Dan and Donna Happ wrote:
Please do tell us how to "roll our own." I've been thinking about doing
this exact same thing. A coil of copper tubing inside a PVC shell?
Dan

jim.isbell wrote:

I got it off E Bay, but I can tell you how to "roll your own". Its not
dificult.


You almost have it. One small diameter of copper tubing inside a
larger diameter copper tube and coiled to save space. The ends of the
larger diameter tube are soldered to the smaller tube to create a
cavity. Then on both ends of the larger tube inlet and outlet fittings
are afixed so that you can pump seawater thru the outer jacket. The
ends of the smaller tube are connected to the in and out of the freon
where it once connected to the AIR condenser. This of copurse requires
the discharge and later recharging of the AC. On my 5,000 btu unit
there is about 10' of length. It could be left uncoiled and just bent
into a narrow "U" shape if that would be easier to "store". The shape
of the coil is adjustable to meet your needs but you must have both
ends near each other so they can be connnected to the AC unit. And of
course you have to consider the raw water plumbing needs as well.

You could also dispense with the outer tube and make the tube run along
the keel for a "Keel Cooler" as used on many commercial engines. This
would put your freon tube in an exposed area and would require through
hull fittings capable of carrying the 200 psi freon.