Marine Air (Dometic) Replacement

[Marc14857]

I need to replace one of my two Marine Air (Dometic) Air Conditioning units. I posted last year the fact that a 16 Ga. ground wire had pulled out of the condenser unit frame which let to rapid electrolosis of the aluminum fins and the frame itself.. Though I was able to get a few months of continued operation, the unit is now not servicable.

Problem is that Marine Air no longer makes this particular model and the replacement models all have the blower discharges on the right hand side or top of the unit, while my original unit had the blower discharge on the left hand side. As the unit sits in the forward section of the cabin settee, there is not a lot of room to re run the AC duct work. It would also require finding various duct hose transition pieces. Electrical connections and cooling water connections can all be rerouted.

Anyone have any idea as to where I might find a replacement unit. Have tried E Bay and just sent a note to Marine Air, but no luck so far. The unit that I am trying to replace is Marine Air Model # SVCD 16K/1 LH - HV (where LH is for left handed and HV is the high velocity blower)

Thanks in advance
Marc

 

[kloudie1]

Marc, As a last resort, you can pull the unit and take it to a good AC service place.. The condenser is an item that Marine Air purchased from a manufacturer.. It can be replaced as a component.. same with the compressor and the fan.. A good shop can rebuild the unit for you.. It requites a GOOD shop that does all the cleaning and charging and stuff that goes with that kind of repair.. but it can be done.

 

[Marc14857]

Kloudie1

Thanks, I thought about that but beyond the condenser, the entire frame, supports etc are gone. I must have removed I don't recall how many pounds of rust, molten sticky aluminum etc from the condensate pan. The unit or what is left of it is out of the boat and I think at best there may be a few dollars in it for the scrap copper and a spare blower. Next time I'm up at the marina I'll take a picture.

I am thinking that a right side discharge unit might be an option but I would have to mount it 180 degrees around. That is the condenser rather than being directly behind the return air grille at the bottom of the settee will be facing outboard. As the unit is installed in somewhat of a confined space (not air tight) I think that the return air flow will still be through the settee grill and will find its way to the condenser though I am not sure.

Other option is to install a replacement unit with the condenser aligned behind the return air grille try and rework the duct work but the duct coming off of the blower would need to make a 180 degree turn right at the blower discharge which is not ideal.

 

[kloudie1]

Understand, Marc.. I replaced the compressor in my old unit a couple of years ago and noted a lot of corrosion of the aluminum fins on the bottom of the copper coil.. pan was rusty and about to hole thru.. Took some effort to fix.
Some of the new units have a fan that can be flipped to either side..
http://www.michiganmotorz.com/marine-conditioner-cooling-system-16000-115v-60hz-p-2524.html
Not a direct replacement, but probably do-able??

 

[xsiddr]

Marc, I have my 16000btu Dometic cruise air at Annapolis Cruiseair for sale. I had a new unit installed. They are selling my old unit for me. They can guarantee that it works. It also has a brand new Smart Start attached ($450), I would take any reasonable amount. Call Annapolis Cruiseair and ask for Denny.
Regards
Bob
s/v Kaylic

 

[Marc14857]

Marc, I have my 16000btu Dometic cruise air at Annapolis Cruiseair for sale. I had a new unit installed. They are selling my old unit for me. They can guarantee that it works. It also has a brand new Smart Start attached ($450), I would take any reasonable amount. Call Annapolis Cruiseair and ask for Denny.
Regards
Bob
s/v Kaylic

Thanks Bob

Spoke with Denny and we determined that it was a different model " cruise air" and would not be comparable with my control system. Denny did however confirm for me that I could install a new right hand unit and turn it around and did not have to have the evaporator facing the return air duct.