Adding hot water and refrigeration

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Michael Pratt

I have just acquired a pristine 27' Catalina. However, my wife wants to take a hot shower and I wouldn't mind having refrigeration (either installed in the existing cooler or elsewhere). The boat has shore power but we plan on taking 4-5 day cruises up and down the TN. River. Any experience out there? Thanks. Mike
 
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David H

Limited space

We have a 1982 27' dinette model, my wife wanted the same thing and I got tired of hauling ice @2.00 per day to keep the beer cold. I installed an 11-gallon water heater in the aft portion of the starboard quarter berth. I thought of putting it in the port locker, but it would have made it real difficult to work on the inboard. I could have installed a 6-gallon in the port locker or lazerette locker, but didn't think that would last her long. I thought of glassing in the bottom of the head for a shower but I found it easier to install 4 stainless steel hooks in the cabin top and stretch 2 shower curtains in the cabin to make a square. Roll back the carpet and the water goes into the bilge. Refrigeration to convert the icebox is pricey and it is not insulated that well. I installed a NORCOLD DE0051, which works on 110 AC or 12VDC in the quarter berth facing forward. The quarter berth in the dinette model is useless except for little kids and storage, so giving it up for hot water and cold beer was no loss. Buy the way, when shopping for stainless steel fasteners, check your local Ace Hardware, ours bears the pants off West Marine
 
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Bob Camarena

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May 23, 2004
117
Catalina 30 Stockton, CA
Cheap Refrigeration

Check out this link to an article in the Photo Forum about using the guts of a small, dorm refrigerator to refrigerate your existing icebox. I did it to my Catalina 30 and it's worked flawlessly for about three years so far. The main drawback is that it only works on 120v, but, since it still can be used as an icebox, you're not losing anything, plus your ice lasts longer as long as you have shorepower at night. You also have the alternative of using an inverter, although it's not going to be as efficient as a true marine refrigeration unit. You also always have cold beer on board for all of those projects you need to do while at your home port. With regard to insulation, the worst part of your current icebox is the top and lid. It's an easy project to glue rigid 1.5" or 2" building insulation (from Home Depot or Lowes) to the underside of the top and lid using Liquid Nails or other suitable adhesive. The foil-backed insulation makes for a neat installation.
 
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Windwalker

KISS again (Hey I'm a sailor)

Sun shower $19.95, Dry ice $2.29 lb What you could do with the extra week of labor and thousand$, priceless....
 
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