Swamp Coolers

[PatrickMcHugh]

Aaah, I see. I don't know that quite yet.

[hellosailor]

Sucking in cold water and pumping it through small tubing is a nice theory. Except, you need to strain the inlet, filter it, keep the critters from growing inside the lines, keep powering the pump and fans....In practical terms you could put a lot of time and money into the experiment and see it pack up solid after a month or two, if it worked well at all.

I'd second the motion for a 5000 btu "carrycool" type air conditioner, and just pay for the use of the AC at the dock. Make up a hatchboard that secures the AC unit in the companionway hatch and you'll be in business. Those units are outright CHEAP.

[pigslo]

I paid 90 dollars for a 5,000 btu that cost about 20 dollars a month to run 24/7. That much will freeze you out on a boat that size.
pigslo

[SVCarolena]

I don't know how much room you have in the saloon, but my wife and I decided last year on one of the portable AC units that stay inside and have flexible ventilation hose that runs to a window. We keep it tied to the mast in the saloon and run the flexible hose to a nearby opening port. the nice thing is we don't clutter the companion way, and have very little to put it away before we head out for a sail. Ours atomizes the condensation and sends it out with the hot exhuast air. It was more expensive than a traditional window unit, but much less than a built-in marine option. Even on 90 plus degree days at the dock with no wind (we are on the Potomac) it makes the saloon comfortable - low humidity and high 70s to very low 80s. At night we need to turn it down.