1998 Hunter 410 Freezer Evaportator leak

J

jsmac

.
Jan 22, 2008
95
Hunter 410 Severna Park, MD MD
Hello all,

As mentioned above, I have a 1998 Hunter 410 with a factory installed water cooled Polar Mate compressor and a capillary tube plate evaporator in the freezer. The evaporator got punctured and the refrigeratnt leaked out and is no longer cooling the plate and freezer/fridge.

Anyone have a suggestion on solutions: repair the hole and refill the refrigerant, change out the evaportor completely, bring ice, ?? Is this a repair that a novice can do or do I need to bite the bullet and hire a pro? I would prefer to do it myself only to learn more about this system to be more prepared in the future for other issues, but I also understand the complexity of the issue.

Thanks, in advance.
 
R

Ray Bowles

.
Oct 6, 2008
857
Hunter, Island Packet, Catalina, San Juan 26,38,22,23 Kettle Falls, Washington
Unless you have experence in, and tools and gauges for refrigeration repair and recharging you will be a great deal of time and cost ahead to call in a refer repairman.
Have everything removed and cleaned up so he can get to the problem. After learning and watching what he does then you will be better prepared next time.
I have done this quite a few times but to explain how to do it to a novice without the tools is really not a doable thing.
Ray
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,179
CC 30 South Florida
Well hiring a pro might be cheaper that for you to purchase the rquired tools for a one time fix. Now some pros just want to replace parts and are not adept at fixing them so before you call someone out tell him you have located a perforation and would like to have it welded and ask him if he can perform such a repair and try to get a ball park figure for that. It may be convenient to say they can do it but that it would run more than just to replace the part. Don't know why but repirs on a 41' boat seem to cost more than in smaller boats. Perhaps the old "Cadillac vs Chevrolet" rate tables apply.
 
J

jsmac

.
Jan 22, 2008
95
Hunter 410 Severna Park, MD MD
Hi all,

I've decided that the condenser plate needs a complete replacement and so does the compressor since it's already so old.

Anyone with a 1998 410 have a suggested replacement? I normally sail in the Chesapeake Bay and weekend trips except for one 10-14 day trip in the summer months. I am going to replace it myself and I would appreciate model and some pics if possible.

Thanks
 
S

scottdube

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Aug 17, 2010
208
Hunter 410 Dover NH
JSmac,

Did you get your project sorted out? I have the same boat and am waiting for the day the cold machine quits. I had looked into it a while ago and really like the seafrost systems. http://www.seafrost.com/ I will probably split the fridge and freezer plates when I eventually do it. It looks like a straight forward replacement to me...
 
J

jsmac

.
Jan 22, 2008
95
Hunter 410 Severna Park, MD MD
Hi Scottdube,

I've spoken to a few Aircon/Freezer guys and since I am 3 hrs away from the boat and it's been freezing naturally in the NE I have to push it off until later March or April to meet with them and determine best way forward. The www.Frigoboat has a good operating cost solution but then I'm also thinking just go standard adler-barbour and nothing too fancy so that parts and replacements are easier in the long run. I don't have much trouble with power so I'm not too worried about low operating power units as much as someone who might be cruising and need low power draw. I'll look into the seafrost solution but again I want to make it standard and universally available and easy to fix if there's an issue later down the road.
I'll try to remember to post the solution I pick but it will be another 1.5-2 months away.
Thanks
 
S

scottdube

.
Aug 17, 2010
208
Hunter 410 Dover NH
@JSMac I'm interested to hear how you end up going. I think you'll find the compressors are pretty common in most of them. One of the things I like about the seafrost units are the durable nature of the evaporator. While my current adler Barbour doesn't leak it just feels cheap. It seems like the prices were pretty close.

Good luck!

Scott
 
charliegrau

charliegrau

.
Dec 29, 2009
149
Hunter 380 Little Creek, Virginia Beach, VA
I replaced my system - compressor, evaporator, and thermostat with a FRIGOBOAT keel cooled system last spring. It has been working great. No exchange of water with the outside reduces the risk of flooding, electronic thermostat w/display and the efficiencies of the moderns system reportedly reduce power consumption (but I haven't measured). Freezer can sustain 12degrees in mid summer. Refrigeration is provided with a spillover fan from freezer to reefer compartment with a separate thermostat controlling the spillover fan. I am very happy with this solution. I think you can get a user installable configuration but it does require a new thru hull - so you have to pull the boat.... do it when you paint the bottom.
-charlie
 
S

scottdube

.
Aug 17, 2010
208
Hunter 410 Dover NH
jsmac said:
Hi Scottdube,

I've spoken to a few Aircon/Freezer guys and since I am 3 hrs away from the boat and it's been freezing naturally in the NE I have to push it off until later March or April to meet with them and determine best way forward. The www.Frigoboat has a good operating cost solution but then I'm also thinking just go standard adler-barbour and nothing too fancy so that parts and replacements are easier in the long run. I don't have much trouble with power so I'm not too worried about low operating power units as much as someone who might be cruising and need low power draw. I'll look into the seafrost solution but again I want to make it standard and universally available and easy to fix if there's an issue later down the road.
I'll try to remember to post the solution I pick but it will be another 1.5-2 months away.
Thanks
Click to expand
How did you end up going?
 
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