07/02/2012 06:13:54 AM
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GoVols
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 08/08/2011
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Since this is my 1st boat with A/C, I don't know anything about the marine air system. As everyone knows, the Southeast US has seen a heat wave like never before with temp reaching as high as 109 degrees this last week.
Sailabration says only the roof is insulated in my boat. I keep it in a covered slip and only a small portion of the aft side gets direct sunlight in the late afternoon. The 3 ton A/C seems to do OK keeping up with the hot weather, but runs a lot during the day. If I take it out in even ~90 degree weather though, the A/C will runn all day long and will stay a few degrees warmer than the 75 degree setting I typically keep it on. The boat is an '06 model and I'd bet money that the A/C has not been maintained since it was installed. I clean the strainer basket whenever I can see debris in it, but that's about it.
What are the maintenance items on marine air systems?
Should I have the freeon level checked?
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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.
Edited: 07/03/2012 at 11:20:07 AM by GoVols
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07/02/2012 07:10:09 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Aside from cleaning the air filter I don't know what else you can do...
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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07/02/2012 08:55:00 AM
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Bamby
Admiral
Posts: 226
Joined: 07/30/2008
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Early this spring we put window tint on all the side windows on our boat and I can honestly say now that it has really cut back on the heat gain on the interior of our boat. So if your windows aren't tinted you may also want to consider doing yours also.
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Respect Our Outdoor Recreational Resources
Leaving Only "Footprints in the Sand"
2003 5.3 Chevy P/U
1972 35' Crest Pontoon Houseboat
2007 90 hp. Yamaha
Edited: 07/02/2012 at 08:55:22 AM by Bamby
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07/02/2012 08:12:56 PM
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Ej
Admiral
Posts: 620
Joined: 05/15/2005
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You can take a air compressor and clean out the coils. Clean the intake filter. Clean out the condensation pan.
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07/03/2012 11:19:46 AM
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GoVols
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 08/08/2011
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What about alge and junk build-up inside the unit? Is there anything to clean that out? If the side and bottom of my boat are caked with crud, I imagine the inside of the marine air unit is also.
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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.
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07/03/2012 12:25:23 PM
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FranticallyRelaxing
Admiral
Posts: 370
Joined: 09/10/2006
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Algae forms in the presence of sunlight, so you shouldn't have much on the inside...
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 1988 SkipperLiner 53x14 1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 *for sale* 2003 Chaparral 260 SSI 2000 Allegro Bus 40' DP
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07/04/2012 03:44:21 AM
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42gibson
Member
Posts: 144
Joined: 11/19/2010
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what is the actual temperature of the air coming out of the vents? are you getting good air flow? it might not be cold enough or not putting out enough airflow to do the job. if you cant figure it out you may have to bite the bullet and call a tech.good luck with it.
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1991 gibson 44 executive
454's
norwich,ohio
docked on the good ole ohio river in marietta
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07/04/2012 11:09:02 AM
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SinOrSwim
Member
Posts: 73
Joined: 06/30/2009
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Not sure if you have water cooled or a regular AC unit? I have a regular AC unit/heat pump like a house would have. Mine last year would not keep up if it was above 90 or so. I had the guy who does my home come out to my boat and he tweaked some things. Added just a touch of freon to the system but made sure the pressures were balanced. Said, if the pressure is off basically only half of the A coil that gets cold actually gets cold. We used the vents to close a couple off and use as dampers of sorts. Made sure everything was clean etc.
Now, it's 98 degrees with high humidity and it will stay at 71 or 72. Even if doors open and close and it goes up, it will actually catch itself back up as well.
I also have an oscillating fan in a corner where there are two vents but the furniture sort of blocks it. Allows the cold air to be blown out of the corner.
He measured my temps and I think it was blowing about 52 degrees. Said he would like 50 but it wasn't bad.
I asked about a bigger fan and he said that would actually cause the opposite. The fan would blow warm air across the coil faster than it can cool off so it wouldn't do anything but move more warm air.
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07/05/2012 10:05:29 AM
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SinOrSwim
Member
Posts: 73
Joined: 06/30/2009
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Jinxed myself. Was out yesterday and granted it was 100 degrees with a heat index of 106 but the AC was sitting at about 78 degrees most of the day even with all the curtains closed.
Just not quite made to keep up in that heat. I'm assuming with the walls being so thin there isn't much for insulation at all.
Hoping it cools off here soon. This 100+ degree temp with heat indexes stinks in central iowa.
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