Ice Box Door

[Hunt]

I just installed refrigeration in my 1983 Catalina 30. The wooden door on the icebox is not well insulated and constantly has moisture on it. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to insulate better or where I could get an insulated replacement door?

 

[Bob Camarena]

Why not insulate it?

Why not insulate it yourself. And while you're at it, insulate the rest of the top of your icebox. That is the most vulnerable spot since there is little if any insulation under the counter top. I used rigid construction foam board on mine (glued on with construction adhesive). You can get it with a foil covering. It's pretty indestructible. I did my lid a couple of years before I discovered the insulation board. I found two Tupperware-type rectangular boxes that I filled with aerosol-expanding foam and screwed to the wooden top.

 

[Jack Swords]

Add cheap holding plates

We did the refrig conversion on our 83 Catalina. Made top cover insulation of rigid foam covered with foil, about 2 in thick. Did the same to the interior of the ice box. Added several of the "blue ice" packets around in dead areas as holding plates. They freeze when the refrig is running, slowing down cycling of the refrigerator. Here in Mx the system works perfectly on one large (75 watt) solar cell:lots of sun, lots of insulation.