Convert cooler to refregirator

Old Skool Neil · Jan 20, 2011

I converted mine about 3 years ago and have never regretted it. My choice was the NovaKool. I went without the freezer compartment due to the space it requires. The compressor sits on the ledge formed by the top of the ice box in the port seat locker. I gasketed and insulated the hinged ice box lid and put a stopper in the drain.

I installed it myself, really no big deal. It has an automatic low power shutoff to save the compressor in the event of low battery condition.

The Catalina factory ice box insulation is poor at best causing mine to run at about a 50% duty cycle in the summer. I find I can reduce that by backing the boat into the slip exposing the starboard side to the sun. Maybe someday I'll get aggressive with additional insulation but for now, I'll just enjoy the cold beer.

Twice Around · Jan 21, 2011

Neil, as you likely already know, there are multiple problems with the ice box. The exhaust hose runs just outboard of it as well (where of course you cannot effectively get any real additional insulation). I found my boat had insulation 'added'...some cardboard taped to the inboard and aft side, and a bunch of spray foam sprayed in there..I also had a lot of misc. chunks of cooler foam and soft foam jammed up all over the place when I replaced my exhaust hose...maybe some day I'll get aggressive with an access port of some type to get behind the icebox and insulate better. I was thinking maybe the port side liner to the stove there..some kind of hinged door or something? Is the ice box secured to that on the back side?

Interesting you put your compressor up there on the shelf in the sail locker..any reason for doing that instead of under/behind the cabinet in the galley (say, in between the drawers & the inboard side of the ice box??) That is where I naturally expected one to go, although I've never inspected another C-30 with refrigeration.

Old Skool Neil · Jan 21, 2011

Shawn,
The shelf seemed logical to me so that's where I put it. The refrigerant line set has to get from inside the box to the compressor outside and one single 2" hole in the ice box top was all I needed. I hadn't thought about this at the time but consider that the compressor produces heat too so the higher it's mounted the better as heat flows upward. Sub Zero refrigerators mount their machinery at the top of the appliance for this reason. The shelf also provides excellent access.

FastBreak,
$1K for the NovaKool picked up at the supplier (no shipping). The NovaKool was recommended over an Adler Barbour by a marine refrigeration professional for reasons I can't remember. I figured he knew more than me so why not? Both use the same Danfoss compressor. The NovaKool system had a variety of cold plate configurations available. I chose a 2 plate system that mounts 1/2" off the aft and inboard ice box walls on provided spacers, takes virtually no box space. Except for the power supply wire, the kit came complete, nothing else to supply.

Following the old rule of thumb regarding refrigeration, I added a battery with the installation. Will do the same when I install my windlass.

fortitude · Jan 21, 2011

Mine also is mounted almost exactly as Neil's. I'm able to vent any heat more readily and easily out of the lazarette vs. the main cabin. It's an alder barbour, installed when I bought the boat. Running the refer on a 210 amp/hr house bank. Happy with the accessibility of everything.

igor · Jan 22, 2011

you guys have any pics you could share?

fortitude · Jan 23, 2011

Sorry, I don't have any specific pics available, and the boat is berthed 220 miles away. Maybe Neil could be more helpful.

Old Skool Neil · Jan 23, 2011

I'm on it. I'll take pics today and post.

Old Skool Neil · Jan 23, 2011

Here are the promised pics. Windlass discussion on a new thread.

Bad Obsession · Jan 26, 2011

The system looks nice and it looks nicely installed.

I have heard that Catalina designed that shelf area in the lazzerette for putting the refrigeration system. I like the idea of cold plate system. I will probably never add refrigeration because of cost and the amount of battery power needed. I have two group 27 batteries for house batteries and I have a starting battery under the quarter berth.

Ideally, for the Catalina 30 I would think that an engine driven cold plate system would be best. Especially if the cold plate system could also be chilled by shore power. I spend a lot of time on the hook when I am cruising and the time going into and out of the harbor would chill the plate.

Just my thoughts.

Old Skool Neil · Jan 26, 2011

The engine driven cold plate system we had on a chartered Beneteau in BVI required 1 hour engine run time daily to keep up.

AADIVER · Jan 26, 2011

FastBreak said:
Hello,
I have a Catalina 30 1983 with a cooler. I want to convert it as a 12 volt refrigerator cooler. What would the best method to convert my cooler?
Thanks!

My Cat is the same year. I use the built in cooler to store a waste basket and I put my cold stuff in a large Igloo cooler that doubles as a seat at the table. Much cheaper way to go