AC upgrade

[daviddri]

After some tweaking, the AC units on my R29 work as advertised, but the aft AC just can't keep up with the Chesapeake summers and all the glass in the 29. Has anyone replaced their AC with a more powerful model?

 

[FWTMD]

This article got my attention in this morning's reading.

https://www.panbo.com/dc-air-conditioni ... -required/

 

[CaspersCruiser]

...... the aft AC just can't keep up with the Chesapeake summers and all the glass in the 29.......

Overcoming solar heating from all the windows is problem common to most Ranger Tugs. To mitigate the problem in my R27, I made heat screens for my windows from this material:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R-21 ... -L/1014123

It comes in a variety of sizes. I made patterns for my window frames out of newspaper and then cut the Reflectix to fit. I put thin strips of Velcro on the window frames and wider strips on the heat screens.

The screens are very effective. We put them up in the windows that are facing the sun. As the sun moves around during the day, we change which windows are screened. When we’re away from the boat, we put them all up and they keep the interior temperature within 20° of the outside temperature and keep the sun off the upholstery and electronics. They also prevent prying eyes from seeing inside the boat.

Of course, since they totally block the window, they can’t be used while underway except for windows not used when navigating. The only effective mitigation I’ve seen for use underway is increased window tinting.

 

[daviddri]

...... the aft AC just can't keep up with the Chesapeake summers and all the glass in the 29.......

Overcoming solar heating from all the windows is problem common to most Ranger Tugs. To mitigate the problem in my R27, I made heat screens for my windows from this material:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R-21 ... -L/1014123

It comes in a variety of sizes. I made patterns for my window frames out of newspaper and then cut the Reflectix to fit. I put thin strips of Velcro on the window frames and wider strips on the heat screens.

The screens are very effective. We put them up in the windows that are facing the sun. As the sun moves around during the day, we change which windows are screened. When we’re away from the boat, we put them all up and they keep the interior temperature within 20° of the outside temperature and keep the sun off the upholstery and electronics. They also prevent prying eyes from seeing inside the boat.

Of course, since they totally block the window, they can’t be used while underway except for windows not used when navigating. The only effective mitigation I’ve seen for use underway is increased window tinting.

Do you find this works better than just putting up the exterior canvas covers?

 

[bill46]

We had problems with salon AC cooling our 31CB .
Made hatch and window covers from foil backed 1/2” foam board. 4 X 8 sheet about $10.00.
Helped. Also made curtains for windshields like side curtains.
Still hot. Finally crawled in cave, removed cover and mesh filter. Pretty clean.
Found evaporator iced up!
Discovered a second finer filter between water coil and evaporator Very clogged with hair.
Previous owner must have has pets in cave! Cleaned. AC cooler fine after cleaning.
Replaced primary filter with home type paper, bought a large one and cut out to fit.
Checked stateroom, it too had second, not as bad. Cleaned and replaced metal one with paper.
Now boat can be cooled to 72 with 85 deg. Water and 95 degree air.
If over 90 I deploy some window covers, hatch insulators stay in place until cooler.
All that said we do not boat much from July 4 until Oct. since it is too hot at destinations.
Bill

 

[Matty]

Using the foil type material has an immediate and very noticeable impact. We did the same and very glad we did. A/c works sufficiently as long as ceiling windows are covered. There are more permanent shade solutions but costly.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Do you find this works better than just putting up the exterior canvas covers?

I have an exterior canvas screen for the front windows only. I did use it before I made the Reflectix screens. I found the Reflectix screens more effective at reducing solar heating. Another advantage of the interior mounted screens is that they can be put up and taken down without leaving the cabin.

A disadvantage of the Reflectix screens is storing them when they are all taken down while cruising. I have a system of taking them down in a certain order so that the smaller ones stack on one half of the two largest screens and I then fold those two over the small ones. It’s still a fairly large stack, but I have a niche for it in the cuddy or the cave.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Another endorsement for the reflectix. We sewed the reflectix onto the inside of our hatch covers. Using a heat gun we saw a 40-50 degree difference in the heat gain on the inside of the hatch. Storage isn’t an issue because we leave the hatch covers on all the time. Plenty of light in the boat with the side windows.

 

[KKRCRACE]

I have a C24 and had front and side windows tinted,which help greatly.
KKRCRACE