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STAYING COOL IN THE AGE OF COVID

More of our customers are using their vessels to get away and quarantine with family and friends. The dog days of summer put stress on vessel Air Conditioning systems. Technology in Marine Air Conditioning, other than controls becoming electronic instead of mechanical, has virtually gone unchanged with one significant exception. Modern marine AC’s now utilize titanium vs cupronickel for the condensing coils which greatly increase the lifespan of the product. When coils fail internally this generally takes out the entire unit. Titanium is unaffected by the harsh marine environment from saltwater, invasive marine life, and the harsh acids used for cleaning the coils.

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It’s A Wrap

GILLEN TEAM COMPLETES AC PROJECT ON 150’ CHRISTENSEN

After GYS performed extensive repairs and maintenance to the Northern Lights / John Deere generators and the 4000 series MTU’s main engines on a 150’ Christensen, the vessel was ready to depart for a summer in Newport. As luck would have it, a significant portion of the vessel’s legacy Aqua Air chilled water system failed just prior to departure.

It was necessary to completely replace 3 out of the 6 chiller units which were unavailable through the now-defunct manufacturer. Gillen Yacht was able to attain parts and materials to manufacture 3 new 72,000 BTU, 440 VAC 3-phase units for replacement.

Our team worked with the yacht’s professional crew through the weekend to get the new units installed and the system up and running in just 5 days to meet the vessel’s expected arrival in Newport. The vessel is currently enjoying the summer with all units working as specified with plans to have Gillen Yacht Services replace the remaining units upon the vessel’s return in the fall.

 

Employee Spotlight

AIR CONDITIONING LEAD TECHNICIAN, JIMI PRESSOIR

This month we profile Jimi Pressoir, a Lead Technician and head of the Gillen Yacht Services Air Conditioning department. Jimi has over 25 years of experience in Marine AC. Getting his start in the industry at the Aqua Air Factory in Miami where he worked on the production line and ultimately became a factory-certified technician. Jimi’s career includes experience with many premier companies within the marine industry including Rosciolli, Beard Marine, and Thomas Marine. What Jimi enjoys most about working at Gillen Yacht Services is the professionalism of his co-workers and the great working environment. No matter what the size of your vessel, Jimi is up to the job of servicing or installing your Marine AC system.
Dave Senior’s Boating Tips

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR AC & HOW TO PROLONG ITS LIFE

How do you get the most out of your AC and prolong its life?
The key is flushing your system before it reaches the critical stage and keeping your air handlers clean.

PRESERVING YOUR VESSEL’S AIR CONDITIONING
The water the vessel sits in will determine the flushing frequency and type of servicing your marine AC system will require. (i.e., simple backflush or a chemical flush) If for example, the cooling water pickup is close to the bottom there may be more silt that gets pumped into the system, particularly the condensing coil. In this case, no chemicals are needed, but rather back flushing with fresh water is all that is required to eliminate settlement.
In another scenario, a vessel anchored in deep water versus one tied behind a house in a canal with little water movement will not have the same flushing frequency. The salinity of the water, marine growth, and water temperature all have direct implications on the needs and frequency for the flushing of your AC system.
Customer flushing needs vary greatly, some requiring as little as annual servicing while others flush as routinely as once a month. In those cases, Gillen Yacht Services often installs a quick disconnect that allows the customer greater ease and access to perform this function.
Keeping your system routinely flushed prevents compressors from getting overheated which is the component that has the highest incidence of significant failure and the most cost.
Cleaning of the air handlers should occur at least annually. Often times it is as simple as cleaning or replacing a filter at the front of the unit. Depending on the installation this job can be quite difficult but should not be ignored. In the absence of a serviceable filter, the air handler fins may require cleaning with a chemical solution. Ignoring this important service item can result in a significant reduction of airflow or causing the unit to freeze.
Gillen Yacht Services specialized AC department can perform all these services or demonstrate to you or your crew how to perform these tasks. Call us for all your AC needs.
Talk To Dave & Contact Us About Your Next Project!

Wheels UP!

A HURRICANE WAS HEADED TOWARDS THE BAHAMAS

A hurricane heading towards the Bahamas, a pickup crew ready to bring the vessel back to the states, but no commercial flights are allowed to fly into the islands – what is a customer to do? Yacht Delivery of America who regularly partners with Gillen Yacht for servicing their customer’s vessels took advantage of the company’s flight department to quickly fly over necessary parts, Captain and Crew. The owners who were waiting for the crew on Staniel Cay decided to take advantage of the private flight and ride back to Fort Lauderdale instead of riding back with the yacht. Another customer Wheels Up Rescue mission!
If you are in need of delivery or crew consider contacting Captain Tony at: yachtdeliveryamerica@gmail.com