Thanks all for the info on the Sub-Zero units lack of quality and efficiency. I've not actually got to the business of resarch on the best "consumer unit" for replacement and only threw out the name as it's what my partner likes. It's a looks thing. I'll have to research the units available. John

I've got subzeros in my house and on my boat, and so far, only one service call to deal with a mfg defect that came up right after commissioning. But they are indeed energy hogs due to the defrost cycle, and the fact that the compressor (on the boat) in beneath units and its hard to get good air circulation down there without an aux fan. But my wife really loves them and they are a deluxe touch, with zero evidence of frost buildup as long as defrost cycle is engaged. But the cost is about an extra hour of generator run time a day over a more efficient refrig system, or so I estimate. And I can bulk charge at a rate of 220 amps (24v) into the battery bank. Boat has one large subzero refrigerator and two subzero freezer drawers, plus a chest freezer of another brand. I've got (8) 8D AGM batteries in house bank and I can barely make it through 24 hours with refrigeration loads alone running on inverter (if the defrost cycle is enabled) -- at 50% discharge point of battery bank. Without defrost cycle, frost builds up inside. If I shut units off at night, temps to rise about 10 degrees by morning. Not ideal either way. But I've learned to live with them. After all, a happy wife is a happy boat, and when it comes to long- term travel and living on boat, bringing along the comforts of home has made it all possible. Your mileage may vary. At the risk of overgeneralizing things, one of the secrets of Nordhavn's business (that most of people don't talk about in forums like this) is that they sell the boats to men and women completely differently (most of their customers are couples in their 50's and 60's and approaching retirement). For guys, its a robust, long-range passagemaker that can take them, and their dreams, anywhere in the world in safety. For wives, its got gobs of familiar creature comforts and probably a more deluxe kitchen than they have at home. Which says many of them are more willing to buy into the "go anywhere" dream (which is usually more of a guy thing, at least at the outset). Which is why most Nordhavns (and I suspect Selenes, who are following the same design/marketing model) spend a lot of time either traveling or hanging on the hook somewhere, at least as compared to most other brands of "fancy" yachts. Once the owners have six to twelve months of cruising under their belts, couples fall into one of two groups: those who are super- enthusiastic about expanding their cruising grounds and doing some real passages (who see it as a lifestyle) and those who decide to sell the boat and follow another dream. But with these boats, that decision is based on being "out there" for a while, as opposed to not getting off the dock in the first place. And given the high and easy resell opportunity (historically), there wasn't much financial risk of trying it. This is, of course, a completely different path of discussion than the usual "passagemaker" tilt of things. Or even where this tread started. But its relevant for a lot of couples. John Marshall On Dec 6, 2008, at 7:23 AM, Jon Boy aka:TrawlerGuy wrote: > Thanks all for the info on the Sub-Zero units lack of quality and > efficiency. > > I've not actually got to the business of resarch on the best > "consumer unit" for replacement and only threw out the name as it's > what my partner likes. It's a looks thing. > > I'll have to research the units available. > > John > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power > > To unsubscribe send email to > passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com with the word > UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message. > > Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World > Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions.