A/C pump

[Jaxfishgyd]

Had ours go out last weekend.... Pump comes on, makes a funny noise (like marbles rattling around) for about 2 secs.... Pump runs, but no water going thru...
Have plenty of water coming from the thru hull, ran the water hose into the pump and water goes thru....
Will pull the pump this afternoon. Have been online seeing what a replacement will run. I see a lot of different designs than the one I have (it's 9 yrs old). Wondering if it makes any difference...
I "think" mine is a 1000 gph. Know when the tech was installing it and the two new units said that's all I needed and what spec's call for...

 

[saltshaker]

Over the years, I've tried a few different ones. March pumps seem to last longer. Shop around for one as I've found the price can vary greatly. I paid around $250 for one at West Marine. Defender had the same pump for around $150. Unfortunately mine failed about 2 hours before I was leaving for a long weekend, so West Marine got the best of me.

 

[Boatsb]

had to buy one myself on a Sunday at worst and they only carry the cal tec ones. A year and a half later same thing on a sat night. A friend ran a march out to me and I sent the cal tech back for warranty. It will now be the spare id teh march ever fails. The only issue is will it still work after sitting for years?

 

[saltshaker]

had to buy one myself on a Sunday at worst and they only carry the cal tec ones. A year and a half later same thing on a sat night. A friend ran a march out to me and I sent the cal tech back for warranty. It will now be the spare id teh march ever fails. The only issue is will it still work after sitting for years?

The Cal pumps are great except for one major problem, they mix metals. These pumps are well made and will run forever in freshwater. I had replaced my old March pumps with the Cal pumps when they first came on the market. Had mine for about 1 year with no problems. A friend of mine decided to put 3 in his boat. Both of mine failed within 2 years and all 3 of his failed within a year. Went back to the March pumps. The last pump I changed was a 14 year old March. Replaced it with the same. 7 years and still going strong.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Cal Tec pumps have a bad reputation, last about 2 yrs then the end separates from the motor and is just about impossible to re attach.
March (Dometic) seem to be more reliable, the LC3 model is good for about 550 gpm or thereabouts.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

I got the pump out this afternoon, I really do need to lose weight...... sheesh.

It's a March " AC-5C-MD" model....... Will go by my local A/C shop in the morning to see if they can rebuild it and what they will charge me for a new one (they take great care of me, I've used them several time and have gotten them a lot of fellow boaters).

Then Friday I wll put my 218lb body into a 180 lb space again and mount the new or rebuilt one back as it's going to be 80 degrees for the weekend...

 

[GJH]

Certainly see if it can be rebuilt. If you want to go top of the line, buy an Oberdorfer.

Regardless, call Depco Pump in Clearwater and they will fix you up. 800 446 1656. http://www.depcopump.com/

Great people to do business with and very knowledgeable. If you buy a new pump, have them sell you a rebuild kit too.

 

[J's Dream]

It's a March " AC-5C-MD" model....... Will go by my local A/C shop in the morning to see if they can rebuild it and what they will charge me for a new one (they take great care of me, I've used them several time and have gotten them a lot of fellow boaters)...

Charlie,

Call Flagship Marine in Stuart. I have the same pump you do, and bought it from them...CHEAP! Brand new, and made the sale over the phone. Good company to deal with.

Jason

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Also see it's a 1,000 gph pump, not 500 gph like I had thought from what I've found online. Cheapest price for a new one I've found is $218 at the moment....
Also priced the Oberdorfer, but it's price took my breath away for a few minutes......
Will try Flagship marine in the morning...

 

[J's Dream]

Charlie,

Their prices have gone up some since I got mine. But call them in the morning. Here's there online price, maybe they'll do better over the phone...worth a try!

http://www.flagshipmarine.com/marinepumps.html

 

[GJH]

Depco sells many more than brands than Oberdorfer, and specializes in pumps. If price is your only criteria, they will usually match. I recommended Oberdorfer because they are expensive for a reason. Then again, if you enjoy buying and installing new pumps on a regular basis...

Regardless, you will get good advice from the Depco guys.

 

[Boatsb]

Depco is the best option for a rebuild. It is a $240-250 pump new and worth it if you compare it to the caltec that lasts 1/4 as long. I would get a new one and then have the old one rebuilt as a spare.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I am not sure of the brand we have. It quit once and I bought a new impeller. I later bought a spare just in case. These things are magnetic rotors. They don't have a direct drive so ther is no reason as I see it to replace the whole thing. I just removed the cover and pulled out the old rotor with the crumbled magnetic thing and slid the new one in. I paid about $50.00 for the new one. Very easy job. Ours is 1000gph.

 

[Captned]

March pump for me. Three thumbs up! Keep it clean and dry, hit it with some WD 40 once and a while, my last one is about four years old, runs everyday at least 15 hours. Knock on wood!

Captned
MBMM

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Opened the pump this morning, ALL the vanes are gone... Also found a strip of plastic, 1/8th wide by 8' long wrapped around the shaft. It must of somehow gotten thru the clamshell on the hull, the strainer and then found its way into the motor.
Rebult kit will be here tomorrow..

 

[Angela]

I replace my Oberdorfer each year, and it never ceases to fail in AUGUST, on a Saturday late afternoon or Sunday morning. This summer, I will be replacing it (I'm sure) and this time, I think I'll try a March pump. I have a 3000 gph pump and yes, the price of an Oberdorfer takes your breath away.

 

[stormchaser]

had to buy one myself on a Sunday at worst and they only carry the cal tec ones. A year and a half later same thing on a sat night. A friend ran a march out to me and I sent the cal tech back for warranty. It will now be the spare id teh march ever fails. The only issue is will it still work after sitting for years?

Please discontinue using the cal tec one and throw it away. They have a bad habit of EXPLODING! Like parts and cooling oil flying everywhere. Seriously, I know of several that have had catastrophic failures. I've seem the results in my own engine room (on another boat)...bad bad news, was very lucky the boat did not sink.

 

[Pascal]

i've had a few cals fail over the years but never catastrophically... they just stop working usually after one or two years. cheap, disposable.

March pumps are pretty good, although smallish. it had to be 1000gph, 500 woudl be too small for 3 AC units.

 

[GJH]

Angela, there is something wrong with your system. You are going to keep running through pumps, regardless of brand, until you find it. What element is failing, the motors or the pump? if you are burning out the pump end, have you tried just rebuilding? Depco sells the kit for 70 bucks. If the motors, you have an electrical problem.

The Oberdorfer 104M that feeds the 5 units on my boat has been in place at least 4 years between the PO and me, with heavy use during the summer on the Chesapeake for two of those years and the last two of full time live-aboard heating and cooling. Flow is very strong.

I have a good A/C and plumbing guy here in Ft. Lauderdale, very honest and reasonable (70 bucks an hour and works quickly). I can get you his number if you like. As you can imagine, he is a fairly busy guy.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Got a call this morning that my rebuilt kit was in.... By the time I go the the A/C shop, they had installed it, replaced my ground wire and tested the pump.... My bill was $59.56 complete...
Got my 224lbs (I went to the doctor this morning) into that damn small spot and got it installed.
We now have A/C.................. The wife is happy