Trojan Boat Forum

Time to replace the ac/heat unit in my boat. The one coming out reads that it's a 18,000 btu unit. It is from the early 90's and the compressor is locked up. I have been told that a 16,000 btu unit will be just fine with the newer units, but would like some input before I spend the money and possibly make a mistake.
Thanks.

We replaced our worn out, factory AC when we did the refit with a new Cruisair 16,000 btu ac/heat unit.

The new electronic controls are very versitile, especially regarding compensating for voltage variations.

We added a fresh water flush feature to the system and relocated the engine room unit, waste system vacuum pump & macerator to a new shelf built into the starboard corner of the engine room.

The fresh water pump was relocated to a similar shelf (made of STARBOARD) located on the port side.

The former cluttered area now allows for much better engine room access.

This modification applies only to the vacuum lioner hull express cruiser based models, not the mid cabin series.

RWS

Just wondering why not use a 18k unit like it came with ?

However most likely you would be fine . by the numbers you would be losing 11% cooling capacitor , if your where down south in warm water I would say don't do it , but your up north in cooler waters so I would think you would be fine .

How did the K cool ?

Are you sure the compressor is locked up ? a bad start or run capacitor or relay can make you think you have a bad compressor

prowlersfish wrote:Just wondering why not use a 18k unit like it came with ?

However most likely you would be fine . by the numbers you would be losing 11% cooling capacitor , if your where down south in warm water I would say don't do it , but your up north in cooler waters so I would think you would be fine .

How did the K cool ?

Are you sure the compressor is locked up ? a bad start or run capacitor or relay can make you think you have a bad compressor

I found a 16k unit for about $600 cheaper.
Seems like it would take it a bit to either heat or cool, but once it caught up it was fine.
Had my mechanic look at it and thats what he told me. Then at end of season I took the unit out and took it to a ac guy who showed me that it had already had a hard start capacitor hooked up in the past and he bench tested and found locked compressor.
I then took to a friend of a friend who is ac guy he bench tested with same results.
Did allot of testing because I didnt want to spend the money.

fwiw my 1983 10 meter express cruiser came with a 16,000 BTU unit new from the factory.

This series features the AC vents built into the moulded in headliner, there are no hoses anywhere. There is a single return duct at the bulkhead.

I don't know if other layouts like a sedan, convertible or mid cabin came with something different, buty I can tell you that the 16 is quite adequate for this express cruiser layout, even when cooling down a hot boat.

RWS

Thanks... I have the same setup as you discribed for duct work and return air.

I'm going to sometime in 2011 replace both of my 16s with 2 18.5 units w/electric heat option from these guys
http://www.flagshipmarine.com

Ron