wkearney99
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2018
- Messages
- 2,189
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Solstice
- Vessel Make
- Grand Banks 47 Eastbay FB
The three Cruiseair AC units on my 2005 Eastbay 47 are original and showing signs of impending failure. This is not unexpected and we used that to haggle during the purchase.
When we make the change I'd like to consider adding supply ducts to the two heads, as they have nothing now. They get kind of stuffy on hot days and cold as the balls on a brass monkey in the winter (especially when the fresh air dorades were left installed!). That and potentially splitting the starboard stateroom out onto it's own zone instead of sharing the master. It only has an air speed control now (and even that has decidedly little adjustment range).
Making the change wouldn't come without labor, of course, as the handlers for the salon are on the flybridge and are fed up through the pillars. I'm sure that'll burn some hours at the yard. If I just stayed with the split system there's a 'chance' I'd be able to continue using the existing refrigerant lines instead of running new. But, then again, they're original and there's no reason to think they won't have problems appear when the replacement process gets underway.
I'm expecting whatever we go with would still require using the generator for power when we're not on shore power. That's fine. But I'd certainly be willing to consider lower power consumption units. Ones that use engine heat wouldn't be as practical as lots of our boating involves time out on the hook. It's enough to have the generator running, not the C-12s.
A friend with a sedan bridge Sea Ray switched to a Dometic chiller system and raves about it. I'm just starting the investigative process and am looking to find pro/con conversations about it.
Anyone had experience changing from a split system to one using a chiller? And have an installer in the central Maryland (annapolis, kent island, etc) area to consider? Or, perhaps more importantly, to avoid?
When we make the change I'd like to consider adding supply ducts to the two heads, as they have nothing now. They get kind of stuffy on hot days and cold as the balls on a brass monkey in the winter (especially when the fresh air dorades were left installed!). That and potentially splitting the starboard stateroom out onto it's own zone instead of sharing the master. It only has an air speed control now (and even that has decidedly little adjustment range).
Making the change wouldn't come without labor, of course, as the handlers for the salon are on the flybridge and are fed up through the pillars. I'm sure that'll burn some hours at the yard. If I just stayed with the split system there's a 'chance' I'd be able to continue using the existing refrigerant lines instead of running new. But, then again, they're original and there's no reason to think they won't have problems appear when the replacement process gets underway.
I'm expecting whatever we go with would still require using the generator for power when we're not on shore power. That's fine. But I'd certainly be willing to consider lower power consumption units. Ones that use engine heat wouldn't be as practical as lots of our boating involves time out on the hook. It's enough to have the generator running, not the C-12s.
A friend with a sedan bridge Sea Ray switched to a Dometic chiller system and raves about it. I'm just starting the investigative process and am looking to find pro/con conversations about it.
Anyone had experience changing from a split system to one using a chiller? And have an installer in the central Maryland (annapolis, kent island, etc) area to consider? Or, perhaps more importantly, to avoid?
