T&T: Which appliances to use

[Bob Austin]

The only issue with the 12 volt appliances are you over charging the
batteries?  Marine batter chargers are not converters--as in RV's.  When
Living aboard I don't worry too much about 12 volt appliances and using the
batteries.  They are going to last 4 to 5 years if you care for them, no
matter how many lights you run off them.  It may be slightly better to cycle
them--that is put the battery charger ( good 4 stage charger) on a timer  and
run the battery charger lets say 8 to 10 hours a day.

As for the air conditioner--you have the marine units, use them.  The water
cooling is more effecient than air cooling.  The use of window or RV units
brings along all other sorts of problems such as building adequate ducts and
shields for water intrusion prevention.  The only issue with the marine units,
is that you have possiability of plugging up the water intakes or burning up
water pumps.

For my smaller boat, which is lift kept, I use an RV air conditioner mounted
on the roof.  It cost 25% of the marine unit, does not rely on water to keep
it running and I can run it if the boat is on the water or on a trailer--but
that is a different story.

Bob Austin