The unit in the car is shot... a local mechanic just gave me the word after trying to fill it with recycled R12. Told me I need new compressor seals, a new condenser, and hoses. And that was his quick diagnosis. I told him that in so Cal, most of the time, rolled down windows will suffice.

As far as the unit in the boat... it does not cover the evaporator with frost. It runs all the time and the evap plate gets cool, but not cold. It honestly worked once, in the two years I have owned he boat, and has not worked since. It just runs and runs.

If I can get a reefer mechanic to put in some coolant and be done with it, great. But if it looks like major repair, I am going the route with the Engal unit... the efficiency is just too good to pass up.

I have read of some stuff called R12A... but doing more research, I find that it is propane and I don't want to use that... so if recycled R-12 is available, fine, otherwise, I am going different route.