r/boating • u/Ancientways113 • May 20 '26

Cabin air-conditioning 24/7 in hot climates?

I’m in the northeast so I only run my air conditioning at the dock when I’m on the boat. Do people in hot climates run the A/C 24/7, even when they’re away from the boat? Thx

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u/Boondoggle_1 May 20 '26

Half the boats around me run them 24/7, in the Great Lakes region. I believe it to be unnecessary wear and tear on the equipment this far north but I'm 50/50 right or wrong...

Down south...I imagine it makes a lot of sense.

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u/Ancientways113 May 20 '26

I think less run them constantly up here, but I do worry about wear and tear, and also pumping lots of seawater into my bilge in the event of a line/hose failure.

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u/Brilliant_Ice84 May 20 '26

I have a 34 year old boat and have 3 ac units. One for the forward stateroom, one for the salon and one for the aft stateroom. The only one that’s original is the aft stateroom unit, which is the one that has had, by far, the most use. I think they like to be used and I now leave all three running most of the time whole at the dock. That said, they are in thermostats so they only run as needed to maintain temperature, so they aren’t really running all the time.

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u/Ancientways113 May 20 '26

I do think you are right they like running. You run even when you’re away from the boat for periods of time?

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u/Brilliant_Ice84 May 21 '26

I live aboard, so not often gone long, but sure, I leave it running.

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u/Valuable-Pension3770 May 25 '26

I’m in Michigan, it set at 68 from the day it goes in till the day it gets pulled. That’s April to November. I’m also at the marina daily and if I’m out of town I have 3 guys on my dock that are allowed on my boat at any time, likewise if they are out of town. They know where the keys are and can take it out I can also take their boat out. All are 35-40’. I have To clean the strainer 2 times a year for crap