A/C - Not so Brrrr

M

mjmiron

New Member
May 19, 2008
24
Bayport, MN
Boat Info
370 Sundancer 1996
Engines
454 Mercruiser
The forward area is nice and chilly, but the in-laws were a bit 'sweaty' this past weekend.
Had a cruisair reapairman come down and gave me the bad news on my aft a/c... piston in the compressor is locked up. Shoots 45amps to the board and trips the breaker. Quoted around $2000 to replace the compressor and $2800 for a new STX8? system.

Before I start writing fat checks any suggestions and do these quotes seem in the 'ballpark'.

Thanks for any insite you can provide...
 
He said it would be double what I have now.... I'm not sure what I have now.
 
Well a quick google search turned up units from $1500 to $2200+ depending on BTU. So without much more info, it's touch to make an accurate statement. Obviously that price plus labor would be your total, so $2800 may not be far off.

Doug
 
I've got a 12000 BTU CruiseAir unit with the electronic control box for sale if you're interested - PM me.
 
mjmiron said:
He said it would be double what I have now.... I'm not sure what I have now.
Click to expand...

Something doesn't sound right about that...
Unless a prior owner (was there one?) changed out the OEM unit from the factory it should be sized correctly.

"Double" doesn't make sense. A bit larger may be beneficial, but bigger is only better to a point with air conditioning. Too large, and the unit will cool the area TOO quickly- it will short-cycle and be unable to dehumidify the air in the cabin. Dehumidification is a big part of climate control- you don't want to end up with a cool, but damp, cabin.

My aft unit is 16K, I would suspect yours should also be a 12K or 16K unit.

If you have simple mechanical skills, the unit change-out is not a big deal- a couple of plumbing lines from the pump, sump hose, an electrical connection and the controls (thermostat). Be sure to pay attention to the duct size and location (top or right/left discharge).
 
The 370 has a 12000 BTU unit under the forward berth and 6000 BTU unit under the mid cabin closet which is a bear to get to. 12000 BTUs in the mid cabin area might be nice but it would be overkill. The output vent only cools the mid cabin and nothing else. The salon and gallery and the forward berth is cooled by the forward unit.

Looks like I will have to replace that unit as well, but I thinknthe most I might go is 8000 BTUs.

Gene

Sent from my iPad.
 
In agreement with the post above re: not going to large of a unit. I am not a A/C guy, but my prior boat came from factory with an "oversized" unit and in order to prevent the unit from freezing up, I needed to keep the fan on "High" at all times. This in turn, kept excess time on the pump and I went through a pump every 2 years. In addition, now that I have a boat with propper size units that I can keep on "auto", I now realize how annoying it was to keep the fan running constantly. Just my 2cents.
 
My AC went out last year and the only available replacement was a unit with 2k more BTU. Interesting thing was it was physically smaller and lighter. I guess technology catches up quick with these things.
 
Hello Fellow Boaters,,

Looking at finally replacing my aft AC. Can anyone confirm that this unit will be a proper replacement? Not sure of voltage...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cruisair-Ma...t_Parts_Accessories_Gear&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_922

Thanks in advance on any insight. If anyone has an alternate suggestion, I am open. Just not real eager to spend $2300 on a new unit. Rather pony that up for TracVision.
thank you!
Mark
 
Mark -

The brochure on the Sea Ray site for the 1996 370DA says that the OEM AC unit on your boat is 19,000BTU 1 1/2 ton. That unit on eBay is 10,000 BTU.
 
Phlorida said:
That makes more sense than the quote from the brochure specs.
Click to expand...

I just replaced my 1996 16KBTU with Cruisair's latest unit. Did the job myself for under $2500. Purchased from YachtAid Marine who were great to deal with, unlike Cruisair.
 
Had my compressor go out and a friend of mine in the AC Repair changed my compressor for $350 He did not charge me labor but that was what the part cost is a 16000 BTU 220 unit maybe you can find some on to do it for you did not look that hard
 
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