The Mermaid AC

 We have come up with a workable plan for AC and heat. It was first mentioned to me a year or two ago. I dismissed it as expensive and limited space. After pursuing about every other option out there we have come to the conclusion this may be the best way to go.

 It is the two unite solution. Yes one unite to cool and heat the salon, galley, settee and nav station are and one to cool the stateroom and head.

 To overcome the costs and the space constraints we have been looking at the Mermaid unites.

The first one would need to go under the settee on the forward end. It would need to be small. This unite would also need to run off a Honda 2000 genset and also run off of 110 volt.

The second unite would need to supply the heat as well as the air and the cost would need to be kept low.

Parts and service would need to be widely available which is the case with the Mermaids. They are fairly simple and are reasonably priced.

So this unite, the M5: 5,200 BTU System will actually run off the inverter while at anchor also.

COOL ONLY UNIT: L-15" W-11.5" H-11.5 

This unit will run off the new Honda eu1000i 1,000 watt portable generator, while in cool mode.  Another option is to use a Statpower 1,800 watt inverter and 450+ amp hours of battery power and you can anchor out (one average) for one night.  We have actually had success operating the Mermaid Model M5 off as low as a 1000 Watt Inverter and only 400 amp hours of battery power, however, longer operating times, it is recommended to use a higher wattage inverter and a bit more battery power.

The 5,200 BTU system is easily big enough to cool the stateroom. As for the head I am not sure because it is a separate space. It would cool it down if the door were to be left open. As to running a duck to the head it is still unknown territory.

The next unite would be the M12: 12,000 BTU System. This would easily cool the rest of the boat and handle heat if needed. There is also a 9,000 unite that could be an option.

The 12,000 is L - 19.75" x W - 13" x H - 13.75" in size

The 9,000 is   L-16", W-11.5", H-11.5" in size

The 5,200 COOL ONLY UNIT: L-15" W-11.5" H-11.5 

While a 16,000 btu unite is a proven size for cooling the Freeport these two configurations either exceed that size or are undersize. Of course we would like to exceed the size for maximum comfort and the unites would not work as hard. In fact the 12,00 may just cool the whole boat on a not real hot hot day.

Also it is possible to run the 12,000 btu unite off the Honda 2000 genset if needed, just not both at the same time.

We are now doing R&D on the noise and ducking etc.

 We have been told that the stock raw water heat exchanger pump, the Teel, is a lousy piece of kit. There is another option, the higher spec, more durable March pump, like this one: