Hi all-- if you saw my other post, I just discovered another leak. Could definitely use some input for any solutions:
aft cabin mattress wet. Figured rain since it's been a monsoon here. Source along bottom of wall separating fuel tank from aft cabin. I pulled that off and there's water coming from access panels above diesel tank. Looking into the port lazarrette I see the problem. There is literally melting ice along floor of lazarrette coming from refrigerator unit.
it's an Adler Barbour mounted on a shelf without any drip pan/drain etc. so everything it running off the shelf.
I will say that it's been running constantly -- I had it cranked up after a recharge and just realized I should back the thermostat way down. So it's been making ice in the lazarrette for 2 days lol.
Question: I'm thinking I could use some sort of plastic tray with right dimensions and plumb a drain into drain into bilge. Does anyone have experience with this problem and have a solution? I'm wondering if now that the thermostat is back off and I won't run as much perhaps the issue won't be as bad but still seems like condensation has to collect and go somewhere...
as always, words of wisdom greatly appreciated.
Brad
Found the issue. The copper coils for the fridge under that shelf it's on were completely un-insulated. Just raining down condensation. I turned everything off and let it dry, and then encased the coils in spray foam insulation so they're now buried in there and not exposed to the warmer humid air. Hopefully that solves that. Really surprised it was installed this way (and that it didn't draw attention/get addressed at some point over last 22 years!). I think she was used mostly for day sails and it probably didn't leak enough with short uses to draw attention. Hmm. Wonder what other fun things I'll discover...
2.5 weeks to go until delivery sail from north fork of Long Island back to Annapolis. Whatever is waiting to be discovered will probably become evident 20 miles offshore :)
Brad
I believe your problem with the coil was/is an imbalance of the refrigerant. I seem to recall that could be an issue to address should it occur. Put icebox in the search engine and it should bring up some information.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Interesting. Well, I hope I didn't just mess something up By insulating those coils. Before I did that, I called the refrigeration company that had come out to do the refrigerant recharge last week. They said they could either take some refrigerant out, less than the charge, though he recommended just insulating the heck out of those coils to prevent condensation. That also eliminated another visit and service charge. But again, I hope that was the right call, guess I'll find out next week when I'm back at the boat And let it run for two days.