77 Cat 30 Refrigeration?

[dstaylor95]

My wife would like to replace the stove with a refrigerator. Any recommendations on a refrig unit and/or pics would be much appreciated.

 

[Bob Camarena]

If you use the search function you'll find several postings on installing a small "dorm" refrigerator in place of the stove and, alternatively, under the chart table. On the other hand, why not use the guts of the dorm refrigerator to refrigerate your existing icebox? That gives you refrigeration when you have shorepower or using an inverter or using it with ice. I got the idea from a previous posting on what used to be called the photo forum, which appears to no longer exist. My installation has worked flawlessly since 2004:

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=119304

Note, this will only work when you have shorepower or an inverter but you can still use ice. If you want true, 12v refrigeration, you're better of with one of the small conversion kits.

P.S. I don't know where I got the 1/1/21 date in referring to the original photo forum posting, must have been a typo.

 

[Bob Camarena]

I guess my link was incorrect and. Here are two links that should explain everything:

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=45549&highlight=cheapo+refrigeration

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=47928&highlight=cheapo+refrigeration

It's hard to be more specific since the exact configuration of your dorm refrigerator will dictate the details of your installation.

The most important part is not to kink or break any of the tubing. Once any of it is kinked or broken, the refrigerator is toast. I suppose it could be repaired and re-charged but it wouldn't be cost effective.