Better referigeration possible?

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Pat

I have added foam insulation to the portside and underside of my icebox hoping to keep my drinks colder but to no avail. I also added a newer seal to the top loading door. My referigeration (Alder Barbour) works ok, no problem making ice cubes, but I am convinced this ice box is just too big or not insulated enough to keep my beer ice-cold. I don't want to add an ocassional ice block as some do. The manual mentions adding a separator to extend the size of the freezer. I am thinking of doing this not to make my freezer bigger but to make the referigeror area smaller and thus colder. Just wondering if anyone has done this and did you divide top & bottom or forward & aft? The only other change I am considering is adding a vent(grate) to the aft locker so that the compressor can get a little more fresh air from the main cabin. My compressor is located in the locker accessable from the cockpit. I believe the newer boats are built with this venting feature? But this would not keep my refer colder but just make it more efficient if I am not mistaken?
 
Mar 1, 2004
351
Catalina 387 Cedar Mills-Lake Texhoma
Panels

I am not familiar with the design of your refrigerator, but you can build vertical walls around the holding plate to make a freezer area and cut opening up high for the cold air to spill over in to an area that will keep items cold but not frozen. You can also use these battery powered fans to move air around in the refrigerator area. You know, the little square fans that are powered byD cells.
 
Mar 1, 2004
351
Catalina 387 Cedar Mills-Lake Texhoma
Panels

I am not familiar with the design of your refrigerator, but you can build vertical walls around the holding plate to make a freezer area and cut opening up high for the cold air to spill over in to an area that will keep items cold but not frozen. You can also use these battery powered fans to move air around in the refrigerator area. You know, the little square fans that are powered byD cells.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Pat, Boxes have six side. To be effective you

must increase the thickness of the insulation on all six sides. Use either foil faced Urethane or extruded styrene. Fit the pieces as carefully as you can and fill the gaps with canned foam. (great-stuff is one brand). If you can double the thickness of the insulation you will cut the heat gain in half. That is equal to doubling the size of your refrigeration unit,
 
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