I had a R25 with A/C and gen and now own a R29 with A/C and gen. In searching for the R29 I found most already have the A/C and gen. I’m thinking at that level of purchase price folks expect the luxury items to be included.
In using them on the R25 I found the intakes for both clogged so often I got really really careful as to the “cleanliness” of the water I was in and even then they clogged. All I can figure is even though the intakes are a copla feet underwater there’s significant suction right at their openings and anything floating nearby, or skidding along the hull, will and does get sucked in. And keep in mind these are round plain open intakes, no screens like the high speed pickups. And you lose
the impellers in just about every overheat event.
On my new to me R29 I’m putting flow alarms on these intakes and the engine raw water intake.
So I ended up with places I wouldn't use them, Petaluma Turning Basin, Petaluma Marina, Santa Barbara Harbor, Morro Bay Harbor, Monterey Harbor and places I didn’t want to use them which was everywhere except when on the hook or perhaps clean clean freshwater marinas. Oh, and in clean clean freshwater marinas they clogged there too.
So nowadays to help the in a marina comfort level we bring along a portable household A/C unit, running it on shore power and routing the exhaust hose out a porthole which is a surprisingly good fit!
As for exterior mounted units I would worry they would turn into rust buckets within a copla years unless they are salt water marine rated and don’t know of any that make that claim but folks here on the ‘Nuts say they are getting good life out of them so it’s nice to have choices.
