How do you keep your boat cooler without AC?

[TheThunderbird]

Some call it INSULATION.

PS l hate and fight AC onboard as nonsense (my view, no agreements required :-) )

[autumnbreeze27]

Avoid 90F water (outside the boat). Makes it extra miserable.

[ramblinrod]

Something we learned many years ago on our first trailerable boat. Plug the cockpit drains and dump in a couple buckets of water to keep you feet wet. Cools your whole body down without feeling clammy.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

Something we learned many years ago on our first trailerable boat. Plug the cockpit drains and dump in a couple buckets of water to keep you feet wet. Cools your whole body down without feeling clammy.

Sort of a good idea. Just do not do as I did umpteen years ago when I had a trailerable ski boat in addition to my sailboat (one for lakes & rivers, the other for the ocean, both as ... well, I was young then). Once I went fairly far in the ski boat, skier in tow before I realized I had not put the drain plug in place. It was still on shore. Made it though, and soon bought an extra. In your instance, do not forget to remove the plugs.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by autumnbreeze27

Avoid 90F water (outside the boat). Makes it extra miserable.

I'd second that thought, but bring the "miserable" water temperature down a few degrees to 85F. Very difficult to get any boat interior temp down below water temp. In that situation it's good to have wider cockpit seats for comfortable sleeping outside or interior fans over the bunks.

Cheers,
Bill O.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Olly75

Wet the decks down, evaporatitve cooling is a powerful thing.

We've tried it but it only works if you are in a low humidity environment. Try it in the US southeast and if anything it makes it worse.

Unfortunately with certain exceptions, boats tend to hang out in places with a lot of moisture.

Also, if you are away from the shoreside where you can run a hose with fresh water, that means dousing all the gear on deck with salty water. Great for corrosion. If you are typically at a dock, it's tough to beat an air/con unit even if it's a small portable one.

[OS2Dude]

Putting up a 'Boom Tent' (Tarp over boom, secured to lifelines with bungees) was the biggest improvement we did our first summer here in Atlanta. It made working in the boat doable in 98+ degree heat. Other concerns mandated an A/C, but until we got that the tent was a real life saver.

[hamburking]

Breeze Booster (pic attached). It doesn't look like much, but a steady breeze below with no noisy fans. Best for use at anchor. This model needs no halyards, sets up easily, and folds down to just a stick for stowing. I bought this one at a yard sale for $5. Sold it with the boat...big mistake.

[zeehag]

i use screen tarps to keep sun off my boat so it does not get so bludi hot to begin with.
then, in cane season i use air conditioner in this tropical zone. makes a huge difference for me and cat. for storms i lash the tarps over the coachhouse so they donot blow off.
most comfortable in tropical latitudes.

[Triumphant]

Here is a clue for you CaptainWireman

Oh, a storm is threat'ning
My very life today
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away

[Bulawayo]

Our cabin is aft. On still nights we often anchor from aft. Very rarely see others do this. We use our modified 'chain plates' that we installed for our drogue for the bridle attachment and bouy the anchor just in case we need to dump it.
We have 'C' section tracks each side on our boom for shade awnings that unroll outboard for shade.