MarinAire 16000 btu Air Conditioner and Heat Pump for boats
This is a review of a product that I've purchased, installed or have used aboard Coraline. If you plan to purchase this item, please use the Buy On Amazon button. Lifesaport will receive affiliate advertising credits. We can then use to purchase new items helping to make more content for the site and to fund "The Improbable Fund". Thanks in advance for helping us out!
Replaced both of my Webasto units with this MarinAire unit. Install was surprisingly straight forward. Only issue I had was with the first unit, would not start. Emailed support on a Saturday afternoon and actually heard back. They gave me some basic stuff to try, like replace the phone cable to the control unit and swap the temp senors. It was all we could try on the weekend. I'll admit, this was pretty frustrating given that I had to rip my entire galley apart to get to the compartment that the a/c unit resides in. Since I live aboard, this put me out more so than just being hot for a few days. Anyway, the tech guy sent me a new controller and control board as a shotgun method. Got lucky with the control unit. It started working and cooled like a champ. Second unit didn't have any issues.
A couple of notes: Throw the remote in the trash. It doesn't work intuitively with the control unit and causes conflicting readings. I experienced this on both units. It can work but if some one adjust one or the other the unit typically just shuts off. The unit fan turns on every 10 mins for about 20 secs to stir the air for a good temp reading. Nothing unusual and a good idea but can be disconcerting when you're hypersensitive to the noise of your newly installed gem.
Installation notes: 1. A nice touch on this unit is that the control board and it's box is mounted separately from the unit itself. This gives you more mounting options and ease of wiring. 2. Think about the drain pan and how it relates to your boats natural list. All boats lean a bit one way or the other, port to starboard, bow to aft. Installing the drain tube to take advantage of this will make for less chance of mold growth and standing water from condensation. 3. Use the remote temp sensor that comes with the unit. Install it as close to chest height in the highest cabin that the unit services. The temp sensor that is on the unit will have a tendency to read the air temp at the unit. Which even though the unit circulates air for a temp reading every ten minutes, the reading is never going to be exactly what your living space will be. 4. The control unit is compatible with VIMAR boxes and face plates so you're not stuck with chrome. IMTRA will have what you want at a good price. 5. Purchase pieces to build a plenum before you start your install. The output is 6" round. The replaced unit in my boat was square. Found this out during the install. Running to Lowes to purchase tin ducting is not a good long term choice for a boat. Find yourself the proper plastic wyes/tees/reducers etc before you start. You'll be happy you did.
I'm on 1.5 years of hardcore liveaboard use and they haven't failed yet. Mike from the lifesaport blog.
