I was told one could take apart a small fridge like you would have in your garage and re-assemle it to fit for the icebox. Cold plate and temp control in the box, compressor etc on the otherside under the cockpit stow area. Any info?
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Barry
Yes, It Works Great!
I did this in my h34 seven years ago and my beer has been cold ever since. Be careful taking the fridge apart so you don't discharge or kink the freon lines. You'll need to cut a hole in the icebox big enough to pass the evaporator through. I eventually added a fan to cool the condenser since the airflow was poor where I installed it. Total investment was $50. Barry
I did this in my h34 seven years ago and my beer has been cold ever since. Be careful taking the fridge apart so you don't discharge or kink the freon lines. You'll need to cut a hole in the icebox big enough to pass the evaporator through. I eventually added a fan to cool the condenser since the airflow was poor where I installed it. Total investment was $50. Barry
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Jerry
Yes - see............
See the posting from Darren in Mid-Size Boats - One of the respondents has done this and it sounds like a good idea !!!!! I'm sorry but $1000 - $2000 for a 'marine' unit just to keep stuff cold sounds almost obscene. It can be done for less. Some builders seem to think - 'Hey - all of you people are rich so what's the problem !!!"
See the posting from Darren in Mid-Size Boats - One of the respondents has done this and it sounds like a good idea !!!!! I'm sorry but $1000 - $2000 for a 'marine' unit just to keep stuff cold sounds almost obscene. It can be done for less. Some builders seem to think - 'Hey - all of you people are rich so what's the problem !!!"
Okay for a day sailer!
Jerry: Using these parts for your boat is fine if you are just day sailing it. If you plan on staying out over the weekend, these 110V conversions are NOT very practical. I'll agree that $1200-1500 is a lot for a cold beer, BUT I'm worth it!
Jerry: Using these parts for your boat is fine if you are just day sailing it. If you plan on staying out over the weekend, these 110V conversions are NOT very practical. I'll agree that $1200-1500 is a lot for a cold beer, BUT I'm worth it!
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Jack Bollinger
Coleman Cooler
Hello Jerry, We purchased a 50 quart electric cooler at Walmart, it plugs into 110V or 12 Volts. This cooler keeps the contents 30 to 50 degrees cooler then the outside air temp. The cost of the cooler with 110v adapter was about $110. it works great. They had a 40 quart cooler with adapter for $79.00. We keep it plugged in on 110v all the time in the Marina, and run it on 12V while sailing. I think it costs about $7.00 extra a month on the electric bill.( in San Diego, SDG&E country thats not bad)....
Hello Jerry, We purchased a 50 quart electric cooler at Walmart, it plugs into 110V or 12 Volts. This cooler keeps the contents 30 to 50 degrees cooler then the outside air temp. The cost of the cooler with 110v adapter was about $110. it works great. They had a 40 quart cooler with adapter for $79.00. We keep it plugged in on 110v all the time in the Marina, and run it on 12V while sailing. I think it costs about $7.00 extra a month on the electric bill.( in San Diego, SDG&E country thats not bad)....
Also have a thermo electric cooler!
Jack: We also have one of the thermo electric coolers and have to agree that they work well. If they are cold when you get to the boat and had a battery that was dedicated to it's use, it would probably stay cool for a day or two away from the dock without recharging the batteries. The only other negative comment would be the amount of space that they take up.
Jack: We also have one of the thermo electric coolers and have to agree that they work well. If they are cold when you get to the boat and had a battery that was dedicated to it's use, it would probably stay cool for a day or two away from the dock without recharging the batteries. The only other negative comment would be the amount of space that they take up.
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Tim Schaaf
More thermoelectrics
There are also several thermoelectric cooling units that can be installed in your ice-box. Supercool makes a nice one that draws one and a half amps, and cools its hot side with cooler air ducted from the bilge. I have used one for fifteen years, now, and it cools even here in Mexico! About every eight years (liveaboard use) I have to change the little fans. Takes a few minutes and a few bucks.
There are also several thermoelectric cooling units that can be installed in your ice-box. Supercool makes a nice one that draws one and a half amps, and cools its hot side with cooler air ducted from the bilge. I have used one for fifteen years, now, and it cools even here in Mexico! About every eight years (liveaboard use) I have to change the little fans. Takes a few minutes and a few bucks.
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Eric Steege
Dorm Fridge Converted
This year I converted the guts of a dorm fridge into my ice box. I bought the dorm fridge at Best Buy for about $100 and extracted the working parts -- the compressor and the evaporator. Then, I cut a hole in my ice box on the boat so that I could get the evaporator into the ice box. Once the evaporator was in the ice box, I glued the parts that I cut away back into the hole and sealed it with insulation foam. I secured the compressor on the back side of the ice box and hooked up A/C power. I have cold beer when I arrive at the boat. Better yet, I don't have to buy new ketchup and mustard every time I go out for dinner on the hook.
This year I converted the guts of a dorm fridge into my ice box. I bought the dorm fridge at Best Buy for about $100 and extracted the working parts -- the compressor and the evaporator. Then, I cut a hole in my ice box on the boat so that I could get the evaporator into the ice box. Once the evaporator was in the ice box, I glued the parts that I cut away back into the hole and sealed it with insulation foam. I secured the compressor on the back side of the ice box and hooked up A/C power. I have cold beer when I arrive at the boat. Better yet, I don't have to buy new ketchup and mustard every time I go out for dinner on the hook.
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