GL: Boating with Washer and Dryer

[Ken Bloomfield]

Hello Phil,
I believe that you will find that the standard stackable washer and 
dryer is vastly better than the combo non-vented type.  I have this 
setup, and my boating buddy has the other (an Italian made system) on 
his boat and it is next door to useless.  It apparently relies on a 
condensate system to remove water from the air and hence the clothes, 
but it seems to take forever to dry.  I believe that it is simply the 
venting as much as anything that makes the standard so-called apartment 
washer/dryer work better.  It is certainly a lot less expensive as 
well.  While the heat is of course less than a 240 VAC system, the 
tumbling and the air blown through are good and contribute much to the 
drying process.  My boat has only an 8 kW Onan generator as well, and is 
set up with two "legs" of  120 VAC.  Essentially air-conditioning is on 
one leg (I have 4 units but can run only 3 at a time), and everything 
else on the other leg.  When I use the washer and dryer at the same 
time, I can only run one air unit or the load is too great for the 
generator.  I am OK at dock, as the boat is wired for 50 amp/240 VAC, so 
I have essentially two 50 amp legs there.  My units are simple Kenmore 
units put in by the PO, and they work very nicely.
Cheers,
Ken Bloomfield
MTOA 2062
50' MT  Tellico Lady
>
> 1) Is the 110 vented dryer with larger drum (2.6 to 3.5 cu. Feet) really
> better than the combo non vented one?
> 2) Do full time live aboards (anchor a lot) really need a w/d that works
> well?
> 3) Regular 3.6 cu ft dryers are 23.75 inches and my access to spaces that
> will hold same is 23.5 inches.  Has anyone had experience taking dryer apart
> to move around inside boat?  Is it easy?  Other choice is taking framing off
> door.