Oyster Yachts pilots power-efficient Frigomar air conditioning
Luxury boatbuilder Oyster Yachts is piloting Frigomar SCU12VFD and SCU16VFD variable-capacity air conditioning units on an Oyster 595, supplied in the UK by Advance Yacht Systems (AYS).
The pilot programme covers cabin cooling and heating with claimed silent operation and drawing a maximum starting current of 2A. The SCU12VFD and SCU16VFD models are self-contained inverter units rated at 12,000 and 16,000 BTU/h respectively, each providing cooling and heating from a single seawater-cooled unit.
Frigomar has collaborated with UK distributor Advance Yacht Systems to bring lower-power, quieter air conditioning to more sailing and leisure boats.
Nick Creed, supply chain project manager at Oyster Yachts, says: “Air conditioning is high on the list for owners heading to warmer cruising grounds, and silence, comfort and the electrical load it places on the boat operation is very much part of that decision. This pilot allows us assess the Frigomar units on our yachts before offering them more widely.”
The Frigomar technology claims to provide enhanced comfort and silent operation, rather than the noise from traditional air conditioning compressors.
According to Frigomar, a variable-speed BLDC compressor runs anywhere between 20 per cent and 100 per cent of capacity, holding cabin temperature steady rather than cycling on and off. Frigomar states an average 50 per cent reduction in electrical energy consumption (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) against an equivalent conventional unit. This allows air conditioning to potentially operate for periods of time, such as overnight, from a boat’s battery energy storage rather than a generator, creating a silent, comfortable yacht.
Both models measure 500×290×334mm for the main unit and weigh 27kg including the detachable electrical box, which can be mounted separately. A touchscreen thermostat and an air outlet that rotates through 135° allow flexible ducting. Each unit is tested individually at the factory before dispatch, and the SCU range won the British Marine (BMEEA) Product of the Year award in 2019.
Rob Cotterill, managing director at Advance Yacht Systems, adds: “A 2amp start-up demand changes how air conditioning sits in the power budget and demand of a sailing yacht, bringing it within reach of a sensible and optimised sized generator, inverter and battery bank. Oyster’s pilot programme will confirm how that translates on their boats.”
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