I have two Dometic CruisAir 220volt 16,000btu AC with reverse cycle heat on laVITA. On one, the compressor failed. I believe it is original equipment. Looking to replace with one of the new drop in units. Asking “which is the best Marine AC” unit is like asking “which is the best anchor” (I can not believe I just said that) but I would like some opinions of anyone who has recently done a replacement. Looked at reviews for Webasto, Mermaid, MarineAire, CTM, and a few others. Thanks in advance. Steve ---------------- Steve Bedford laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ maxmarineproducts.com Home of Super MAX Anchors Burgess, Virginia Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function.

A couple of years ago, my 7kBTU Dometic drop-in died because the previous owners had neglected to keep the pain drains clear on it. The water level stayed up in the pan, and the resulting corrosion ate a hole in the compressor case. The 7K unit was inadequate here in the summer anyway, so I looked around for a 10K unit which would fit with no changes required to pump or cooling lines or ducting. Turns out the "standard" Dometic 10K unit failed in the physical dimension test, but their Turbo unit (DTU) in the 10K was a perfect fit, BUT, WOW, the cost increase! I will say that the DTU is nearly silent as its compressor comes on and off - a sound enclosure for the compressor is available, but not recommended to me due to the silent nature of the DTU. There is lots of copper visible in the construction of the DTU, and I am convinced it is a high-quality unit. Another item that I am a real believer in is the soft/smart start micro-processor available for AC units. I added a Micro-Air soft start unit to my Dometic DTU as a well as to my rooftop AC unit, and the "thuds" and generator loading groans upon start are things of the past. I used to worry every time I heard the genny load up with a compressor start wondering if something would trip. A softer start is also good for all the wiring/connections and electronic parts of these units. Dometic apparently now offers the option to add their version of the soft/smart starter pre-installed with their AC units. Rich Gano Frolic (2005 Mainship 30 Pilot II) Panama City area -----Original Message----- From: Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers-bounces@lists.trawlering.com> On Behalf Of Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering Sent: Saturday, March 6, 2021 3:49 PM To: Trawlers and Trailering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> Subject: T&T: Marine AC recommendations I have two Dometic CruisAir 220volt 16,000btu AC with reverse cycle heat on laVITA. On one, the compressor failed. I believe it is original equipment. Looking to replace with one of the new drop in units. Asking “which is the best Marine AC” unit is like asking “which is the best anchor” (I can not believe I just said that) but I would like some opinions of anyone who has recently done a replacement. Looked at reviews for Webasto, Mermaid, MarineAire, CTM, and a few others. Thanks in advance. Steve ---------------- Steve Bedford laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ maxmarineproducts.com Home of Super MAX Anchors Burgess, Virginia Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. _______________________________________________ http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Thanks Rich. The electrician HVAC mechanic reported to me that the compressor shorted out and “all three legs are grounded.” Not sure what caused that. 2007 units. I read on one “review” that Dometic are all made in the USA (not sure I believe that) and that service is available more readily than other units. I would appreciate the service availability. Not sure that the other leading brands would be a problem or not for service. Where it is made is important to me but I am aware that some companies abroad are fine. There are other countries that I prefer not to purchase materials from if at all possible. Steve ---------------- Steve Bedford laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ maxmarineproducts.com Home of Super MAX Anchors Burgess, Virginia Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. > On Mar 6, 2021, at 4:50 PM, Steve Bedford <bedford_steve@yahoo.com> wrote: > >  > I have two Dometic CruisAir 220volt 16,000btu AC with reverse cycle heat on laVITA. On one, the compressor failed. I believe it is original equipment. Looking to replace with one of the new drop in units. Asking “which is the best Marine AC” unit is like asking “which is the best anchor” (I can not believe I just said that) but I would like some opinions of anyone who has recently done a replacement. Looked at reviews for Webasto, Mermaid, MarineAire, CTM, and a few others. > > Thanks in advance. > > Steve > ---------------- > Steve Bedford > laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ > maxmarineproducts.com > Home of Super MAX Anchors > Burgess, Virginia > > Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function.

Steve We’ve installed a Dometic DTG self contained 16K BTU in our pilot house and a split system TVE/DTU 10K BTU in our master stateroom. Both work well, installed easily and are fairly quite. The self contained unit has the sound enclosure and is quite enough for its intended use, however when I replace the next unit in the main saloon living area I’ll install a 16K BTU split TVE/DTU. Yes it’ll be more costly, but for the quietest operation so the TV doesn’t need blasted it’ll be worth the few dollars more. That said, when the 4th unit a 33 year old King Air 10K BTU split system in the guest cabin fails, we’ll replace with a self contained. The noise from a new self contained unit is more than a split system but not greatly (for these new Dometic units). Older or other brand self contained can be very noisy. If it’s a TV viewing area, my opinion the split system, if can cost effectively be installed is work a few more dollars. We used Dometic Easy Touch control on the master and MicroAir in the pilot house. We’ll standardize on MicroAir going forward.......but they are essentially the same. The nice feature of these controls is you can program the fan speeds such that you can manage the noise level accordingly. These new technology units run much higher air velocity than the older CruiseAir units which has both positive and negatives. We purchased online from an outfit in Tampa/St Pete area, Wayne was knowledgeable, timely and cost effective. Steve McCreary MV Last Laugh DeFever 52 Offshore Cruiser Now lying Lady’s Island, Beaufort, South Carolina Sent from my iPad > On Mar 6, 2021, at 22:08, Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering <trawlers@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > > Thanks Rich. The electrician HVAC mechanic reported to me that the compressor shorted out and “all three legs are grounded.” Not sure what caused that. 2007 units. > > I read on one “review” that Dometic are all made in the USA (not sure I believe that) and that service is available more readily than other units. I would appreciate the service availability. Not sure that the other leading brands would be a problem or not for service. Where it is made is important to me but I am aware that some companies abroad are fine. There are other countries that I prefer not to purchase materials from if at all possible. > > Steve > ---------------- > Steve Bedford > laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ > maxmarineproducts.com > Home of Super MAX Anchors > Burgess, Virginia > > Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. > >> On Mar 6, 2021, at 4:50 PM, Steve Bedford <bedford_steve@yahoo.com> wrote: >> >>  >> I have two Dometic CruisAir 220volt 16,000btu AC with reverse cycle heat on laVITA. On one, the compressor failed. I believe it is original equipment. Looking to replace with one of the new drop in units. Asking “which is the best Marine AC” unit is like asking “which is the best anchor” (I can not believe I just said that) but I would like some opinions of anyone who has recently done a replacement. Looked at reviews for Webasto, Mermaid, MarineAire, CTM, and a few others. >> >> Thanks in advance. >> >> Steve >> ---------------- >> Steve Bedford >> laVITA, 2007 Jefferson Rivanna 45’ >> maxmarineproducts.com >> Home of Super MAX Anchors >> Burgess, Virginia >> >> Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function. > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > > To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com > Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I thought of three more comments: The split systems will have to have refrigerant lines between the compressor and air handler units. This task is beyond the typical diy...a tech can do this for a few a hundred bucks. Also the cleanable filter media from Dometic is just OK and hard to source. I found cut-to-fit media for room AC units to work......but particularly recommend “PermaCool Static Charged Filter” the corrugated variety to be superior. Cut it to fit with a hot-knife or soldering iron to control the unraveling of the mesh. Put “PermaCool Static Charged Filter” into your search field to find a supplier, I use Bel-Aire and buy it by the roll to be cost effective. This way I make-up two filter panels for a quick-change-out.......otherwise I procrastinate the monthly maintenance cycle. Just vacuum clean and rinse in Dawn/water solution and the static properties remain. We’ve also found the cabins to be most comfortable to run the fans continuously to keep the cool/warm air mixed. This can be done quietly due to the ability to turn-down the fan speed......play around with the speed to get the best flow so it’s not too noisy, but keeps the compressor from running too long to reach set point. Good luck. Steve MV Last Laugh Sent from my iPad > On Mar 7, 2021, at 08:05, Stephen McCreary <mccreary.stephen@gmail.com> wrote: > > Steve > > We’ve installed a Dometic DTG self contained 16K BTU in our pilot house and a split system TVE/DTU 10K BTU in our master stateroom. Both work well, installed easily and are fairly quite. The self contained unit has the sound enclosure and is quite enough for its intended use, however when I replace the next unit in the main saloon living area I’ll install a 16K BTU split TVE/DTU. Yes it’ll be more costly, but for the quietest operation so the TV doesn’t need blasted it’ll be worth the few dollars more. That said, when the 4th unit a 33 year old King Air 10K BTU split system in the guest cabin fails, we’ll replace with a self contained. The noise from a new self contained unit is more than a split system but not greatly (for these new Dometic units). Older or other brand self contained can be very noisy. If it’s a TV viewing area, my opinion the split system, if can cost effectively be installed is work a few more dollars. > > We used Dometic Easy Touch control on the master and MicroAir in the pilot house. We’ll standardize on MicroAir going forward.......but they are essentially the same. The nice feature of these controls is you can program the fan speeds such that you can manage the noise level accordingly. These new technology units run much higher air velocity than the older CruiseAir units which has both positive and negatives. > > We purchased online from an outfit in Tampa/St Pete area, Wayne was knowledgeable, timely and cost effective. > > Steve McCreary > MV Last Laugh > DeFever 52 Offshore Cruiser > Now lying Lady’s Island, Beaufort, South Carolina > > Sent from my iPad >>