Need to Replace Air Conditioning on F36

[LandVF36]

Just before haul out this fall (yes, this is Minnesota and we lose 7 month of boating each year to sub-zero temps and frozen water ) our air-conditioning unit finally died. Not certain if the AC unit was new in 1973 when the boat was, but its probably time for some thing new. The current unit is mounted in the starboard cabinet below the helm.

I measured the case of the self inclosed unit, its 22W x 10D x 28 high (while the opening is only 22" high. It looks like it was "tipped" in but I didn't try pulling it out today.

Any body recently replaced their AC in a F36? What did you buy? How many BTUs. The old one is 14,700 and has seemed way to small. When it worked, it could only drop the cabin temp by about 10 degrees. If it was 95 outside, it was only 85 inside until long after the sun went down.

Thanks in advance for the ideas. Everything I have found on-line tonight is too big for the location of the old one and its looking like a split system might be in my future.

[prowlersfish]

I have not replaced mine but one was replaced be for I Got the boat .
My boat ( F36 Conv) uses 2 1600 btu a/c units ( may be 1800btu)
they use remote evaporators 3 on 1 unit and 1 on the other. I have seen many F36 that have only one a/c unit both the tricabin and the conveble. all the factory ones I have seen are with remote evaporators.

Paul

[duchess]

my 1987 has the same set up as prowlerfish still runnibg fine after 20 years

[JuiceClark]

My 1981 F-36 has the original 16k in the salon and 10k up front. They are adequate (barely) and suck electricity to the point where two big shore power cords are necessary if the water heater is on. It looks like there's a lotta room down by the condensers...you must have a different arrangement of water tanks, heater, etc.

Tony

[prowlersfish]

There is a lot of room around my units also . mine do a great job
but I am not in Fla like Tony .

[LandVF36]

I guess I should start thinking about seperate condensor/evaporator systems. My current unit is self contained and literally inside the sliding cupboard down and to the right of the helm in the salon. It's really 10" wide but I see nothing like it manufactured by anyone. The raw water pump is aft on the starboard side. I have two valves and strainers there side by side, one for AC, one for the generator.

So where is everyone's condensor unit(s) installed? Below the galley/helm floor? Down there, I have a sliding shelf under the steps. The water heater sits behind the shelf, snug up against the bulkhead wall to the engine compartment. To port and starboard, sits two 40 gallon fresh water tanks on the stringers.

[prowlersfish]

both my a/c units are below the floor by the helm
. my water tanks and heaters are in the same spot as yours . the a/c units are just outside of the starboard water tank . you just need to pull up the floor by the lower helm ( easy ). your ac may have been added to the boat not all came with ac

[JuiceClark]

Mine are in the same layout as Pauls...under lower helm by starboard freshwater tank.

Tony

[LandVF36]

Two 16s sounds like a good move. One for the salon and one for the forward cabins. The floor under the lower helm is screwed and glued. At some point in its life, the orginal floor was replaced with parque flooring and it won't come up without distructuction. Not a problem though, I need to replace the starboard side water tank over winter, it has a crack that can't be repaired. While it is out, I can put the two compressor units in.

Any brand recommendations? Any better / worse than the next?

[prowlersfish]

mine are Cruseair no proplems