[Public-List] Air Conditioning My Boat

[Daniel Swords via Public-List]

Currently I am using an Edgestar Model AP8000 W windowless air conditioner located on the floor of the forward cabin (securely strapped between the V berths just forward oh the head/hanging locker bulkhead and exhausting through a 4" cowl vent mounted in the forward hatch). This was intended to be a temporary setup to see if the system might work. I am pleased with the results but am now ready to make a more permanent installation (the current setup works but the location of the unit and exhaust is inconvenient).  There is ample room to move this unit over the top of the water tank just to the rear of the anchor rode locker bulkhead and to exhaust it through a cowl vent mounted through the deck over the anchor locker (this will require a hole cut through the deck). 

But here is a question: while looking at the modifications required for a secure mounting of this tall/narrow top heavy unit I am thinking, why not just very slightly modify the forward anchor locker bulkhead so that I can mount a window unit in that bulkhead?  The outside condenser portion of the window unit would be in the anchor rode locker with the inside portion of the unit being in the cabin.  The condensate would just drain into the bilge and be pumped over by the bilge pumps (I practically live on my boat so I am not concerned about a pump failure sinking). I would have to add good anchor rode locker ventilation but the advantages would be: unlike the windowless unit the condenser section would be separate from the conditioned space which will be much more efficient, window units are cheaper and easily replaced, the window unit could be more easily made more secure while sailing in rough conditions, mounting the unit in the forward bulkhead is a much more convenient location than mounting it over a hatch or in the companion way. The only disadvantage I see is that the anchor rode locker could not be  adequately ventilated for the unit to operate (i.e. it would get too hot) but I am thinking a 4" cowl might be sufficient?

Thoughts/experience/suggestions?

Solitude, hull #525.  

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