Flight Level Zerovideo
DIY install of a Dometic A/C, a Microair Flex and installing a dry bilge pump.
January 23, 2026 · 29 min · 16K views
Man installing A/C ducting inside wooden sailboat cabin
What this video covers
A 16,000 BTU Dometic marine air conditioning unit replaces a failed 20-year-old 12,000 BTU unit aboard the Beneteau 57 Vanishing Point, berthed in Southern California.5:35 The old unit's control box had failed and its compressor wiring was protected only by duct tape.2:09 Chris removes the old unit by closing both seacocks on the raw water intake and discharge lines, disconnects the ducting and wiring, and drops the new unit into the same cabinet — a direct swap he describes as plug-and-play for anyone upgrading from an older Dometic or Cruisair unit.6:11 Raw water connections, a condensation pan drain extension using a barb fitting, and a new thermostat wire fished through the existing run complete the plumbing and wiring.17:12 A Microair Easy Start Flex soft starter is then wired into the compressor circuit using Wago connectors, replacing Dometic's factory PTCR start relay to allow the AC to run on battery power with reduced startup current draw.26:51 Separately, a Bilge Be Dry kit with three pickups — one in each bilge section and one in the engine bay — is wired directly to the 12-volt house bank and set on a timed automatic cycle.9:12 Six cigarette-lighter sockets around the boat are swapped for dual USB-C and single USB-A charging ports.29:00
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