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F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:51 pm
by Lean Wolf
I need to install a new salon AC unit in my 1979 F44. The one in there is a Polar Bay 16000 BTU (piece of junk) that has not worked properly since it was installed 8 years ago. I am thinking of installing a 24000 BTU unit and am considering a Cruiseair or Webasto. The Webasto is a lot cheaper but I have heard that the compressor's are not as well built and I plan on keeping the boat long term. I have read about not putting too large of a BTU unit in the boat due to increased humidity. My sense is that the boat is big enough (even with a seperate well working Cruiseair in the aft/fwd cabins) to run 24000 BTU's in the salon. Has anyone had any experience with this? Any thoughts on size and brand? Appreciate the advice...
Drew

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:29 pm
by JB
My 1976 F44 has an original Crisair 16 or 18000 BTU which still works flawlessly

I am in the HVAC business and I REALLY think 24000 is too big

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:39 pm
by Peacock
Our 1977 F44 has the 2 Cruisair units-each 16000 BTU. The compressors in the engine room are not original but don't know their age. Both recently checked out fine. The air handlers (I think thats what they're called) in the salon and both staterooms are rather loud, esp the one in the salon. Here in mid-south Florida, we have found this size to work well. We don't really use the reverse heat; besides, the admiral is cold-blooded and she likes the the Chromalox electric wall heaters better.

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:23 pm
by rickalan35
Hi Lean Wolf,

I can recommend Flagship (Florida firm) as a company to consider. I purchased two new units from Flagship this summer and installed them in my Tricabin. I measured the cubic footage and chatted with the people at Flagship. They recommended a 12,500 for the aft cabin and 16,500 btu unit for the salon. I purchased the particular units that also included heat. They work flawlessly. They sell kits for complete installation.

Best of Luck

Rick

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:45 am
by prowlersfish
24000 seems large . Do you have 50 amp 240v or twin 30amp (120) shore power ?

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:58 am
by Lean Wolf
I have 50 amp shore power.

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:14 am
by Jerry
I don't believe, unless you have a 240v system, that you can even run a 24,000 btu unit.

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:14 pm
by prowlersfish
X2

Thats why I asked about 50 amp 240v vs twin 30 120v

Just for reference , 50 amp 240 volts gives you 12000 watts of power twin 30 120v gives you 7200 watts (single 30 would be 3600 watts )

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:04 pm
by g36
dont know bout what size you need but i will reccomend mermaid manufacturing ac units, their tech support people can help with sizing
they have a 5 year warranty and are built with no special circuit boards etc so any ac person could work on them if needed.(out of warranty of course) i have installed 3 now. 1 on my f32 when i had it and 2 in my carver 405. i spent alot of time researching and have not been disappointed with them. if interested i can suggest the website i ordered from if you pm me

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:39 pm
by prowlersfish
One question we all for got to ask . Is the system you replacing a self contained or do you have remote air handlers ( evaporators) ? If you have remote air handlers then you need to stay with the size that the system was set up for. If you when up in BTUs then you would have to add or change air handlers

Re: F44 Needs New AC Unit-Advice on Size and Brand?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:02 pm
by larryeddington
I too was in the HVAC business (not marine but same principles) You definitely do not want to over AC an area as you wind up with a cold clammy humid result, aside from cooling an AC also dehumidifies the air. Drier air will feel cooler to humans. Not sure where you could get information to do a proper heat load analysis similar to the old "Schedule J" used in land based structures.

On the subject of compressors, very good chance both brands may use the same compressor. There are just a few manufacturers of compressors. More important matters are the controls and proper sizing.

Another avenue is working on ways to insulate the area, not easy in our boats.

Good luck.