refrigeration

[pc37howard]

plan to replace my refrigeration.37 ft pacific seacraft. need some help about the need for water cooling backup or is air cooling enough. looking to use a sea frost unit. thanks for any help.howard

[erps]

I did some research a couple years ago when we replaced our refrigeration. A good source for info is KollmannMarine Boat Refrigeration Specialist

This fellow has done some studies of his own. I was leaning towards a water cooled unit myself, but after reading his take on it, I went with air cooled. There was a concern that the sea water heat exchanger would spring a leak and ruin the whole system eventually. This happened in the previous Gurnert sea water cooled system that was in our boat. With the air cooled system, you do want to keep in mind where your condenser unit is mounted so it has enough fresh air to cool the refrigerant.

Where will you cruising grounds be?

[Familycruisers]

Air cooled all the way. Refrigeration is what I do and water cooled condensors can be a pain even on land.

[erps]

Thanks for weighing in Familycruisers. I just went back and looked at the Kollmann site. He has a section called "What works and what doesn't" and he specifically addresses problems with water cooled units. The sea water pump has a short life span. The systems require more amps than air cooled units when water temperature is warm and a pin hole leak in the sea water exchanger will ruin the whole system. I unfortunately know that first hand, with two boxes, a freezer box and a refrigerator box with holding plates, ruined because of a failure in the sea water side.

[wsmurdoch]

I have a 1988 Kollmann Marine frig/freezer on my boat. It has two separate systems; a 1-1/2 ton water cooled engine drive system and a 1/6 hp hermetic compressor system. Both freeze a single holding plate. The engine drive system has a water cooled condenser; the hermetic system has an air cooled condenser.

Richard Kollmann has been in the business for a long time. He knows his stuff.

Bill Murdoch
1988 PSC 34
Irish Eyes

[Familycruisers]

water cooled works great, but forget about loosing a pump, the worst is loosing the exchanger and contaminating the entire system making them junk, well esentially. some components could be salvaged.

[pc37howard]

do you have a make you like better or less. i was looking at the seafrost units

[mondofromredondo]

My 1988 Adler Barbour unit (air cooled) just gave out.
Seeing as how it has lasted since 1988 that gives me a good feel for the quality of the units. I understand they are far better with less current draw these days.

The way I see it. Why mess with something that proved itself to be a die hard.

Just like the Groco toilet. My existing has started to have seal leaks after being installed way back new in 1988. I think I'll simply go for a new Groco.

[pc37howard]

mondofromredondo, i under stand the adler barbour co was bought out and moved over seas. the service people i have talked with say parts are hard to get. pluse need to keep as many americans working as we can . i two under stand after 20 years why would you want to change brands.been looking at the seafrost units. pacific seacraft use them.

[Bene505]

I can't say enough about how helpful the Seafrost people are. When I was installing my system, they were even willing to take back and restock any unused tubing that I bought, that was properly cared for (tape the ends immediately after cutting).

Their easy connectors (forget the name) worked great, and when I did have leaks, it was because I didn't tighten them enough. They spent time with me, telling me how to find the leaks.

I installed a 42 foot run for all 4 tubes (high and low for both fridge and freezer). That put the compressor under our swim platform on a aft side of a small bulkhead -- not on a sleeping area bulkhead. I want things quiet.

I'm planning to send a couple compressor/air cooled units to them this winter. They will rebuild them with a new compressor for less money than a new unit costs.

I recommend SeaFrost.

Regards,
Brad