Removing lower condensor unit in a Cabo 47

[Reefgeorge]

I am in the process of replacing the compressors in both Cruisair condensing units on my Cabo 47. Removal of the ice maker facilitated removal of the upper (salon) unit but the lower (fwd cabin) unit is essentially trapped in the welded bracket. Has anyone had to deal with getting this unit out and if so how did you tackle it?

Thanks,

George

 

[Avenger]

It went in, it has to come out. I don't have firsthand experience with that, but from the photos I'll ask; how about on end, through the top?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Do you need to save the cage around it? Could you just cut it?

 

[captddis]

Looks like it will come out after removing the hose and cooler on the engine. I had a Cabo I maintained and I hated it. Everything was difficult.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Sometimes the designers don't think about the folks who have to service this stuff. Can you cut the cage and then bolt it back together? So if you have to do it again it's easier.

 

[Reefgeorge]

It definitely will not come out the top and I don't think it can be turned to come out the side. It may slide forward but engine components have to come off and then I am still not sure. At that point it may work if I tilt the unit up on end as it comes out with the raw water hose and cooler removed/moved.

Obviously as a last resort I can cut the bracket and come straight up but that's not a piece of cake either because the unit is so close all the way around and access to the back left corner is lousy. Now I am thinking about cutting one bracket leg off flush to turn it and slide it out at a 45 degree angle.

Cabo must have slide it in from the front before the engines were fully fitted or it went in with the whole bracket assembly which is welded to the big base that the ice maker rested on.

George

 

[kelpy]

You will have to cut the frame to get it out. If it is like some other Cabos I have worked on, change out the seal and impeller on the seawater pump while you are in there. Impossible to service otherwise.

 

[Reefgeorge]

Kelpy:

Do you cut the whole top of the frame off or just one leg, ...?

I had to completely replace that pump once with everything else installed, it was very close to impossible for sure. I need to freshen up that pump and the ice maker water pump which is even harder to get to.

Thanks,

George

 

[jim rosenthal]

Service-proof boats, an infuriating concept.

 

[Reefgeorge]

Service-proof boats, an infuriating concept.

Thats for sure. It would have been so much easier to provide for removal at the time of the original design but I guess most new owners don't keep 'em long enough for these things to break. And they still look good at the boat show even with an entombed A/C unit.

 

[kelpy]

I cut the legs about 2" up from the bottom. Before you do though, make up and drill 4 aluminum plates so you can bolt it back together again.
If the seawater circulation pump is squeezed inside the frame with the compressor, now is the time to remote mount it so it can be serviced.

 

[Reefgeorge]

I cut the legs about 2" up from the bottom. Before you do though, make up and drill 4 aluminum plates so you can bolt it back together again.
If the seawater circulation pump is squeezed inside the frame with the compressor, now is the time to remote mount it so it can be serviced.

Your approach was my original thought but then I realized that in the future the top condenser would always have to be removed to access the bottom condenser so now I am thinking of cutting the front/right (in the picture) leg off flush so that the lower unit can be slide straight out independently. That one leg probably wont bolt back on as strong as your approach but with the other three still welded on the total bracket would probably be in good shape. Has anyone tried this approach?

Thanks,

George

 

[jim rosenthal]

I thought Cabos were better designed than that. All these pieces of equipment need servicing, and sooner or later they all wear out. It's discouraging.

I recall a marine mechanic telling me years ago that his least favorite boats to service were Carvers, because they crammed everything in so tight. But this is different- it's as if they figured it would last forever. Crazy.

 

[kelpy]

Cabo used this very same setup on a number of different hulls. Then they cram it into a corner or outboard of an engine making things even more difficult. In the end, it is money well spent to relocate the compressors and pumps so they are accessible/ serviceable.
All part of de-Caboing a Cabo.

 

[Reefgeorge]

I thought Cabos were better designed than that. All these pieces of equipment need servicing, and sooner or later they all wear out. It's discouraging.

I recall a marine mechanic telling me years ago that his least favorite boats to service were Carvers, because they crammed everything in so tight. But this is different- it's as if they figured it would last forever. Crazy.

I have owned four boats and this is the best built one I have had (except for the gelcoat and the original "dripless" cutlass bearings) but they really blew it on this part of the design.

Cabo better watch it or they may go out of business. Oh wait a minute ...

 

[kelpy]

They are wonderful boats. Some of the smaller hulls were wet and pounded a bit but overall they are very well designed and built. It is the systems installations that need some attention.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I remember looking at CABOs at the Annapolis boat show and being really impressed by the quality of the wiring and seawater systems; they had done a beautiful job. That makes this kind of inattention to critical details even more puzzling, because they clearly have the ability to design and build carefully thought-out systems.

I agree that relocating the compressor/condenser units makes the most sense. If there's a better place for them to live, and you can afford to do it, go for it.

On my boat, the two stacked AC units are under the inside helm, to stbd. One has been replaced; not a particularly easy job but not hateful either. On this model Hatteras, I've seen them in several different areas; the two things that seem to move around most in the engine room of those boats are the AC units and the generator set. My AC units aren't too bad to service or remove; the generator, well, not so easy.

 

[Reefgeorge]

I remember looking at CABOs at the Annapolis boat show and being really impressed by the quality of the wiring and seawater systems; they had done a beautiful job. That makes this kind of inattention to critical details even more puzzling, because they clearly have the ability to design and build carefully thought-out systems.

I agree that relocating the compressor/condenser units makes the most sense. If there's a better place for them to live, and you can afford to do it, go for it.

On my boat, the two stacked AC units are under the inside helm, to stbd. One has been replaced; not a particularly easy job but not hateful either. On this model Hatteras, I've seen them in several different areas; the two things that seem to move around most in the engine room of those boats are the AC units and the generator set. My AC units aren't too bad to service or remove; the generator, well, not so easy.

Cabos are very well built and with only a few exceptions, this boat has been a pleasure to work on. Things are very beefy and the systems are well thought out.

 

[Reefgeorge]

I removed the rubber isolation mounts from under the condenser tray to lower it and used a sawsall to remove one leg and the lower unit slid right out. I will bolt the sawed off leg back on after the condenser goes back in. Now I can work on them independently in the future if needed. BTW the bracket is probably strong enough with just 3 legs.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Nicely done