I do think you have been doing such a good job for so long with very little that you truly bring joy to those who wonder if anything can be done with nothing as long as you believe in each other. Good job. Leon and others in south TX.
Bill, I went back to this video to make sure I understood how you hooked up the 110V switch. Having 110V terminals on a breaker in the 12V breaker array is not recommended ( I interpreted the video as that was what you ended up doing??) ......at the very least make sure you insulate the terminals on the breaker you have used for the 110V feed.....if they have not been insulated, you have an accident waiting to happen including a real fire hazard if the 110V line gets shorted to a 12V line . I would also tie a label to the 110V feed wire indicating it is a hazardous 110V line. Also make sure the breaker you used is 110V 60Hz compliant and will trip 60Hz currents within the overcurrent range of the air con unit. Beside that criticism, great job installing the unit and inverter while still on the hook.
Bill looks like he’s having the time of his life! 😉. Jokes aside, I would give anything for this type of work than corporate/office life. Thanks for sharing! ❤️🇨🇦❤️
Great video and the benefits of the AC are probably paying huge dividends in Panama right now. Your ingenuity and determination in upgrading your boat have been a pleasure to watch. As a team, you and Grace have come so far, not only in nautical miles but in videography, and boat adaptations. Enjoy your grand life adventure and keep enjoying life and the freedom which the sea brings.
aww thanks so much!! 😍The A/C is a huge quality of life improvement! Calico is now tied up to the slip where she will spend the rainy season and the air con is pumping away! It's been a fun process growing our youtube channel. learned lots of new skills on this journey!
Aha! More boat yoga. There are times when A/C is indespensable. It's kind of amazing what kind of stuff can be crammed into a small space. Fair winds, y'all.
We feel like we almost wound up with more storage after installing the unit. A hanging closet takes a lot of space so adding shelves made the spade more usable :)
Quite a project guys; probably long awaited a/c. As a carpenter for over 25 years in the trade the one tool that I marveled at how much I use it is my cordless multi tool, you gotta get one Bill.
That was good an simple... You guy's are truly amazing ppl!! Thanks for always showing the truth.. the good life takes work!! Can't wait til next week!! ✌🏻💗😊❣️
I was just looking at other peoples comments. Is your new unit a "heat Pump"? If so you made a great up-grade. I have been using a heat pump for over 10 years to heat / cool my house and so far no problems. Also, it's very cheap to run.
Thanks for showing us behind curtain of beautiful sunsets. Perhaps I missed it, but what is the make and model of your air conditioner unit, and why did you choose that one?
@@CalicoSkiesSailing I just did an install of the same unit but the fcf model on my 34 foot boat. I would love to hear how you feel the performance of the unit is in the middle of the hot day? Mine can barely keep up during the day, but at night I can freeze myself out of the cabin! Have you got to use it much yet during the hot parts of the day?
Hmm ours remains really cold all day...we can’t keep the thermostat much lower than 75 or it’s like an ice box haha. Did you insulate the ducting run. Ours is really short. Also we added a transition box to help distribute air flow.
@@CalicoSkiesSailing I used insulated 4" hvac hose. I didn't do the transition box and I have 3 outlets, 1 in qberth, 1 saloon, 1 vberth. I may have to look at a transition box, thanks for the idea! I also have no port shades at all right now so I know that isn't helping either having the sun beat through the like 8 ports on side of the boat.
Very informative video...as usual. Is you boat insulated? Is that what the aluminum material was in the soon to be A/C locker against the hull? If so, what material did you use and how much of the boat did you insulate e.g. the quarter berth as well?
We layed a few layers of reflectex behind the cabinetry and put expanding foam in the ceiling liner. It helped during the winter when running heat. Cut back on the mold growth as well
I have the impression that Calico Skies is a "crammed" boat. Does the boat feel like an animal that needs to shed skin to allow it to grow a little bit bigger?
Could you have been a bit more gentle ? Animal like really? It’s their home, their wish, their money , I don’t think we Are someone to let others know how they should organize their home 🏠
Welcome to the world of cruising A/C, installing a marine unit is not my idea of fun tho, overpriced and underperforing usually and issues with debris in the water circuit. I took out my marine unit and went to a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 3.5kw split system. The difference is incredible! Draws 650W and today its 38deg"c at the marina in Brisbane and we are sjtting on 20deg down below. I built a 316 stainless body and chassis for the outdoor unit for corrosion protection and it dumps the hot air aft at the tramsom to ensure the above deck temp is unaffected
I was good up until I saw you cutting that polyboard towards your bare feet, then every cringe reflex went off at the same time! Great work though, and glad to see everything turned out well!
You know I couldn’t find any guidance on that. I was wondering myself. The AC and DC panels are physically installed very close together (within a few inches). If you had any more info it’d be greatly appreciated 😃
@@CalicoSkiesSailing According to this: electrical-engineering-portal.com/using-ac-and-dc-together-in-electrical-system "The Electrical Code prohibits AC and DC in the same box." I think the danger would be if someone was unaware of the AC switch while working on DC panel. If there was AC current it would be relatively easy to cause a short with a screwdriver or stray wire and get electrocuted or blow up equipment if the ac went into dc systems. Maybe at least electrical tape the shit out of the back to prevent that.
12 volt DC Air Conditioners for a sailboat installation like this are over 4 thousand dollars. They are much more power efficient though but that initial price is a killer.
Yes as nineline said it was cost prohibitive for us. Luckily marinas are pretty affordable down in Central America. We also run it on the hook off the batteries an hour or two when sunny or off the Honda
I've spent my life working with power tools. I have to say watching you cut and drill and grind with no safety glasses and bare foot made me cringe. People say "I've done it for years and had no problem." My son-in-law's father lost his eye on a quick simple job like that. He was 50 years old and had never worn safety glasses. No one has a problem, until they do. The bare feet isn't as big an issue. You can lose a few toes and be fine. I did enjoy the video on the non-cringy parts though.
Looking at your boat for first time it doesn't appear to be sea worthy at all. In your bilge alone I counted over 25 rusty house clamps that if failed at night while sleeping you would take on allot of water and possibly sink. If you are going on overnight passages you better get that boat in Seaworthy condition. If boarded by Coast Guard you would receive big fines. I'm not trying to be a kill not but before even putting boat in the water it needs to be safe. GOOD LUCK, SAFETY FIRST ‼️. Vinny 🇺🇸
![Battery-Powered AIR CONDITIONING on a Sailboat [Capable Cruising Guides]](/img/1.gif)
I do think you have been doing such a good job for so long with very little that you truly bring joy to those who wonder if anything can be done with nothing as long as you believe in each other. Good job. Leon and others in south TX.
Awww thanks!! 🥰🥰
Bill, I went back to this video to make sure I understood how you hooked up the 110V switch. Having 110V terminals on a breaker in the 12V breaker array is not recommended ( I interpreted the video as that was what you ended up doing??) ......at the very least make sure you insulate the terminals on the breaker you have used for the 110V feed.....if they have not been insulated, you have an accident waiting to happen including a real fire hazard if the 110V line gets shorted to a 12V line . I would also tie a label to the 110V feed wire indicating it is a hazardous 110V line. Also make sure the breaker you used is 110V 60Hz compliant and will trip 60Hz currents within the overcurrent range of the air con unit.
Beside that criticism, great job installing the unit and inverter while still on the hook.
Bill looks like he’s having the time of his life! 😉. Jokes aside, I would give anything for this type of work than corporate/office life. Thanks for sharing! ❤️🇨🇦❤️
Hahah you are right?! Plus the air con has been amazing here in Central America!
Great video and the benefits of the AC are probably paying huge dividends in Panama right now. Your ingenuity and determination in upgrading your boat have been a pleasure to watch. As a team, you and Grace have come so far, not only in nautical miles but in videography, and boat adaptations. Enjoy your grand life adventure and keep enjoying life and the freedom which the sea brings.
aww thanks so much!! 😍The A/C is a huge quality of life improvement! Calico is now tied up to the slip where she will spend the rainy season and the air con is pumping away! It's been a fun process growing our youtube channel. learned lots of new skills on this journey!
Nice job Bill . I would be terrified of drilling through the bottom of the boat
Haha I def had nightmares of hitting the bottom! What an epic fail that would be 🤣😂
Aha! More boat yoga. There are times when A/C is indespensable. It's kind of amazing what kind of stuff can be crammed into a small space. Fair winds, y'all.
We feel like we almost wound up with more storage after installing the unit. A hanging closet takes a lot of space so adding shelves made the spade more usable :)
Quite a project guys; probably long awaited a/c. As a carpenter for over 25 years in the trade the one tool that I marveled at how much I use it is my cordless multi tool, you gotta get one Bill.
I had the cordless model but the batteries stopped holding charge 😏. The wired replacements were cheaper 😀. Great tool!
you are pretty handy with boat jobs. nice improvement to your quality of life here, AC is a must have for me.
It’s a must have for us now too 😛
Great to hear you have Ireland on your itinerary.
We’d love to one day!
That was good an simple... You guy's are truly amazing ppl!! Thanks for always showing the truth.. the good life takes work!! Can't wait til next week!! ✌🏻💗😊❣️
Aww thanks!!! So glad you enjoy watching 🥰
Awesome video!
May the cool be with you!!! Cheers
Bill is a beast.
I love boat work videos! :)
go get em Bill and Grace! Love your building videos! did you need to seal the inside of the holes you had to drill ?
Luckily the holes we made are above the bilge basin so water shouldn’t get in 😀
frickin go for it Bill
!!! 😁
Amazing install 👍 cheers 🍻⛵️
Thanks!! We’ll worth it now that we are in Central America!
Wow, Bill never fails to impress me. I would hate to take on a job like that. Stay cool guys.
It was a beast of a project!! It’d been a lifesaver here in Panama
I was just looking at other peoples comments. Is your new unit a "heat Pump"? If so you made a great up-grade. I have been using a heat pump for over 10 years to heat / cool my house and so far no problems. Also, it's very cheap to run.
@@CalicoSkiesSailing Glad to hear it works well after all that effort.
It is has the ability to reverse cycle and heat the cabin 😀
I like your new A/C heat pump you will have the flexibility to use if for heat too! Travel safe!
Exactly! When plugged into a marina we won’t necessarily need to use our diesel heater :)
Thank you Stephen for noticing. I did not catch that. B&G, good planning for dual use.
Also works on 50/60 hz which is importan depending on what country we are in we will just need to step down the voltage 😃
get a timber blade for that alligator saw! good work
good call, we are always sort of making due with what we have onboard!
Nice area, I guess, at least it Was once. 🤷🏻♂️ We flew out of the Hollywood, Houlendale airport (HWO) many times in the 70’s .
Thanks for showing us behind curtain of beautiful sunsets. Perhaps I missed it, but what is the make and model of your air conditioner unit, and why did you choose that one?
It’s a Webasto 16k btu. The biggest consideration for us was the size and shape to fit in the closet 👍
@@CalicoSkiesSailing Thank you! It's been decades since I installed Webasto heaters. I did not know they did AC, too. Enjoy it!
@@CalicoSkiesSailing I just did an install of the same unit but the fcf model on my 34 foot boat. I would love to hear how you feel the performance of the unit is in the middle of the hot day? Mine can barely keep up during the day, but at night I can freeze myself out of the cabin! Have you got to use it much yet during the hot parts of the day?
Hmm ours remains really cold all day...we can’t keep the thermostat much lower than 75 or it’s like an ice box haha. Did you insulate the ducting run. Ours is really short. Also we added a transition box to help distribute air flow.
@@CalicoSkiesSailing I used insulated 4" hvac hose. I didn't do the transition box and I have 3 outlets, 1 in qberth, 1 saloon, 1 vberth. I may have to look at a transition box, thanks for the idea! I also have no port shades at all right now so I know that isn't helping either having the sun beat through the like 8 ports on side of the boat.
That is some epic 70s b movie music.
🤣🤣
If you drilled thru stringers make sure you fill them up with 5200 to prevent future rot.
👍 good tip!
So ... be honest .... how many toes do you have now ?
🤣🤣
So what happens to a tabbed stringer when you drill a hole in it and let let it soak up bildge water..?
Luckily it is above the main bilge basin. There shouldn’t be water that high up 😄
Real life onboard, an exercise of perseverance.
Lol this is true!! Amazing life style but not all sunsets and cocktails 😂
I cannot find a boat tour. What make and model is your boat
We haven’t don’t one yet!! Whoops lol. She’s a 1985 Sabre 36
Very informative video...as usual. Is you boat insulated? Is that what the aluminum material was in the soon to be A/C locker against the hull? If so, what material did you use and how much of the boat did you insulate e.g. the quarter berth as well?
We layed a few layers of reflectex behind the cabinetry and put expanding foam in the ceiling liner. It helped during the winter when running heat. Cut back on the mold growth as well
I have the impression that Calico Skies is a "crammed" boat. Does the boat feel like an animal that needs to shed skin to allow it to grow a little bit bigger?
A bigger boat would be great but she’s paid for and we are able to be out here cruising now 😃
Could you have been a bit more gentle ? Animal like really? It’s their home, their wish, their money , I don’t think we
Are someone to let others know how they should organize their home 🏠
@@Ferinm Every Captain dreams of a boat 2 feet longer - - - and I'm on a 17 footer.
Hi Bill, what is the make and model of the ac? Where did you buy the ac unit from and how much?
It’s a Webasto 16k btu, we got it from defender for like 1600$ or so 👍
I love yall, that's awesome
😎🤙♥️
Welcome to the world of cruising A/C, installing a marine unit is not my idea of fun tho, overpriced and underperforing usually and issues with debris in the water circuit.
I took out my marine unit and went to a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 3.5kw split system. The difference is incredible! Draws 650W and today its 38deg"c at the marina in Brisbane and we are sjtting on 20deg down below.
I built a 316 stainless body and chassis for the outdoor unit for corrosion protection and it dumps the hot air aft at the tramsom to ensure the above deck temp is unaffected
Does that unit also function as a heat pump for heating or only cooling?
It’s has reverse cycle for heat but we haven’t had to try that out yet. Maybe ok New Zealand!
@@CalicoSkiesSailing New Zealand is definitely on my bucket list. Can't wait to see you go there!
I was good up until I saw you cutting that polyboard towards your bare feet, then every cringe reflex went off at the same time! Great work though, and glad to see everything turned out well!
LOL Yea in hindisight not the smartest move HA, Project fatigue was setting in!
I may not know what i'm talking about....but did you mix an AC breaker in next to DC breakers? Seems pretty dangerous if so.
You know I couldn’t find any guidance on that. I was wondering myself. The AC and DC panels are physically installed very close together (within a few inches). If you had any more info it’d be greatly appreciated 😃
@@CalicoSkiesSailing According to this: electrical-engineering-portal.com/using-ac-and-dc-together-in-electrical-system "The Electrical Code prohibits AC and DC in the same box." I think the danger would be if someone was unaware of the AC switch while working on DC panel. If there was AC current it would be relatively easy to cause a short with a screwdriver or stray wire and get electrocuted or blow up equipment if the ac went into dc systems. Maybe at least electrical tape the shit out of the back to prevent that.
Invest in a square for those days your boat is rocking and a level won’t do it.
Yep I have onboard. Needed it for some of the trim work cleaning up the install 😃
Why not stainless chain?
Prob the cost
👍👍👍👍👍
Surprised that you didn't go for a 12/24v ac to be more energy efficient.
12 volt DC Air Conditioners for a sailboat installation like this are over 4 thousand dollars. They are much more power efficient though but that initial price is a killer.
Yes as nineline said it was cost prohibitive for us. Luckily marinas are pretty affordable down in Central America. We also run it on the hook off the batteries an hour or two when sunny or off the Honda
@@CalicoSkiesSailing can understand, slap the word marine on anything and its double+ the price 😕
what size A/C unit did you install? 16k?
That's a lot of sweat just to be cool.
Or should I say cooler.
🤣
Lot of work 🥴but it will be worth it to have AC.
It's been a game changer for us in Central America!
" 4 Simple Steps" ...hmmmmm
😂😝
The mess just gives me anxiety.
It’s hard living aboard and doing projects!! The mess adds to the difficulty lol
😢I didn't see a simple step😢
I've spent my life working with power tools. I have to say watching you cut and drill and grind with no safety glasses and bare foot made me cringe. People say "I've done it for years and had no problem." My son-in-law's father lost his eye on a quick simple job like that. He was 50 years old and had never worn safety glasses. No one has a problem, until they do. The bare feet isn't as big an issue. You can lose a few toes and be fine. I did enjoy the video on the non-cringy parts though.
Smart! Reviewing the footage we should use more safety gear!
Agreed!
if it wasnt fun , we wouldnt do it.....
Looking at your boat for first time it doesn't appear to be sea worthy at all. In your bilge alone I counted over 25 rusty house clamps that if failed at night while sleeping you would take on allot of water and possibly sink. If you are going on overnight passages you better get that boat in Seaworthy condition. If boarded by Coast Guard you would receive big fines. I'm not trying to be a kill not but before even putting boat in the water it needs to be safe. GOOD LUCK, SAFETY FIRST ‼️. Vinny 🇺🇸
mess