Where to source new Dometic ac unit?

ZZ13

ZZ13

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2009
5,328
Lady's Island, SC
Boat Info
2001 400 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins 450 Diamond
Where does everyone buy these from for self install now? I have bought two of the turbo units from CitiMarine in the past but they’ve parted ways with Dometic and don’t carry them. I specifically interested in the 16k ECD version (former Marine Air product with the Passport controller).
 
My personal opinion is to stay away from Dometic as their quality has gone down hill and their prices have gone up.

Try a google search and see what may pop up.
 
CaptRonn said:
My personal opinion is to stay away from Dometic as their quality has gone down hill and their prices have gone up.

Try a google search and see what may pop up.
Click to expand...
I saw that in the other recent thread where someone was replacing a unit. Saw several recommendations for a company called MarinAire.
 
CaptRonn said:
MarinAire https://www.marinaire.com/

This will be my go to if I need another unit. There was someone here that recently bought and installed one.
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Thanks. I’m not 100% sure but it looks like CitiMarine may have created their own line called CTM. Looks identical to the Dometic ECD and even uses the Passport controller.
 
There have been some solid reviews of the Webasto units over in the 400/410 thread recently. I've had good service experience with them on their fridges (Isotherm) if that's worth anything :)
 
MarineAire out of Miami for sure. I have purchased 4 units from them (for 3 different boats) over the past several years. Great people to deal with. Quick shipping.
 
CaptRonn said:
My personal opinion is to stay away from Dometic as their quality has gone down hill and their prices have gone up.

Try a google search and see what may pop up.
Click to expand...
Not my experience at all and I have five systems on the boat - The only issue I know of is they went through a bad batch of HP pressure switches. What specifically are you experiencing?
 
To answer my original question, looks like Defender is the source we will go with for the ECD model. They don’t carry the DTG model, but we aren’t looking to buy that one.
 
ZZ13 said:
To answer my original question, looks like Defender is the source we will go with for the ECD model. They don’t carry the DTG model, but we aren’t looking to buy that one.
Click to expand...
Consider adding the sound insulation kit if it is a Turbo unit. It just makes it so much quieter.
 
ttmott said:
Consider adding the sound insulation kit if it is a Turbo unit. It just makes it so much quieter.
Click to expand...
I’ve had the turbo on my boat for three years. Would love to have it quieter. I think I’ll follow your recommendation.
 
ttmott said:
Not my experience at all and I have five systems on the boat - The only issue I know of is they went through a bad batch of HP pressure switches. What specifically are you experiencing?
Click to expand...

They also went through a bad batch of units with the internal tubing cracking as they were using a too thin material. I had a 2 year old unit break (just out of warranty) and they wanted nothing to do with it. My local AC guy said they were having several units doing the same thing but Dometic didn't want to acknowledge the problem.
 
I replaced a Cruisair with a newer Dometic unit years ago on my 27' and it was easy to source online.

On my current 37', I looked for Dometic and had a tough time finding it online. Ended up going with a MarineAir 14k unit and am very happy with it. Two day shipping and it shipped within hours of me ordering it.
 
I just replaced my salon Cruisair unit with a Dometic DCU27k. Lead time was 30-40 days but they were able to track down the last two stock units in FL and ship one to me a week before we left on vacation. It was a costly unit but seems very well built and will freeze the salon and most of the rest of the boat.

I was tempted to go with another brand merely to save our vacation but was seeing long lead times on everything in the larger units.
 
I have a 86 300SD with AC. just got it this season. How do you clean the system and how hard is it?
 
I just installed two marineaire units…sound insulated and in stock… very happy with performance
 
bbwhitejr said:
Please share how you accessed the one in the salon to get it in/out….thanks!

Bennett
Click to expand...
To get the original out you first remove the beam…. It doesn’t fit through the the triangle…so you remove the lid and the base and now it is just a steel tube and you can bend it to get it thru the triangle.
The original unit you can now flip on its side and remove all the screws that hold the fan assembly on. Take fan assembly off and cut the wires and take it out. Now if you bend the outlet tube it will fit through the triangle.
My problem was the new unit was not going through the triangle. So I cut one support out of the back of the couch with a handsaw I bought at the local hardware store that now knows me by name. With that support out you have a lot of room…. Maybe enough to get the original unit out and even the beam.
You can see in the pic the support… I will put back with plates and screws so it can be removed again.
The marinaire units fan assembly came off with one hose clamp and had a quick disconnect for the wires….with that off just put it on its side and slid it in


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Blueone said:
To get the original out you first remove the beam…. It doesn’t fit through the the triangle…so you remove the lid and the base and now it is just a steel tube and you can bend it to get it thru the triangle.
The original unit you can now flip on its side and remove all the screws that hold the fan assembly on. Take fan assembly off and cut the wires and take it out. Now if you bend the outlet tube it will fit through the triangle.
My problem was the new unit was not going through the triangle. So I cut one support out of the back of the couch with a handsaw I bought at the local hardware store that now knows me by name. With that support out you have a lot of room…. Maybe enough to get the original unit out and even the beam.
You can see in the pic the support… I will put back with plates and screws so it can be removed again.
The marinaire units fan assembly came off with one hose clamp and had a quick disconnect for the wires….with that off just put it on its side and slid it in
Click to expand...
Wow. My install was a piece of cake compared to what you went through. I guess Sea Ray's production schedule was gelcoat, fibreglass the hull, install AC units, then everything else around it.
 
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