Cabo 40 Express 2005

Rick Yesue · Oct 7, 2026

I'm looking to upgrade both original AC units.......any suggestions ?

Capt Ralph · Oct 7, 2026

Anything that is simple and works.
Sadly Dometic Corp has been buying up all the marine AC companies. I fear this has reduced healthy competition and innovation.
Dometic has re-enforced my beliefs; When you can not compete, buy your competition, rob them and re-sell junk at a higher price.

The smaller suppliers left do need to be considered and shopping amongst them is what I recommend.
Seems to be a better quality and better direct orders available.

Are you shopping for split or combined units?

ranger58sb · Oct 8, 2026

Ours came with Cruisair Stowaway self-contained units. Replaced a couple with Dometic turbos (which started life as a Marine Airrrrrr model) which work well and also more recently replaced a couple more with Citimarine. Latter also work well but too new to evaluate for longevity.

-Chris

Rick Yesue · Oct 8, 2026

Capt Ralph said: ↑

Anything that is simple and works.
Sadly Dometic Corp has been buying up all the marine AC companies. I fear this has reduced healthy competition and innovation.
Dometic has re-enforced my beliefs; When you can not compete, buy your competition, rob them and re-sell junk at a higher price.

The smaller suppliers left do need to be considered and shopping amongst them is what I recommend.
Seems to be a better quality and better direct orders available.

Are you shopping for split or combined units?
Click to expand...

Rick Yesue · Oct 8, 2026

Thank you ,

Currently I have split units . Both compressors stacked in the engine room ( outside of Stbd. engine ), salon air handler in bilge under fwd area of setee , Helm air handler next to icemaker . 16,000 BTU for lower deck area , 24,000 for Helm deck

motoryachtlover · Oct 8, 2026

Dometic has the best service network. I have had a good experience with my newer Dometic replacement units.

ranger58sb · Oct 9, 2026

Our recent Citimarine replacements were following advice from our nearby Dometic installer. Something about reimbursements for Dometic warranty work he's been performing...

-Chris

Capt Ralph · Oct 9, 2026

I have been purchasing blowers from them (citimarine). Seem easy to work with.

https://citimarinestore.com/en/510-split-gas-marine-ac-units?page=3

Capt Maritime · Oct 18, 2026

My Cabo 40 convertible had two Cruisair units originally. The previous owner replaced the salon Cruisair unit with a Dometic unit. Both work fine on my boat, however the new Dometic unit is more sensitive to low voltage issues. Last summer I spent a holiday weekend at a busy transient marina with old shore power pedestals and the Dometic unit kept tripping on low voltage. All worked out well after we switched to a different shore power pedestal. The salon Dometic unit feeds the cabin air handler in the overhead and the Cruisair unit feeds two air handlers, one in each stateroom.

Capt Ralph · Oct 18, 2026

They are all using the same compressor mfgs.
Just the control boards may be different.
The ol SMX and later U boards are programmable to lessen the low ACv false errors.
You may consider this when working on 208ACv shore service again.

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Cabo 40 Express 2005

Rick Yesue New Member

Capt Ralph Senior Member

ranger58sb Senior member

Rick Yesue New Member

Rick Yesue New Member

motoryachtlover Senior Member

ranger58sb Senior member

Capt Ralph Senior Member

Capt Maritime Member

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AC units Cabo 40.jpeg

Capt Ralph Senior Member