In order to add the Raw Water Filter (Sea Strainer), I first needed to remove the old Sea-Frost refrigeration system. I elected to tackle this project for three reasons. First, the refer was horribly inefficient, and was leaking refrigerant. Second, its a massive power hog. The third reason is a bit more complex. The system has two compressors. One runs off of the batteries, has an "air side condenser" and is located in the port side lazartte where it is tough to access and maintain. The second compressor is attached to the engine, like a car AC unit (circled in RED in the photo left). It has large piping that clutters the engine compartment and its mounting situation has it rubbing up against the cooling lines for the engine (red arrow). This is a major concern as it will eventually, and at probably the most inopportune time, wear through and cause major issues.

As with the compressors, there are also two condensers. The aforementioned air side condenser in the lazarette and a second Raw Water condenser in the engine compartment (circled in GREEN in the photo left). The Raw Water condenser is the one I'm most concerned with. This condenser is directly piped to the seacock for the engine cooling system and is exactly where I need to install the strainer. Also, it is a sealed unit. Its construction is comprised of a 1/2" copper pipe coil. The coil itself is roughly the diameter of a wine bottle and about 18" from top to bottom. This coil is sealed in a clear plastic canister, with a raw water inlet and outlet at the top and bottom respectively. The refrigerant runs through the coil and the raw water fills the canister. The heat from the refrigerant is transferred into the raw water...blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, its all sorted now and I'm happy. Job done!