AC Random Issue

[jaywoodz]

Yesterday, I was waiting for the mechanic to do a quick pull to change my wheels. I was in my boat for about 2-3 hours working on my computer, and running the AC. The mechanic told me he's ready for me, so I disconnect the power and lines, then head over for the pull. We pull the boat out, I drive over to my slip, and park it. Done and done, easy enough, done it before.

I plug in my power, and turn the AC back on, and it keeps running the fan, then kicking off the compressor.. but after about 2 minutes, the compressor cuts off. Keep in mind, this is a brand new AC unit in my cabin, the only one I have and it was switched out about 5 months ago. So I reset the breaker (sometimes the display freezes up), and then I kick it off again. Same thing happens, cuts on, then cuts off after about 2-3 minutes.

I go outside on the finger, and notice that barely any water is coming out of the AC exhaust. It's dribbling as if it's a hard leak, instead of constant pour. It would take 30 seconds just to fill up a cup, just to get an idea.

Thoughts? I'm thinking I sucked something up in the strainer. But let's pretend that's not it, what else should I troubleshoot?

Another thing to add. I don't run my generator that often, so before I disconnected power, I switched over to my genny to put a load on it so it's not just sitting, and I remember now that as we were pulling the boat off, I forgot I left the genny on, and I quickly turned it off while I was in the sling being pulled up. Granted, it was still in the water, but the AC cut off whenever I cut off the genny, plus it was in slings.. maybe the sling was blocking the hole? I don't remember where the hole is in relation to my slings. I've cut off my genny accidentally before with everything turned on, and it never caused an issue. I know it's not a good idea, but it seemed to turn on fine even after I did that in the past.

 

[JimFromMD]

Could also be a partial airlock if you did not close the seacock before pulling the boat. When you put it back in there is now air trapped between the inlet and the water pump. Take the boat for a spin to get up on plane, is the easiest way to get it going as the water pressure on the bottom of the hull will force the air through the line. Could also suck some water through with a shop vac placed over the water exit port on your hull. You could also bleed the air out by loosening where the inbound water comes to the pump. You just have to get the air out because the AC pump is not a self-priming pump.

 

[Bucit]

+1 You lost prime when you pulled the boat out of the water and didn't close the seacock. Happens to me all the time since I keep mine on a lift. Either run the boat close to planning speed and turn it on or take a shop vac. Turn the AC on, then start sucking where the AC discharge (where the water noramlly comes out) until it starts flowing. The shop vac method takes about 10-15 seconds. It's that easy. Your genny has a self priming impeller so it will start pumping water as soon as you turn it on (and the boats in the water)

 

[jaywoodz]

+1 You lost prime when you pulled the boat out of the water and didn't close the seacock. Happens to me all the time since I keep mine on a lift. Either run the boat close to planning speed and turn it on or take a shop vac. Turn the AC on, then start sucking where the AC discharge (where the water noramlly comes out) until it starts flowing. The shop vac method takes about 10-15 seconds. It's that easy. Your genny has a self priming impeller so it will start pumping water as soon as you turn it on (and the boats in the water)

Welp, that fixed it! I already keep a shopvac on the boat, so pumped in some water and provided suction to the hole.. released and waited. Didn't do it right away, so I had to do it again for about 5-10 seconds, pulled away and sure enough.. the water flowed and everything is working! Thanks for the help!

 

[Bucit]

Glad it worked out. Years ago I read on here about the shop vac trick and I use it once every two months or so (when I forget to close the seacock before lifting the boat out of the water).