Making more room for wine...

Our rusty a/c compressor--outta here!

On our survey, the a/c didn't work (dang).  Then, miraculously, it did work (Yeah!).  Then it quit again (Dang!).  As you may recall, we gave in and bought a window a/c unit from Lowe's in Charleston.  Since then, it has been improved with insulation, a canvas cover and modified ducting (new piece of cardboard).  It will also run off our portable generator, if needed (the boat's a/c wouldn't).  So when our dock neighbor's a/c went out, so we didn't hesitate to give them our a/c water pump.  We've discussed removing the boat installed a/c unit since the window unit seems to work fine.  (If it quits working we chuck it & buy another one for $100.  Our boat a/c controller would need to be shipped into the manufacturer, who will probably tell us we need a new one.)  There was talk of putting a water-maker in it's place (under the settee) or at least making room to store the portable a/c unit when underway.

Our current hatch/window a/c unit

Port bow anchor locker, before (compressor in under the lower access panel)

(I apologize for the poor picture quality.  The Captain won't stop projects to wait for good lighting.)

SO one lazy morning, the Captain got to work.  The compressor was in the primary anchor locker (port bow).  When he attempted to loosen the attachment bolts, he was surprised to find it was no longer attached to anything!  Apparently, the wooden base had disintegrated (this immediately brings some 3-4 ft/5 sec interval, bow pounding on the Chesapeake Bay to mind).  Another bonus will be 50 lbs less weight in the bow (more chain for the anchor!  Whoo hoo!)  He was also disappointed to see the "marine quality" condenser was rusted through.  ("How can they charge extra for marine quality when it's rusted through?  You might as well buy it at Home Depot.")  While there, The Captain also rerouted the water line that cools the fridge condenser coils to the a/c's previous drain hole, since it's above the waterline (so we can monitor flow).  Wiring was rerouted from the forward hull and aft storage compartment (a/c circuit breaker) for a new GFCI electrical plug installed in the settee for window a/c unit.  It runs to a separate breaker, in case the shore power goes off line (previously, the window a/c unit continued to run and could ruin our beautiful, new batteries).  In the middle of all this, the propane quit working.  Good times.

Rerouting water lines & electrical wiring

The A/C panel if the port aft storage

The rest of the a/c (evaporator and fan) was removed from under the settee (First Mate and cat ejected AGAIN!)  I'm beginning to envision a wine locker...

Under the settee...

The anchor locker was cleaned, repainted and dri-dek was put down.  Some line hooks and a new Mantus chain hook was installed.  Chain was flaked back into the locker.  Our anchor locker is pristine (clearly we've been in a marina too long!)

Painting the locker.  I'm told sweating onto the fresh paint made this task more difficult.

New Mantus chain hook

Pretty!

All done :-)