AC pan Rusting

[seadaddler]

Hi my boat is on the hard for a new bottom job and will be out of the water for longer than planned but any way I am looking at all the things I never get to.
The AC pan stainless but rust is forming around the compressor and a rust film inside the pan and see a problem in the future,I will be adding to the drain facing the stern and adding a drain facing port side by removing a spot with a plug ready for a drain to help more water to drain from the pan.
But what else can I do to keep things from rusting so much or slow down the rusting build up.
Nick

 

[Tim R.]

Can you get a pan made of plastic or FRP?

 

[seadaddler]

Pan Stainless

The pain has a rust film on it and it is the bottom legs of the compressor that seems to be rusting.
Nick

 

[Tim R.]

Treat with POR-15? That is the best I have seen for rust prevention.

This stuff is used by professional auto restorers with great success. Although not a professional, I used it on many restorations and british race cars.

http://www.eastwood.com/por-15-super-starter-kit.html

 

[kloudie1]

Rusty compressor

Good to set the drains and slope the pan to get more water out. Attached is a picture of my compressor. A pinhole leak developed in the case where there was a deep rust pit .. Before I put the new compressor in, the feet and bottom of the case got cold galvanizing paint followed by a very careful coat of epoxy.. Then when I put the unit back in, I usede shims to get it to slope to the drain so the condensate doesn;t get so deep in the pan.. I guess a small magnesium anode hooked to the compressor case and laying in the condensate might be good? It took 14 or 15 years to corrode through with pretty much constant immersion.

 

[woodster]

Before I put the new compressor in, the feet and bottom of the case got cold galvanizing paint followed by a very careful coat of epoxy.. quote]


did you have a good source for the parts Kloudie?? i have a 9 k unite and i may need some parts to get it up and running..

regards

woody

 

[kloudie1]

Woodster, I bought the compressor (a 12K rotary) from Drillspot.com. They had a great price. These units are pretty much an assembly of standard AC parts.. Lots of the stuff can be bought from an Air conditioning supply place..

 

[Ed Schenck]

My ten year old Mermaid is as shiny as new. Is it because most of those years were in fresh water? Or because of the condensator that keeps the pan mostly dry? The vacuum from the condensator is sufficient to not require a tilt to the pan.

 

[seadaddler]

ED

Here in Florida we run the AC quit often some run AC 24/7 to keep mold and mildew out of the boat but I run the Humidstate mode and it runs every 4 hour sucking moisture out of the boat and most of the time the pan is pretty dry.
But when I do need to run the AC the pan does have water in it and does drain into the bilge,there are a few more draining options and I will be using one to help drain more water from the pan hoping to cut down the rusting of the compressor legs.
Nick

 

[Chuckbear]

My ten year old Mermaid is as shiny as new. Is it because most of those years were in fresh water? Or because of the condensator that keeps the pan mostly dry? The vacuum from the condensator is sufficient to not require a tilt to the pan.

Whether you boat in fresh or salt water will not affect the pan since the water accumulated is condensation. Rusting of these pans are quite common which is why Dometic has gone to plastic pans. Treat the metal with POR 15 and it will last many more years. Chuck

 

[woodster]

Woodster, I bought the compressor (a 12K rotary) from Drillspot.com. They had a great price. These units are pretty much an assembly of standard AC parts.. Lots of the stuff can be bought from an Air conditioning supply place..

thanks Kloudie...


regards

woody