Should I run AC while I'm away?

I live in VA and have kept my boat in Stuart for a number of years. I don’t run my AC when I leave the boat to go home. I have paid a price as some of my wall covering has mildewed. So far I have been able to clean it. I don’t like the idea of the AC on while I am 13 hours away. I know of others that do run theirs while away so my way is probably not the way most do. If you have a reliable person to check on it once a week that might work. Where are you keeping the boat?

Our company in Jax offered boat sitting and checking. I don't hear of these services any more.
Maybe a local dock guy, boat sitter or boat washer can keep a check on pump discharge and clean it when needed.
I'd leave your ACs in De-Humid mode. They blow cool when running.
No need for your stand-alone de-Humid machines fighting with the ships AC units either.

If You do leave the ACs in cool mode, Move the stats up a good bit, Maybe 90°.
That way their not running 24/7 during the hot days and still protecting the interior finishes.

Another thought, lots of fresh water running off of the lake and canal, I wonder if that area fouls that quickly?

I keep mine on the hard at Riverforest from June to October. I have the high gloss interior also. I run 2 dehumidifiers set to 50%. I set the humidifiers on my old boat at 30% and it dried out the wood. After 5 seasons the wood looks like new.

Just came to me to post on your thread. It may not apply to you but a billion folks read these threads.

Confidence in your equipment???

Were all nervous about leaving sea cocks open while away from our boats.
Worried about clamps, hoses and fittings failing.

When we took on new dock sitting customers, we surveyed the boat with the boat owner and not take any dock sitting customers on with poor equipment near or below the water line.
All away customers were also instructed to secure their boats as a big storm was coming tomorrow.
A review of the insurance policy was also recommended.

So brother Rob, Is your boat securely tied? All fresh hoses, clamps and hardware/fittings?

Modern AC units will fault and stop on low/no water if the strainers get clogged.

We were also an independent tow/salvage company. Won every claim.

I just had to type this.

I’ll suggest that if you want to keep the boat dry, this isn’t the way to do it. Just won’t run the compressor enough to dehumidify much.

After having a boat in Southern Florida, I can’t imagine not running AC at normal settings. Didn’t have great success with dehum mode either.

This was after three weeks in January at Sunset Bay.

We don't know 100% why, but ALL of the clear coated teak walls on last years purchase were "crinkled," and had to be sanded as a result. Several wood finishers said it was probably due to excessive cabin heat. My three new AC units have a mode for dehumidify but there is no option to set either temperature or humidity so you might explore that and DEFINITELY find someone to check on her every week or two.

We always left AC on dehumidify when not on the boat. Kept boat fresh and no mildew.