recommendations for self-contained AC units

[jim rosenthal]

A friend of mine asked me for recommendations on self-contained AC units. His boat has never had AC, so this would be an installation from scratch. I think CruiseAire and Marine Air Systems are both good (although what they sell to owners is not the same line of products that they sell to professional shops, I've been told) but I know there are other companies out there. I would like to know about reliable brands, both from HOF owners who have done their own installs and from folks on this forum who do this for a living. One self-contained unit of 12k, perhaps 16k at the most, will cool this boat without difficulty- it isn't very large and the windows are small, so the heat load won't be huge. Thanks in advance for any help. I'm particularly interested in suggestions from Ang, and Scott and others who do this all the time. I know there are some manufacturers in FL, but I don't know which ones have a good reputation. Reliability and ease of service are the most important things.

 

[Pascal]

Two Years ago defender had a close out on Marvairs and I got a 16k for $990. Nicely built with SS pan and touch screen control. Been working fine

Back then Marvairs were made in the US but they ve been bought by Dometic (I think) so who knows we're they re made now

I was told Webasto was junk but no personal experience

 

[bobk]

I installed a King Marine Air in my trawler and had no issues with it for the 19 years it was in there. I installed a second smaller one five years alter and also no issue. SW Florida company. Not sure they still exist.

Bobk

 

[Cricket]

Dometic doesn't mess around, a company starts to become a threat, they buy it.

 

[34Hatt]

I did a Marinaire out of Miami s.s pan, Toshiba compressor, remote, rotatable blower which helps a lot with installs and great tech support and built in gauges on the larger units. Having gauges built in is fantastic I have the #s in the log book and check evry few months to see everything is the same. You do have to log water temp also so I try to compare at same water temps. Been in 3 years now and love it and Insulated compressor you can't even hear it kick in and its under my couch.


http://www.marinaire.com

Features
http://www.marinaire.com/Features-s/3.htm

 

[Angela]

I installed Aqua-Air self contained units. Aqua-Air is located in Miami, and I was able to buy direct from the factory. I’ve had them in place for about 4 or 5 years. No problems with the AC units at all. I do have to regularly remove the hose between the through hull and the intake of the pump to dump out the shells and form in there, but that has nothing to do with the AC units themselves.

When I finally got around to getting that one last AC unit in one of my guest staterooms, we bought a small a Webasto unit from West Marine because we had employee pricing at a ridiculously low price and a four-year warranty that included “on the boat” service. So, that was a no-brainer. That Webasto unit has been working just fine for the past 2 years. If I get four years out of it, great. To me, it’s disposable, and once it breaks down after the warranty period, I’ll just throw an other one in there.

These things work pretty hard, year round, here in Miami, FL. I do the acid flush maintenance on them about once or twice a year.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Thanks to all who contributed. This will be useful.