me for being to
>lazy to look it up in the archives.  Here's what I
>need.  In my continuing tradition of "Jed Clampett
>Goes Sailing", I bought a small window air-conditioner
>to cool my boat.  Here is a link to what I had in
>mind.
>
>http://www.kaholee.net/ac.htm
>
>I bought a sewing machine on e-bay and got screwed on
>the deal, like I know how to sew anyway.  If I sent
>you the dimensions, do you think you could pull this
>off?
>
>Brad Haslett
>"CoraShen
>
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