Winterizing the Air Conditioner - 2005 Beneteau 323

[williwaw]

My friend is new to sailing and I am helping them winterize their US-built 2005 Beneteau 323. Does anyone know what I have to do with the Cruisair air conditioner? The boat manual's winterization section doesn't cover it.

The air condition itself is encased in plywood box in the starboard lazarette and appears to have just two through-hull connections. Am I to assume that the condensate is pumped out through the discharge through-hull? If so, I'm assuming there's a dedicated pump for that purpose that needs to be somehow winterized?

Thanks!

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

How to Winterize Marine Air Conditioners | West Marine

Get ready for winter by following West Marine's step-by-step instructions on how to protect your boat's A/C system against a winter freeze.

www.westmarine.com

the only comment I have on the above how-to is that it shouldn’t require more than 1 gallon of antifreeze unless the boat has a very long run to the discharge thruhull

 

[NYSail]

I blow my air conditioner lines out using a compressor. I do it from the outside and watch as the water all shoots out.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I use an aquarium pump to push AF through while the AC pump itself pulls.

After that I pour some AF in the condensate tray to make sure that gets pulled through.

 

[williwaw]

Update: it turns out that there is actually a separate condensate line that appears to just drain by gravity into the bilge.

 

[TimFromLI]

Be careful there. The condensate line might drain to the bilge but there is a heat exchanger in the A/C unit that raw water is pumped through. You need to get that water out of there and out of the pump or displace it with anti freeze . I use a small pump to pump antifreeze from the outside of the boat, through the discharge thru hull, until I see it come out the intake thru hull

 

[williwaw]

Be careful there. The condensate line might drain to the bilge but there is a heat exchanger in the A/C unit that raw water is pumped through. You need to get that water out of there and out of the pump or displace it with anti freeze . I use a small pump to pump antifreeze from the outside of the boat, through the discharge thru hull, until I see it come out the intake thru hull

Thanks. Yeah, I did that. I just wasn't sure where the condensate was going because the condensate drain line was somewhat hidden from view, but I eventually located it.

 

[jssailem]

Cruisair air conditioner. The boat manual's winterization section doesn't cover it.

Ahhh, the secret is reveled. AC units are not a SailBoat Manufacturer built item. They are an add-on offered and installed by the dealer during the boats commissioning. The owner needs to identify the unit and seek guidance from the manufacturer.

Here are directions from a Cruisair SMX II Control Systems (DX) manual. The dealer is in Florida. The instructions are somewhat limited. Perhaps a dealer in the NE may provide a more extensive list of directions.

​

Winterizing the System​

Close the seacock and remove the inlet water hose from the​

air conditioner. Allow all water to drain from the system.​

Loosen the screws on the pump head to allow the water to​

drain from the pump. Drain and clean the seawater strainer.​

​

There are many different manuals. I found this listing on a 20 plus year Cuisair Dealer's website.

TampaBayMarineAir.com

Wright Marine A/C - Dealers For Dometic Cruisair, Dometic Marine Air And CTM - Marine Air Conditioners & Parts

tampabaymarineair.com