TEPS?? WHAT IS TEPS?

TEPS 

(Totally Electric Powered Solar) boat

http://www.mogcanalboat.com/

So what is different between a TEPS boat and a standard or even hybrid trawler?

Trade offs. They are important here, in order to understand why the TEPS boat idea works. A boating pair bought a 40 foot name brand, new trawler and applied their many years of small boat experience. The first lesson was using the oven and stove (electric generator) to cook their first on board dinner.

An electric two burner stove with oven required the generator for over four hours. Besides the smell of the roast beef, there was the diesel generator exhaust and the soft murmur of the droning gen engine. Lastly, the fuel used was of small effect on the whole fuel system but certainly would have effect over a month's daily use. The idea here is the 'trade off'. One is not on land and should be aware to minimize the use of a limited fossil fuel supply. Those trade offs, when applied to any boat increase extension of the boat's range while helping to reduce use, cost, maintenance and/or waste.

The following are practices, applied to  the TEPS boat, that incur trade offs when compared to more accepted standard boats. If any practice is unacceptable to the crew, then the amount of fossil fuel used will most probably increase.

1.   Shape and the general look.                               Long, lean, shallow, extended sedan with decks.

       A long slender boat will be more efficient being pushed through the water. To further such efficiency a more shallow draft and lower cabin height will decrease water and wind resistance. These are generalities that hold quite well in most cases.

      A TEPS boat has a major functional envelope of near coastal waters, inner coastal sounds, rivers and lakes. The TEPS boat and nearly all comparable size trawler types are not a European CE type A ocean rated boat and should be used with the care of weather considerations first and foremost.

2.   Design criteria for the live aboard life style.     Goes anywhere within near coastal waters.

      On the hook or the hookup, is not mutually exclusive. However,  a TEPS boat sure makes dreams of being at one with nature physically closer, a huge amount closer. Artful use of modern side scan fish finders and sharp eyes can identify shallow potential hull threats, allowing the captain and crew to go where only kayaks go. Getting close to shore is truly no comparison to being on the shore, a shallow 18 inch draft with twin skegs permits entry into shore areas with confidence. When on the hook, a TEPS boat is always hooked up to the sun for electricity, no dockside pedestal needed.

3.   Expanded mindset of the boat user. 

Cool, heat, water, head & A/C units are solar.

      Creature comforts are similar on both types of boats. Locality then becomes the difference. Air conditioning a whole boat interior just for 8 hours sleep is convenient but that convenience comes with noise & exhaust, not to mention a huge investment in machinery and the space allocated, plus its total concealment. In most marinas it is illegal to run the generator overnight with carbon monoxide poisoning neighbors, not to mention the noise. With the advent of small, light, efficient portable A/C units, simply place the A/C where it is needed, such as in the sleeping area at night. The morning sun will replenish the amount of electricity used overnight. The brighter the sun shines, the more power is collected for the A/C to work. Definitely a COOL idea.

 

Heat can be saved.

      With the use of paraffin, salt water, or other mediums to store heat from the solar modules atop the boat, the stored heat can later heat the cabin or hot water. Heat can be collected during the day and used at night to control the interior temperature. Such systems return their initial cost within a few seasons of use and are nonflammable, no electric shock hazard, very quiet with less critical mechanicals to maintain than engine or propane units.

Water from rain.

      To augment the use of pure drinking water a TEPS boat utilizes the large solar electric collection array area atop the boat to gather rain water. There are 7.5 gallons per cubic foot. That means a rain storm of one inch on 12 square feet of solar roof would yield 1 gallon of water. A TEPS roof would be a minimum of 240 sq. ft., yielding 20 gallons in a rainfall of 1 inch. If the water is correctly filtered it can be used for  laundry, bathing and if further purified, used as a potable water source.

A dry marine head.

      Composting commodes do not smell bad and take much less attention than a marine wet toilet. Furthermore, they do not use potable water to flush and process effluent. A person's solid & liquid waste along with a peat moss like material is all that is required. Vegetable only food stuff can be used also but no meats, fish or oils. A nice fact is that toilet tissue is good to use (within reason). Lastly, the composting commode requires no messy pump out.  The reduced material is light, dry, odorless and clean enough to use in a garden or on a lawn. For example, a Sun-Mar mobile/marine unit would be a USCG Type III MSD. A Type I, the most sophisticated Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) is still not permitted to dump its well processed effluent in No Discharge Zones (NDZ) which comprise 30 to 50% of the U.S. east coast. Definitely make sure your are in the correct area before discharge. There are no such problems with a composting commode.

The Sun-Mar dry composting head.

No smell, no water, no pump out, no macerator,

Just do it and then pull out the handle, turn 

& wait for nature to break it all down 

into smelless fertilizer.

      

4.   Maintenance comparison.                                 All parts are modular, replace use FedEx.

Engines or motors?
      The mother of all extravagance is huge engines constantly run below their most economical power range. There are many reasonable fossil fuel, higher horsepower, auxiliary drive units that would complement a solar electric powered drive system without being the main drive power. If desired, auxiliary power is more than welcome with room to spare.

A TEPS boat has a major functional envelope of near coastal waters, inner coastal sounds, rivers and near shore lakes. The TEPS boat and nearly all comparable size trawler types are not a European CE type A ocean rated boat.

Because our electric motor of 15 horsepower of 20 pounds is much lighter than a 15 horsepower diesel of 200 pounds, it can be shipped FedEx, UPS or even mailed to the user. A diesel engine and transmission set would be trucked and probably too expensive for overnight delivery. Also the electric motors are now simple plug and play, try that with a diesel.

Not to mention a TEPS boat requires no fossil fuel, oil, filters, changes, fuel pumps, fuel hoses, exhaust pipes, water cooled exhaust and electric starter, just to mention a few parts. Batteries are still needed and wires and checkups but that is far less work for the owner than one or two engines.

All the electronics are self diagnostic. A fault will indicate the culprit, pull it out and exchange for a new part. Not the same as reading engine codes and trying to discern the location, then finding the offending part on an internal combustion engine.

5.   Environmental envelope.                                  From knee deep to near ocean waters.

Deep and also very shallow water.
      To run a large boat ashore with no harm in less than two feet of water then allow the tide to let it rest level is a huge capability. Only very small boats or kayaks perform this task well. To do so in a 40 foot cabin cruiser is exceptional.
    


One can pilot the TEPS craft up a stream or river to near the source and in some cases that source is a water fall. Few folks will ever have the capability to be in such a place to enjoy actually living at the falls for an overnight. The boat is also adept at getting to and staying at the back side of a beach or sand spit to spend evenings with sunset dinners and sunrise breakfasts. Wilderness has never been this accessible.

     

6.   Cost versus fuel/oil.                                          Comparatively speaking, near zero.

Zero is a great cost for fuel.
      Buy a boat and continue to buy fuel. Buy a TEPS boat and the fuel is paid.

7.   Sea state to be encountered & self righting.     Beaufort 3 with very low center of gravity.

Courtesy of   http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/WDCS_Shorewatch_Seastate.pdf

8.   Handling in open and close quarters.                Instant reverse & forward and all day runs.

Steer by motor direction.
      As with most large dual engine boats, close quarters steering is very effective using the reverse and forward of the engines. A rudder can also be used. The TEPS boat not only allows both situations but amplifies the use of each. Motor steering is actually quite efficient for novice as well as the long time operator. Therefore selection of steering type use is by preference not mechanical dictate.

No transmissions are utilized. The result of an electric motor is nearly instantaneous change of actual motor direction. Virtually no delay from direction to direction of the propeller with nearly the full torque of the motor at just a few revolutions per minute.

9.   Noise and vibration characteristics.                  

So quiet and no vibration.

Engines need mufflers, motors just whir.
      Fossil fuel engines stop and start 8 pistons over 25 times per second. That pulsation produces loads of vibration and mechanical noise added to the already noisy exhaust explosions. The damping and quieting of an engine costs money, weight, thermal loss and unending maintenance. Yet the fossil fuel engine is chosen as main propulsion because it is a standard.

TEPS boats are not fast with their electric motor and battery storage but an engine can be added for increased top speed. The difference is decided by the owner of the boat, to go without noise or add some noise to get somewhere faster. Bottom line for a TEPS boat is sailboat speed with no noise or fossil fuel while having an unlimited range (no fossil fuels).

10. Interior arrangements.                                       Over 200 sq ft yielding cabins or open layout.

Minor difference of standard and TEPS boats.
      Other than rooftop solar electric modules, the two types of boats have near equal amenities. At the current pace of technology the TEPS boat has parity with their  trawler counterparts. In the near future they may actually surpass the standard trawler at a better price point and no fossil fuel use.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRGKbayI2yI

11. Durability and potential uses.                           Wood, FGRP, metal for yacht, clinic, research

Any boat material.
      There is no limit to the materials for either type of boat. The electric motor boat does not need to be built lighter or only of wood or exotic material. The materials chosen should match the market for the intended use of the TEPS boat. An ecological boat might be made of renewable wood or recyclable titanium. It all depends on price point, service type and expected service life.

As a clinic in a far off area or a luxury boat in the midst of a Key West bay, the TEPS boat has power advantages and loiter times of a nuclear ship, limited only by fresh fruit and vegetables. The draft would be quite less, as well as cost. The main item here is that the TEPS boat is powered by nuclear fusion and that is just 93 million miles away.... a very safe distance.

12. Future of pure solar electric powered boats.                    MOG is the true beginning as of 1990.

Any questions are welcome.  Contact through the site  http://www.mogcanalboat.com/

PROPPING UP THE MOG

Background... 

www.mogcanalboat.com:

A reader wrote;

"..... why are you using electric outboards instead of inboard motors?"

Outboard motor replacement?

ANSWER: 

For now, during testing, outboards allow easy access to the small (14 pounds or 6.3 kg) but powerful 10 hp electric motors. They are very light so they can be easily removed and placed inside at a comfortable work height. Also, the outboards get rid of two through hull fittings for each propeller when used as an inboard. One fitting is required for the propeller shaft and the other is for the rudder shaft. There is no desire on my part to have any water leak possibilities in a boat I design.

Actually, a future design of an inboard type arrangement is preferred to the current use of outboards or inboards.   More on that later.

Previously, the MOG electric motors were under the sole of the boat, accessed through hatches. This meant opening hatches and having a hole in the floor where I was also trying to walk.

The inboards were aligned and secured to the boat’s framework and to straight propeller shafts, angled down and out through the bottom of the hull, complicating quick tech upgrades, propeller and shaft service when needed.

The outboards are light and easy to remove as a whole unit or lift the top motor cover and look inside (my preferred method).

This winter I will be tackling the inboard versus outboard debate and feel there are some great solutions that will allow MOG to have the best of both worlds. As usual, technology plays an important part.

So if you like outboards, enjoy the view for now…. as it is with the MOG…..  

things will definitely change.

a PROPer Job

WELL..... THINGS ARE CHANGING

A new propeller is being designed as well as the shafting and electric motor placement.

Renato 'sonny' Levi is a boat designer par excellence. Having pushed the envelope of fast boats and yachts, he was instrumental in the creation of the surface propeller. In essence only the bottom portion of a rotating propeller is in the water. Not only does this yield a very shallow draft but it is meant for extremely fast boats of over eighty mph.

OK, So is the MOG Totally Solar Electric Drive & Powered boat to be running at 87 mph? Nope.

After Sonny had set the speed boat world on fire he decided to proceed full bore in the opposite direction. He would apply the same idea to slow speed hulls and freight ships.

Whoa!!! The professors at naval and maritime universities had a fit at his claim of 2 to 5% greater efficiency. Nobody wanted to spring the money or grants to prove such a far fetched idea, even if it was from the mind of a prodigy.

After convincing two great Italian universities to try the idea, a model hull for a freighter was fitted with his prop designs. Long story short, his initial projections were proven better than correct. The propeller system was nearly 13% more efficient!!  Of course much of that efficiency is due to drag reduction from not using a totally submerged prop, no shaft underneath the hull, no shaft support or rudders dragging in the water. Currently an Italian company by the name of Flexitab has the patents for the low speed prop.

LINK to discussion...   http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/surface-drives/surface-propeller-low-speed-displacement-boat-25284.html

LINK to patents....    http://patents.justia.com/inventor/brunello-acampora


So the MOG will be shod with new propellers of similar design and tested for 2016. Not all things are scalable but the propellers used for the large test tank model most nearly match the size needed for the MOG.\, so it is worth a try.

An initial radical concept prop by Sonny Levi.

A side and aft view of the Levi prop updated after tank testing.

Twin counter rotating props of newer design on tank test model's stern.

Aft section view of electric motor  on inside of transom, driving an upper pulley,

through a flexible belt to the propeller which is half submerged at the waterline.

The new propeller arrangement will probably use the existing outboard motor

jack plates, after substantial modifications for the new prop and bearings.

No doubt there is more to come as progress is made. For now, the candles are burning brightly into each and every night.

UPDATE for VOTE THE BOAT

A toast to the voters on the front deck of the MOG  ALGEMAC II

The MOG Totally solar electric powered boat, in the general Create the Future Contest voting (now closed),  faired extremely well;

4th  out of the 169  Sustainable Technology category entries. This places Mog in the top 2%.

42nd  out of  897 (all 7 technology categories) entries. This places Mog within the top 5%

ALSO

The popular votes are only a portion of the Create The Future Contest. It is now up to a fairly large panel of judges (minimum of 24) to ascertain the usefulness, marketability and validity of the proposed projects. There is quite a bit of variability in the entrant's level of completion....

The top entrant for the Sustainable Technologies is an idea with no patent. No actual demonstration or prototype.

2nd (an idea with patent-pending), 3rd (an existing patented product) and 4th (the actual prototype Mog totally solar electric powered boat with a design patent).

Entry at bottom of page…….   http://contest.techbriefs.com/2015/entries/sustainable-technologies/by-date?start=150     

First 4 entries of Sustainable Technologies are….

#5       Cybernated Farm Systems

#12      High Voltage Piezoelectric Power Plant

#31      ECHY: Solar Lighting With Fibre Optics

#42      TOTALLY Solar Electric Powered Hospital Boat


Your vote has gotten the Mog much, much further than our entry a few years ago. GOOD WORK!!!.

Now the wait to see if the votes in this category get medals or mention.
www.mogcanalboat.com:

Vote the Boat

www.mogcanalboat.com:

Want to make a difference?  Here's your chance for a meaningful vote for EVs,  read below.

http://contest.techbriefs.com/2015/entries/sustainable-technologies/5151-totally-solar-electric-powered-hospital-boat

http://www.mogcanalboat.com/

The MOG is a handsome looking vessel powered by sunlight and embodies the future of modern boating. At the very least, it is the best means of escaping the madding crowd for new destinations formerly reached only by kayaks.

George McNeir, a Wilmington, NC, industrial designer who retired from a career with computer companies deeply rooted in computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM), has privately built the Mog Canal Boat, a quiet, cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for water travel. The “MOG tm” epithet is an old world word meaning “to proceed deliberately, gently, to depart or decamp, to go from one place to another slowly and steadily”.

The Mog Canal Boat cruises at a leisurely sailboat speed of about 3 knots and tops out at a hull speed of 7 knots. She’s not a party boat for the young but a seriously unlimited range vessel with world class applications. Uses such as a mobile laboratory, traveling school, hospital-clinic, mobile marine power generation platform and long term team support vehicle, in shallow estuaries far from resupply of fuel, are but a few applications.

Nearly 3000 watts from this small array, full array is over 4000 watts.

If considered as a cruiser, it would sleep between two to four persons in two cabins with forward convertible settees and queen/twin bed aft that lifts up to create an open floor space. There is a full galley, head, vanity and a separate shower. Also powered by the sun are the standard radio, VHF radios, TV, air conditioning, refrigerator, vacuum cleaner and all lighting.

There are plenty of storage drawers, closets, lockers, below deck storage and both galley and head are fitted with pressurized cold and solar heated water. More than twenty large windows surround the spacious interior environment, yielding huge breathtaking views while protected from the sun’s UV intensity. Screened windows allow pleasant breezes to waft throughout the boat as well as real air conditioners for those very hot and muggy days.

The Mog’s bottom, although flat across the boat's beam, has a very efficient rocker or curve from stem to stern, creating highly efficient progress through the water with a nicely cutting bow. The hull is so efficient, that when compared to other monohulls or even catamarans, there is barely a wake to be seen.

The hull form presents an incredibly shallow draft of only 18 inches, not even knee deep, allowing it to camp out on beaches and islands along the way. This hull shape plus the fact that the range is truly unlimited, heralds a completely new application skill set for the captain and crew. A skill set that is intuitively learned and at the beck and call of any worthwhile application one can imagine.

A 10 hp electric outboard motor weighing just 75 pounds!

Inboard or outboard electric motors powered by the same solar derived fuel station in the sky, set the vessel into an uncanny quiet motion that handles with ballet-like ease and stops on a dime with nine cents change. Electric motors, with their full torque at zero rpm, can maneuver in a way that escapes the realm of currently employed internal combustion engines (without the fumes and noise too).

As for fuel, there is no match. No oil, smell, fire, plugs, freezing, filters, noise and insurance costs plummet. Even lead acid batteries last far longer because of the constant renewal of energy from the sun, even on cloudy days.

Ten of the eighteen batteries. New batteries will have 3X the power density.

With more exotic batteries the seascape changes even more dramatically, when costs are compared to internal combustion engines. At 2 to 3 miles per hour the vessel can proceed for days without significant sunshine (even at night). On a clear sunny day it is able to venture nearly 40 miles and arrive at the end of the day with nearly 94% full battery banks. Several excursions of 100 and over 500 miles have proven these capabilities. Newer technologies will greatly extend the speeds and distances.

After a gorgeous day of travel, create your camp right on the beach.

THE VOTE IS HERE

A NASA contest offers a way for you to contribute a vote to further to the EV cause.

The builder/designer of the Totally Solar Electric Vehicle MOG Boat, has privately built a full size, personal 40 foot working machine. And offers a free license to build these boats to all manner of humanitarian groups. For builders of private/commercial boats, there is a nominal fee.

The following contest raises awareness to new EV enthusiasts as well as those who have actively participated in the over 25 year build and demonstration of the MOG craft. Join the enterprise too.

The joining of the NASA Tech Pub’s 'Create The Future Contest' entitles the prospective voter to be a member of the CR4 designer’s forum as well as a vote for SEVs (solar electric vehicles).

Please read the article and see if this works for you, for boats, as a portion of the Electric Vehicle spectrum.

Here is your chance to VOTE the BOAT

Contest entries are no longer accepted BUT VOTING CONTINUES until September 11th, 2015.

       http://contest.techbriefs.com/2015/entries/sustainable-technologies/5151-totally-solar-electric-powered-hospital-boat

THE VOTE IS HERE

MOG Through The Museum

A Journey Through Maritime

A warm, inviting blue green Atlantic Ocean, hugging North Carolina’s pure sands around Wrightsville Beach, is connected westward by Market Street, to the famous Cape Fear River port of Wilmington with its nationally acclaimed Riverwalk.

This video reveals Atlantic Ocean waves breaking on the beach,

while tranquilly flowing into the shallow estuary behind the strand.

The 40 foot totally solar electric Algemac II is perched gently on the shore.

Between these two major tourist destinations is a wealth of history, considerately displayed for the traveler, toddler, student, historian, in a unique museum, unfolding a masterfully presented exposition of the Cape Fear area and the science prompting its inevitable growth.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Over 2 miles of Riverwalk lined with 4th of July celebrants.

The Wilmington Riverwalk, Cape Fear Museum of History & Science and

MOG Solar Electric boat located at the Cape Fear Marina at Bennett Brothers Yachts.

In June, the Cape Fear Museum of History & Science showed a new vision for recollecting greater New Hanover county, the Cape Fear region and the land and waters of the great state of North Carolina. With authenticity, dignity and charm, it has become more a TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space, machine) than any version of a museum. Even the architecture of the building housing the collection is indicative of such eloquent character. The museum and friendly staff welcome tourists and local visitors to see the ever changing and diverse exhibits.

The Cape Fear Museum of History & Science

 edifice at 814 Market street.

Rather than clever optics, laser lighting and audio/visual scintillations, the real items, things, gritty pictures, antiques, earthy tech wonders and the garments to bring it back to “there’s no place like home” are arrayed for all ages to ogle. Showcasing history with science is a definite winner. That youngsters have such an inroad into the application of the basic principals of physics is stellar.

The block pulley gave mechanical advantage to early 

sailors hauling up huge sheets of heavy canvas sails.

A great place to try a comparison of strength

 to the advantage of physics.

In Wilmington, 18 years of Michael Jordan's youth were spent studying

 and exercising his drive for excellence and good character.   

Having been to many top tier museums, this home town showcase knocks it out of the park. Walking through the displays from top to bottom, one is impressed not only by the new displays of museum artifacts but the hands-on demonstrations, especially a new physical display utilizing a 'participant friendly' ship, was enthralling. Every combination of age and intellect had been considered for what was actually fun, doing work (whilst learning practical physics).

Literally looking down the barrel of a cannon, one can

 utilize the physics involved, to aim a naval salute

 for 4th of July celebrations.

Several dioramas of the region were not only historically accurate but intense in their depiction, whether a battle or a day in the old downtown. Exceptional detail coupled with such a large format, makes being downtown in 1800’s Wilmington an immersive experience. One can easily spend an hour eyeing the street scenes, bygone activities, lost trades, antebellum dress, naval architecture, commerce and city layout. From a maritime standpoint, the blockade runners (in their time) are on a par with the best ocean powerboats by Fountain, Aronow, Schaldenbrand, Hunt and Gar Wood. To see such craft in actual 3D is absolutely amazing.

A most sleek craft appears as if designed today, for the

emerging technology of the time period. The viewer is

able to walk around the entire diorama in order to truly

 appreciate the depth of engineering and design displayed.

Naval architecture and shipbuilding was a major industry

 of Wilmington through many periods of the city's history.

During the continuing life of this seaport, many different

types of ship have slid down the ways into history.

Here are just a few items that should pique one's curiosity as to their application. The answers to these and many more questions are at the museum.

As unique as this item is, the builder is even more unique.

This item proves youngsters are found to be eager beavers.

Merely a vignette of an idea that changed naval history.

Turn a corner, you never know what you will see.

This was high tech to many young folks into the 19th centuery.

Everyone actually gets their turn here.

Young folks would not believe it if told, just have to see to believe.

Picture this.

Nope, it is not a spoon for giants.

The WW I  US Army was well 'trained' here.

Toddler's eye view of a ship of knowledge and enthrallment.

Some of us in the maritime arts have had occasion to use this item on display.

So, as the sign says, get to work on coming to

 the museum, learn and have fun at the same time.

The MOG crew heartily recommends that you savor not only the rich heritage of the currently thriving New Hanover area but also see the significant role science has facilitated throughout its history. The Cape Fear Museum of History & Science makes this possible for visitors to bring it all back home.

www.mogcanalboat.com:

SECRET NEW A/C?

Answering A Blog Site Question....

"Care to share the specifics of your solar electric air conditioning system? There is no mention of the system on the website you linked."

Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees! All of the writings about the Totally Solar Electric MOG boat and barely mentioned is the wonderful fact that the boat has real cooling air conditioning, yes A/C. Our fault.

Notice the small window AC unit in the aft starboard window.

It is easily moved to any of the over 12 window positions.

Sometimes, things here at MOG are taken for granted, such as the creature comforts placed aboard the boat. People are simply aghast when they hear there is AC and moreover it works well. Also, no trawler type boat, that is low on fuel, is going to run the generator for air conditioning. That same idea applies to a MOG. If there is insufficient fuel (solar replenishment) to continue propulsion for a journey, the A/C is turned off. That said, when the breezes from traveling stop and the humidity is creeping up your back and coming down as sweat, the MOG can definitely turn on the cool.

Stacked in their hiding place, two $99,  5,000 Btu AC units 

awaiting posting to their respective windows.

In fact the brighter the sun, the more energy is developed for cooling the captain and crew. This is not magic but simply the solar electric array making copious sun driven energy into the battery bank, to the inverter, to the 5,000 Btu window AC unit ($99 at HH Gregg, Home Depot, Walmart or similar). What? You thought that it would be some super-sophisticated Lithium Bromide Absorption System or maybe even Kryptonite/Solar Electric? Nope.

West Marine offers this raw water cooled AC, 115 volt unit for a bit over $1,100.

Why a plastic, common and inexpensive window air conditioner? First, the folks at CruiseAir make very good marine AC units. In fact I had one aboard the MOG when it was 30 feet (before the stretch to 40 feet). The compact under floor 5,000 btu unit worked just fine and had no problems. It was built very well and served until the day we put the boat aground for the night. After a few minutes the unit had no water running through the submerged water-cooling intake... the tide was out. Immediately the unit was shut off. Secondly, without the boat's hull immersed in water, there was no way to cool the refrigerant as it was being recirculated for the refrigerant's next cooling cycle. The AC unit was fine and sold to another boater.

West Marine's new 12 volt DC, raw water cooled, 6,000 btu AC unit for about $2,200.

Therefore, if one is to ground the boat, marine air conditioners using water that supports the hull cannot be used without even greater system complication. Several companies make very nice portable AC units for boats but they do not fit the physical envelope and shape of the MOG. The Haier and other small window types are all within an inch of fitment dimensions and use nearly the identical amounts of power.

The small units are less expensive to replace than they are to have serviced. Take them back to  the box store for disposal and buy a new one. That was my idea when I got a quote for cleaning the raw water intake of the original marine AC unit. For the price of the cleaning procedure, I could buy a new window air conditioner.

The window AC units are not called 'portable' but actually weigh less than some portable marine ACs and are very easy to install and remove from the MOG's custom window support. In fact, we take them out when making a journey and just pop it in, if used for the night or day once we are settled.

The inexpensive window AC units are now nicely designed and have a very small window profile and do not overhang the side decks of the boat. The front unit sits in the center window of the bow window group and has often been left there throughout daytime travels.

Barely visible is the center window mounted 5,000 btu AC unit.

At night the aft side windows allow a 5,000 btu unit to be positioned so effectively around the bed that it is run on low/slow, remaining on all night and not draining the large battery banks. Proper window shades that have high rejection of solar heat gain are used in the windows to reduce the load on the AC unit. New types of shades are always being swapped and measured for increased insulation value. The quest for using less and less power never ends.

Thanks for the question from 'Truth Is Not A Compromise' from a different forum to which MOG subscribes.