T&T: AC Replacements

[Frank Burrows]

I have an old 1979 43' Viking with the original Marine Air compressors and 
refitted with computerized controls. I am considering replacing them 
because of their age and a elusive Freon leak.  A local dealer and a 
representative from the manufacturer tell me I am crazy to just replace the 
units. They say I should replace the evaporators as well as all the copper 
tubing if I truly want to insure a reliable system. This solutions is way 
too expensive and in my view impractical.

The current system has a split system for the forward and aft cabins with a 
16K compressor. The salon has it own 16K unit with the evaporator installed 
within a couple of feet of the compressor below in the bilge. These units 
use the older technology non-rotary compressors and the current 
recommendation from CruiseAir and Marine Air is to use a similar 
replacement not the newer rotary units. They feel these newer units don't 
work well in this application.

I am wondering if it makes more sense to replace these units with 3 of the 
newer rotary self contained units. One for each cabin. This would eliminate 
all the old tubing and I think because these newer units are so compact 
that I would be able to fit them easily in the forward cabin and salon and 
with some modifications to the aft cabin.

It appears that the technology has been applied to the newer rotary self 
contained units and they just make the old split systems for replacements. 
One downside is that since the compressors will be in the cabins instead of 
the bilge they will be louder but I don't know how much louder.

Has anyone else done this or considered doing it?  Do I need to cut back on 
the red wine?

thanks


Frank Burrows     Destiny   1979  43'  Viking MY
      Piney Narrows     Chesapeake Bay