At anchor, the air feels like it’s got weight to it. The boat’s quiet, the sun’s still working overtime, and suddenly the air conditioning that behaved perfectly at the dock is sulking like an old pump that’s swallowed a bit of weed.
Most of the time it isn’t one dramatic failure; it’s a dependency chain showing its weak link. A half-clogged strainer, a tired start capacitor, a lazy blower, a voltage dip when someone fires up the kettle—small things that only matter when you’re on your own power and the cabin’s heat-soaked.
The trick is to stay methodical and a little skeptical of first impressions. Start with what moves and what feeds it, and you’ll usually find the real problem before you start throwing parts—and patience—over the side.