Product Spotlight: Webasto FCF Platinum Air Conditioners

Those summer months on the water are a lot of fun, but they are also HOT.  If you're lucky enough to have a boat with cabin space, then hopefully you're able to enjoy a break from the heat.  Stepping inside the boat's cabin is even better if you've equipped it with what I would call humanity's greatest invention: air conditioning.

For boats with up to three cabin spaces, self-contained air conditioners are probably your best solution for cooling that space. Typically, each cabin is equipped with its own unit, which is sized according to the space it must cool.  Getting an air conditioner that also offers reverse-cycle heating is also beneficial; it can provide some warmth during the cooler spring and fall, allowing you to extend your boating season.

There are plenty of self-contained marine air conditioners to choose from, but we highly recommend Webasto's FCF Platinum Series air conditioners.  Webasto has developed heating and cooling systems for a variety of vehicles across the globe for decades, and their FCF Platinum air conditioners are compact, efficient and perform incredibly well.  Building on the success of the original FCF Series, Webasto enhanced the design, performance and features of the FCF Platinum Series to offer one of the best marine air conditioners available on the market.

The FCF Platinum Series air conditioners are available in both 115 and 230 volts, in BTU capacities ranging from 6,000 up to 16,000 BTU.  There are also larger 20,000 and 25,000 BTU units available in 230 volts only.  Each unit comes with a 2-year limited factory warranty, a digital display, controller and cable.  FCF Platinum air conditioners utilize a marine-grade stainless steel frame for durability and longevity. You can find more detailed specifications for each unit at the bottom of this article.  For now, let's examine some of the features that really make the FCF Platinum units stand apart from other self-contained marine air conditioners.

Smaller Footprint

One of the best features of the FCF Platinum air conditioners is their size.  The smaller 6,000 and 10,000 and the larger 20,000 and 25,000 units have a more traditional square footprint.  However, the 12,000 and 16,000 units were specifically designed to have a long and slim footprint that allows a variety of installation options.  They can fit in place of many popular older marine air conditioners or allow for a compact new installation.  Since we all know that space on a boat is at a premium, this design really matters.  The original FCF series are great air conditioners, but due to their size they just don't offer the type of flexibility in installation that the mid-sized FCF Platinum units do.

Higher BTU Rating

The FCF Platinum units really perform well compared to other units of the same size. Cooling and heating capacity is typically measured in BTU (British Thermal Units). Don't be intimidated by the abbreviation; BTU is simply a unit of measure for the energy required to increase or decrease the amount of heat in a room. 1 BTU equals the amount of energy required to raise or lower the temperature of a room by 1 degree Fahrenheit. The size of your room determines how much energy - or how many BTUs per hour - your air conditioner uses.

Webasto engineered the FCF Platinum Series air conditioners for better performance with higher BTU/hour ratings across a variety of scenarios. They pack an amazing amount of power and performance for their compact size. Compared to the original FCF Series, they require about the same amount of electrical power, but they generate so much more cooling capacity.

Quiet Operation

Marine air conditioners are a great luxury to have on your boat, but some are so loud that you can barely hear yourself think.  One of the most compelling features of the original FCF Series is how quiet they run compared to other marine air conditioners.  Webasto has improved on that feature even more with the FCF Platinum Series.  Using their own proprietary compressors, the FCF Platinum air conditioners operate quieter than ever before.  Not only do the FCF Platinum air conditioners provide a comfortable climate, but they also offer some comfort for your ears.

A marine air conditioner can be a big investment, but the comfort that it creates is worth it - just ask your friends and family that join you on the water!  It's important to select a brand and model that you can count on, because losing your climate control on a hot July day can be unbearable.  Webasto FCF Platinum air conditioners are the units you can count on, from a 2-year product warranty, superior construction and hardware, and state-of-the-art engineering that creates unparalleled reliability.  If you've got more questions about the FCF Platinum Series or about marine air conditioning in general, call our experts at Marine Parts Source at (866)388-0390.

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FCF Platinum Models & Specifications