MARINE AIR CONDITIONER

Welcome to Dormaire, suppliers of high quality and easy-install marine air conditioners for every budget

WHAT SIZE MARINE AIR CONDITIONER? HOW MANY BTU DO I NEED TO COOL MY BOAT? HOW DO YOU SIZE A MARINE AIR CONDITIONER? 

You can find in Internet a number of complicated formulas to size your new air conditioner, but we prefer easy examples based on boat type and size. We offer a wide range of air conditioners adequate for any boat size. You can browse in our website for our recommendations or send us a message stating boat model and sailing area. We will reply promptly with our customized recommendation for you.

2000 BTU portable marine air conditioner suitable for SMALL CABINS: 

- Small cabins in power or sailing boats up to 35'

3500 BTU marine air conditioner suitable for SMALL BOATS: 

- Small cabins with ensuite bathroom
- Cuddy cabin boats

6000 BTU marine air conditioner suitable for: 

- Sport power boats up to 25'
- Sail boats up to 28'
- 2 normal size cabins (without ensuite bathroom)
- 1 big cabin with en suite bathroom and work area

8000 BTU marine air conditioner suitable for: 

- Sport power boats up to 32'
- Power boats up to 26' (pilothouse with big windows)
- Sail boats up to 32'
- 2 cabins without ensuite bathrooms
- Saloons in sailboats up to 38' (saloon only)

12000 BTU marine air conditioner suitable for: 

- Speed boats up to 40' (saloon under deck and without windows)
- Power boats up to 32' (pilothouse with big windows)
- Sail boats up to 40'
- Saloons with large windows in power boats up to 46' (saloon only)

16000 BTU marine air conditioner suitable for: 

- Sport power boats up to 45' (saloon under deck without windows)
- Power boats up to 40' (pilothouse with big windows)
- Sail boats up to 45'
- Saloons in catamarans up to 46' (saloon only)

CAN A 12V BATTERY POWER A MARINE AIR CONDITIONER?

Our battery operated boat air conditioner has a high speed blower and is perfect for cooling saloons and cabins in both sailing or powerboats. Its 12Vdc refrigeration inverter compressor, with high quality and efficiency gives large autonomy while running on batteries. Is also quiet and reliable. Uses R134a refrigerant gas, which is considered as environmentally friendly.

It has a variable speed blower with automatic mode and internal motor for a compact installation footprint. The blower can be rotated for installation convenience. Is built on an easy to plumb stainless steel pan and its air filter can be removed for easy cleaning. The unit is operated with the included touchscreen digital control. For added installation convenience, the electric panel is mounted separately. 

HOW MANY BATTERIES DOES IT TAKE TO RUN A MARINE AIR CONDITIONER?

If you are thinking of buying a marine air conditioner with the intention of using it connected to the boat's batteries, you should know that a conventional 230Vac boat air conditioner running off power inverter isn't a feasible option. Isn't feasible economically because power consumption of a conventional machine is approximately three times that of our 12-volts inverter machines. To achieve the same hours of autonomy, the conventional machine will need triple the battery capacity. As the necessary batteries are lithium LiFePO4 and they are batteries with a high cost, the cost of the extra batteries needed would be larger than the difference in price between both machines. In addition, there would be the problem of the greater space required by the batteries and extra solar panels.

Reasons why the consumption of a conventional machine is approximately triple are:

1. The inverter compressor is more efficient than the conventional compressor
2. The 12-volt machines use a blower, also an inverter, which helps to improve efficiency
3. dc/ac converter isn't needed, thus avoiding the energy losses of these devices
4. With the 12 volts aircon there aren't inefficiencies due to inrush current peaks at start-up.

BEST 12v MARINE AIR CONDITIONER

Nowadays it is an increasingly common trend to install equipment that can work directly powered by the boat's batteries. Without the need for the power supply from the port, and without the uncomfortable noise of the generator set. Although the purchase price of this equipment is higher due to the high cost of the new technology they use, the total cost of the installation is lower because the generator set is not necessary.

For an air conditioner to work efficiently and thus achieve maximum comfort without wasting battery capacity, it must use an inverter-type compressor. They are compressors with lower than normal energy consumption, but they also have a main difference compared to 220 volt compressors. Conventional compressors have a very high consumption in the moments of startup. After a few seconds that consumption is reduced to normal values, but those seconds are long enough to need a powerful electrical supply to support that maximum current. However, modern inverter compressors have a progressive start, they accelerate little by little with an almost imperceptible noise and with an electrical consumption that increases little by little.
Additionally, when the air conditioning unit Inverter conditioner reaches the desired temperature, its compressor reduces the power consumed.

This is how modern 12-volt direct current equipment manages to increase its operating hours by making the most of the capacity of the batteries..

MOST EFFICIENT 12V AIR CONDITIONER FOR BOAT

Dormaire 12 volt Marine Air Conditioners, use an inverter compressor with variable speed. This compressor type has a better efficiency and its power consumption upon start is reduced and without inrush current spikes.
As the air conditioner reaches the set point temperature in the room, the system will reduce its speed and power consumption, to extend battery life for hours without recharge. This way when the air conditioner is used during the night, as there isn't strong sunshine radiation, running times will extend.
This is the ideal air conditioning system for running on batteries as it doesn't need external power inverter to rise the battery voltage, it avoids power looses on the inverter system. Best of all, you will not need generator, avoiding annoying noises and smoke.

24V MARINE AIR CONDITIONER

Listening to our customers requirements, we have developed our newest battery operated marine air conditioner that run directly on 24 volt batteries from the battery bank of your boat, without using a generator or inverter.
This new 24V DC air conditioner is specially useful for work boats that run on 24 volt systems, but also for large yachts that have a central chilled water air conditioning system, but under certain circumstances with few guests onboard want to enjoy comfort in the owner's cabin, without wasting energy running a complex system on generators

HOW DOES A MARINE AIR CONDITIONER WORK? HOW DOES BOAT AC WORK?

The operation of a boat's air conditioning system is similar to the central air conditioning of a house, but with some modifications.
As in a house, a unit is installed that takes air from the interior, circulates it through a cooling system, and a fan distributes it to the saloon and cabins on air ducts with their ventilation grilles.

To get rid of the heat from the air in the room, an outdoor unit is used in domestic appliances that gives off hot air. In the case of a boat, instead of the outside air, the heat is transferred to the seawater. There are several reasons for this:
- Aesthetics
- Durability of the equipment
- Less noise
- Smaller size
- Greater energy efficiency


Water cooling would also be preferable for air conditioning in houses, because it is more efficient, but there aren't large quantities of cooling water available in houses, so air is used instead.


In addition, in the case of marine air conditioners, for reasons of space and simplicity, it is preferred using a self contained unit, which is installed inside the boat, and which groups together all the components of the indoor and outdoor units. The only device to be added is the seawater circulation pump.

PORTABLE MARINE AIR CONDITIONER

A portable marine air conditioning is a practical and economical option that allows you to enjoy a comfortable cabin to rest without having to do any installation. So you can use it in any boat, wherever you go. It is assembled in a hatch or porthole and cools the cabin without the need of a seawater pump because it uses air instead.

Our portable marine air conditioner is the best air conditioning solution for small boats. Using a carry on type air conditioner for boat hatch or fitted on a porthole is an inexpensive way to get your boat cool and comfortable without installation. In dormaire.com you can find the advantages of our smallest mobile mini air conditioners, which are cheap and suitable for boat cabin in sailboat or cuddy cabins.

FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

+ TYPES OF MARINE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS

Self Contained Units

Split Units

Chilled Water Systems

Self Contained Units

is the easiest and most cost effective solution so is preferred in most cases. The unit is completely self-contained and compact so can be fitted under a seat

Split Units

works similar to the self-contained but split into 2 parts. The condensing unit (compressor) is fitted into the bilge/engine room, and the air handling units fitted into the cabin/interior spaces. They are interconnected with gas tubes

Chilled Water Systems

the sea water cooled chiller is fitted in the engine room and circulates chilled water to the air handlers installed in the living spaces

BEST MARINE AIR CONDITIONER

CLICK on the images bellow to discover more details of our most efficient marine air conditioners

MARINE AIR CONDITIONER REVIEWS

Check our customer reviews in Google

go to Google reviews

You can also check our customer review and assembly procedure in nautical forum La Taberna del Puerto.

go to La Taberna del Puerto

PROFESSIONALS

In addition to private customers, we also attend inquiries from professionals.