Air Conditioners for Marine Applications - What You Need to Know

Whether you are sailing for a day or a year, your boat needs to have a dependable air conditioner so you can stay cool and comfortable. The weather can be stifling when you are on the open sea. When combined with the humidity, your body may not be able to cool down right away. That is where our high-quality marine air conditioners come in. Our best-selling brand comes in a variety of models perfect for staying cool on your yacht

How to Find the Best Marine Air Conditioner

There are several important factors you will need to consider when choosing a marine AC unit. The air conditioner's capacity, energy consumption, noise level, and features will play a big role in your decision. Not every air conditioner is compatible with every boat. Here are our pro tips to remember when shopping for a Dometic marine air conditioner.

Capacity Is Important for Marine AC

Different air conditioners have different cooling capacities. You need to measure the size of the room where your AC is going and match it against the air conditioner's capacity. Our air conditioners deliver 4,000 to 72,000 BTU of cooling power per hour and are 27 percent more energy efficient than similar models from our competitors .

Innovative Features in Our Marine AC Units

We use state-of-the-art engineering in all of our marine air conditioners. From the environmentally friendly refrigerant R-410A to our innovative solution to reduce vibrations in your space, you can rely on our efficient units marine air conditioning to maintain a comfortable indoor climate, while without taking too much space Some features include rust-free drain pans, hermetically sealed units, and vibration isolation mounts.

Why Choose Dometic?

Our marine AC systems are sold in over 100 markets. Many world-renowned yacht and sailing manufacturers choose our products for interior climate control. Our products require minimal maintenance and are engineered to withstand any harsh marine environment. The housing and components resist corrosion from saltwater and withstand temperatures of up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Much Power Do Marine Air Conditioners Need?

Our air conditioners come in different sizes to suit your for marine needs. They require anywhere from 115 volts at 60 Hz to 230 volts at 50 Hz. It is important to verify that your boat's battery can consistently deliver the level of power required to the air conditioner.

Do Marine AC Units Take Up Too Much Space?

We understand that interior space is at a premium on all types of boats. Our marine air conditioning systems are designed to be as compact as possible. They mount in line with the interior panels and conserve space. The tubing can be run inside of the interior walls or along the ceiling. The electrical box and compressor units take up to 25 percent less space compared to those made by our competitors.

What is Zoned Climate Control?

Zoned climate control allows you to set different temperatures for different parts of your boat. If one member of your party wants their cabin to be cool and another wants theirs to be several degrees warmer, zoned climate control makes this possible. We offer multiple zoned climate control air conditioners for marine applications. The condenser goes in the engine room and the smaller, quieter evaporator units are wall-mounted in the different zones. You can choose up to six zones during your setup.

Heating Functions on Dometic Marine Air Conditioners

Some of our marine AC units can also be used as mini heat pumps. They can heat or cool any space. This is helpful for chilly nights and hot days at sea. Our ECD and Turbo Series products offer both heating and cooling functions for marine applications.

Powerful, Quiet & Compact With No Drain Pan Worries

The Dometic Turbo series completely revolutionized self-contained boat air conditioning with patented innovations in marine air conditioning system design, winning the IBEX Innovation Award. The rust-free molded composite drain pan has three drains for the rapid removal of condensate water. The drain pan has a small footprint for installation flexibility. A vibration-isolation mounting system results in significantly quieter, virtually vibration-free performance. The enclosed blower motor eliminates overhang for reduced depth.

Available in 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 12,000 and 16,000 BTU/hr..

These new and updated versions of the self contained unit also have the dual capability of heating and cooling. Through its reversing valve, the unit can be used as a heater and air conditioner.

DTU PROS

Turbo blower has 30% more capacity

Compact, lightweight

Composite drain pan will not rust

Optional sound cover further reduces compressor noise by up to 50%

More modern design

Reverse cycle = cooling and heating

Slightly further rotation allowed on blower

New “U-Board” Universal control Board

DTU CONS

Higher price point

Doesn’t come with control / display or cable because it’s intended to be replacement for previous Dometic models (Stowaway Turbo STX, Vector Turbo Unit VTD)

*Dometic Turbo Units (DTU) are direct replacements for all VT and ST units. All units include temperature sensor. Display cable not included.

Dometic EnviroComfort – ECD

Enjoy Year-Round Comfort with EnviroComfort

Dometic’s EnviroComfort Units (ECDs) are available in 6,000, 10,000, and 16,000 BTU/hr cooling and reverse-cycle heating capacities, so you can size the system to suit your boat for ultimate comfort in a range of climates.

All units have blowers with internal motors for a more compact installation footprint. The blower can be rotated to a horizontal or vertical position for greater installation flexibility. ECD units are built on an easy-to-plumb stainless-steel drain pan, and the pre-installed return-air filter is removable for cleaning.

ECD units are operated by a compact digital control/display (included) that features a bright green LED and large buttons. For added installation convenience, the plastic electrical box can be mounted remotely.

ECD kits are ideal for replacing an existing air conditioning system or for a new air conditioning installation. The Retrofit Kit includes the ECD self-contained air conditioning unit and digital control with bezel and is intended to replace an older self-contained air conditioner of comparable capacity. The ECD6K will replace a 5,000 to 7,000 BTU/hr unit; the ECD10K will replace an 8,000 to 11,000 BTU/hr unit; and the ECD16K will replace a 12,000 to 16,000 BTU/hr unit.

ECD PROS

More economic price point

High-velocity blower provides powerful cooling

Compact, lightweight design

Control / display and cables included

New “U-Board” Universal control Board

ECD CONS

Pans are stainless but not stainfree – therefore some rusting may occur over time

No sound cover option