It was great while it lasted...

[CatBuilder]

I did look at portable spot coolers. They are twice the price of the fixed systems per btu. A pair of 14000 btu units runs about $7000 with tax and or shipping. 120,000 btu fixed system installed is the same price.

Rivers of water are complicated. Entire area floods and I'm on a concrete pad. Not fixable.

[CatBuilder]

The thread worked!

Thanks, everyone, for participating and throwing out ideas.

Rick's last idea of spot cooling really got me thinking about it. I looked at them again and saw that they have a 60,000 BTU (5 ton) spot cooler for $11,000.

The magic happened when I was looking at that unit.

I was thinking that if a $11,000 5 ton portable unit can be used for spot cooling, that a $3500 5 ton fixed unit can also be used for spot cooling.

So, I'm putting in a single 5 ton unit with a long, flexible duct that I can move around the building, with the option for the 2nd 5 ton unit later, if needed. The long, flexible duct will undoubtedly loose some of the cooling power like a heat exchanger, but that loss is *inside* the building. This means any loss will only help cool the place.

The increase in productivity will help me finish the boat faster and I do dare wager that inflation (or dollar devaluation) on epoxy, cores and marine hardware will be more than the $3500 I am spending on the AC. As in... if I loose months of productivity, I think that will be more expensive (as a percentage of the boat project owing to rising costs) than the cost of the AC.

So, the solution is here. Thanks.

[Boston]

glad you figured it out Cat

just reading along and wanted to say best of luck
cheers

[CatBuilder]

Thanks, Boston.

I always figure my threads are a painful read. Ha ha ha

[Boston]

Not nearly as bad as some, which might just include my own so no worries. my theory is I'm pretty actively reading along, learning not so much about the actually building process ( I'm not building a stitch and glue ). but of the logistics involved and hopefully how to avoid making some of the same mistakes. Eventually your experiences will lend my own build invaluable assistance even if they seem like trauma at the time. I appreciate you posting your build by the way.

and of course as always best of luck
B

[CatBuilder]

It's working!

I am able to work all day long with 94 degree heat in the afternoons. I am using the far FAR cheaper 5 ton (60,000BTU) home central air unit as a spot cooler - just like the $11,000 spot coolers, but for much less than half the price. Closer to 1/4 the price.

[viking north]

As we old BEATNICKS used to say cool man cool--- Geo.

[CatBuilder]

Originally Posted by viking north

As we old BEATNICKS used to say cool man cool--- Geo.

An old beatnick?? That actually IS cool!

[rasorinc]

THROW A COUPLE 3 ICE CUBES IN THE NUT BAG. cool the bag down and all is well. Just like a cold ocean--it can make you shivver. Shrinkage is a temp side affect

[Boston]

way to go

94° isn't all that comfortable but at least you can get something done in it.

[CatBuilder]

Yeah, 94 isn't impossible, but come late June through early September, it's routinely 104 in the afternoons here. Nearly every day. Always sunny.