Chill on a Yacht With a Portable Air Conditioner

Heat can be dangerous; it's a killer especially for the very old and the young. The heat wave in Europe in August 2003 killed an enormous  19 000 people, which shows that air-conditioning is becoming more of a necessity now than ever before.  Those lucky few that spend their spare time yachting around the seven seas aren't exempt from the body's need for temperature control. The sun beats down without mercy on the sea, and a small cabin can easily become an unpleasant roasting oven. Portable air conditioning for boats is a must if you really want that pleasure cruise to remain a pleasure.

Energy efficiency becomes even more important when you are far from dry land. A Miami invention by seasoned yachtsman, Bert Kehren, came after he realized that his air-conditioning unit was the biggest drain on his boat's energy supply. The way Kehren managed to develop a highly-efficient portable unit was by using top quality parts and rearranging them to work more efficiently. Kehren added a rotary compressor to the traditional unit, which is more efficient than pistons, and added top quality evaporators, blower motors and a condenser. The 6000-Btu can run all day, keeping the air in the boat cool and dry and it uses significantly less power.

The Carry On 7000 is another US invention that is specifically made for small boats and is the only hatch top air-conditioner around that is meant for the marine environment. It can fit onto any hatch and is easily installed by one person without tools. The waterproof hatch bag is adjustable, so it fits tightly over the hatch and seals in cool air and keeps out insects. The Carry On lives up to its name; it's compact and light.

If you want to buy a portable air-conditioning unit for your boat it's worth shopping around a bit. Power supplies on boats are a little trickier than the power supply at home, and factors such as size and weight become a lot more important when your living space is diminished. Using an energy saving unit that can run continually and spare you and your family from feeling drained and tired on a hot, humid day will make all the difference to your summer holiday.