air conditioner replacment

[Dymonddan]

Hello,
I have a 1995 Carver 355 and need a new 16000 btu air conditioner
Does anyone have an idea of how to access it under the table to replace it with new?
Can't really get to it through the access hatch I found under the table

[Cooler]

Good luck. I have a 330 Mariner. If I have to pull the A/C, I have to remove galley cabinets. They did not think that placement out real good. Make sure you need a new unit. Those Marine Air units were really tough units. May just need repair or reset. er

[tomschauer]

Not an easy job, but it will come out of the access panel under the table. I pulled mine out to clean it.

[Dymonddan]

Thanks for the reply's.
I didn't think you could reach the duct or water lines to get them loose without taking up some flooring, carpet, and dining table seat.I will take another look at it this weekend.
How many bolts fasten it to the brackets?
I had a hvac company look at it and was told the blower shorted out and fried the control board when it did so.
I just received a quote from them for $4849.00 to replace complete unit. I think that may be on the high side and will do it myself if I can. Just can't fit in those tight places very well these days.

[Midnightsun]

If you are getting new I can vouch for MarinAire. Great unit, extremely quiet and efficient and great customer service. As you can see the unit is relatively inexpensive. Labor rates are getting really out of hand IMHO. Hire a rug rat for cheap and play arm chair quarterback.

The unit has gone up $300 since last year about this time when I bought mine, must have something to do with those new tariffs. https://www.marinaire.com/Marine-air-co ... ba16k2.htm

[tomschauer]

There is another panel under the forward dinette seat that lets you get to the duct connection. Not fun, but doable.

[Dymonddan]

Thanks guys,
I will give it a go this weekend and see if I can get the old unit out. sure don't like the idea of paying the heat/air company $210.00 an hour for his two guys plus the 100% markup on the 'drop-in' unit. I understand they need to make money but that seems nuts to me.

[km1125]

Source of the post
I just received a quote from them for $4849.00 to replace complete unit. I think that may be on the high side and will do it myself if I can. Just can't fit in those tight places very well these days.

That seems absurdly expensive to me.

Seems like there would have to be a way to disassemble the seating to give you good access to the unit. I have an older model boat but once you get the cushions off you can take the whole tops of the seating compartments off (with a bunch of screws) to get to the A/C unit, all the plumbing and the holding tanks that are under there. Not sure exactly how to do that on a 355, but there's probably a way.

But it reminds me of a friend/dock neighbor who had a Silverton. One day he comes over to see if I can help him tighten down his railings. I go over there and he had just finished cutting an access hole through a bulkhead but still couldn't reach the nuts. I came up with an extension combination that could reach the nut, but looking around at his cabin I asked why he didn't just remove this other panel that was screwed in. The screws were a bit hidden and he didn't realize that panel even came off. Once he took it off he didn't even need the extension anymore.

[Cooler]

Dymonddan - just a suggestion for help. If there is a marine supply store in your area, stop by and talk to someone who works there, or the owner. Those people have many connections to guys that do rebuilds, renovations, project work, on a hobby type of basis. Explain what you're doing, and that you need help with the physical part of the job. They can provide a couple of contacts. Offer the guy $100 to help you with that part of the job. Like you said, the challenging part of the job is having the flexibility to bend, squat, and reach to remove/reset the unit. I work part time at a marine store and I know of 5 guys I would refer for a job like this. Better than putting up with the pain caused by trying to be a contortionist. One strange thing about life.....when we have the financial resources to do things, we usually do not have the bodies that allow us to do those things. Good luck. er

[Dymonddan]

I believe I may have convinced my oldest son to help me with pulling the a/c this weekend. He certainly is no youngster but with his long arms I believe we may have a chance.
Thanks for the link Midnight Sun, I placed the order today.