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I highly recommend Nigel Calders Refrigeration on Boats book. It has a strong focus on engine compressor driven refrigeration and cold plates. I found it very helpful. https://boatbooks.co.nz/electrics2.html#4209

Expect a minium of a 1 boat dollar bill.....

Don't fret - I'm not about to start undoing any pipes or anything - not a refrigeration technician by a long shot but also not an idiot! Just wanting to learn as much as possible about what is in the boat and hopefully make a more accurate diagnosis of what is causing the issue. If tapping or adjusting the txv (in and out but finishing back at same point as it started at) and checking location of bulb plus maybe exercising it a bit (plunging it alternately between cups of ice and hot water) doesn't cure it I'll get it replaced and regassed.

and if you need a compresssor or parts for one like the clutch good chance it is the same as used in all the forestry equipment, can be sourced for a quarter of the marine price. Forestaire are a good company in Rotorua, the receptionist there know more than most about the danfoss catalogue and replacement bits and generally had them on the shelf.

plus 1 for oceanair, Dan really knows his stuff and gets to the problems quicker than most, but book now if you want cold xmas beers as generally they are booked a few months out

Oceanair seem to be very good at dealing with engine driven compressor systems. I'd recommend them. A sorted engine driven compressor freezer/fridge is awesome! I haven't come across anything that cools drinks faster... just got to be careful not to freeze them!

Sorry R134a Damn autocorrect

Personally having put my boat through cat 3 and now cat 2 with a highly respected boat builder and mentor as my inspector I have found it a really good exercise, they challenge you on details you may have missed and often help with practical solutions to achieving the certification and a safe vessel, I would really recommend anyone using their boat outside the gulf racing or cruising to put their vessel through cat 3 at least once. from reading Fagans books he has some quirky approaches to repairs and did mention in a previous book that he had re built the skeg himself. that said he

Well done Team Elevation....awesome result for a trailer yacht. See you back on the lake for the ACM in a few weeks

My understanding is that some local sail lofts are having their designs built offshore in large asian manufacturing lofts to save on labour rates and then the sails come back to NZ to be finished here by kiwi sailmakers. So, although much of the construction work has happened overseas, the design and finishing has occurred in NZ by experienced NZ sailmakers. When you order your sail over the internet and its then "designed" according to a generic algorithm, constructed and finished by people who may or may not have ever seen a yacht let alone sailed on one or have any interest in sailing