Flagship Air Conditioner

[pas63]

I recently learned a painful lesson in the boat world. Being a live aboard, I wanted an AC unit that would provide heat year round. The problem with most of the Cruiseair et. al. is that once Dec. rolls around, reverse cycle no longer works as the water is too cold.

I found a company called Flagship marine. On of thier claims is that they have units installed in the 44' coast guard rescue boats - keeping the boat warm in alaska, and cold in FL.

Thier unit is a straight AC with an electric element for heat.
I've used the 18.5k BTU for a year and have to say, spend the extra grand for a Cruiseair, Clima or what have you. This thing will not keep my 35' sailboat much below about outside air minus 15 degrees (on a 95 degree day, I typically see 84 inside). In the winter, once temps drop below 30ish I need an additional space heater, and when temps drop into the teens, I need an ocassional blast of the oven.
To add insult to injury, I recently had a $20 part go bad, had to uninstall the unit (they have no dealer support) ship it to them at my cost ($80) wait 2 weeks, and pay shipping back ($80). They had the gall to tell me the part is usually not covered under warantee, but they'd over look it this time. The unit is less than 1 year old, and had I spent the extra for a cruise air, or clima, it would have been covered under warantee, and not taken 2 weeks.

Buyer be ware. When you are a live aboard, some things are worth the extra money.