Has anyone done or known anyone that has completed a refrigeration conversation into a 26 or 260. The wife has had enough of the floating sandwich meat etc in the cooler. Realizing the need for a large power source, I’m leaning towards the auto-refrigerant properties of propane utilized in many fridges that have no electricity available. However, safety has my attention on this one! In addition, the cut out for cooler looks to be ideal for an add-in fixed icebox (and cold plate)!
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Too many choices.
Steve: There are almost too many choices in the refrig. market (Adler/Barour, Grunert, Norcold, Frigoboat, Isotherm, Kenyon . The most popular is probably A/B. My choice is Technautics Marine. High quality with less power consumption (at a premium in cost). There new unit Cool Blue is suppose to be about 50% of the consumption of the more popular units. They do custom cold plates if required too. You really need to research this issue. Some of the unit have AC and DC options. I do not see the purpose of an AC option. If you have shore power and a battery charger you might as well be on AC power only. You will need at least one battery just for the unit but two (200 amp) is probably more in line. If you do not have an inboard engine you need to figure out how you are going to charge the batteries when away fromt he dock. Then which ever unit you purchase you need to figure out if you add insulation to your ice box and where are you going to add the additional batteries and charging options. Figure that this is going to cost from $1000 - $2500. I got to tell you that it sure is nice to have a cold brew awaiting your arrival to the weekend condo.
Steve: There are almost too many choices in the refrig. market (Adler/Barour, Grunert, Norcold, Frigoboat, Isotherm, Kenyon . The most popular is probably A/B. My choice is Technautics Marine. High quality with less power consumption (at a premium in cost). There new unit Cool Blue is suppose to be about 50% of the consumption of the more popular units. They do custom cold plates if required too. You really need to research this issue. Some of the unit have AC and DC options. I do not see the purpose of an AC option. If you have shore power and a battery charger you might as well be on AC power only. You will need at least one battery just for the unit but two (200 amp) is probably more in line. If you do not have an inboard engine you need to figure out how you are going to charge the batteries when away fromt he dock. Then which ever unit you purchase you need to figure out if you add insulation to your ice box and where are you going to add the additional batteries and charging options. Figure that this is going to cost from $1000 - $2500. I got to tell you that it sure is nice to have a cold brew awaiting your arrival to the weekend condo.
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toomas
Fridge
In my previous boat I had the perfect solution made by Electrolux. It was powered with 12V, 220V and Propane - and it was portable. Smaller than the original ice-box in the H26, but quite sufficient for 2. I had ice-cubes to the eveningdrink and sometimes frozen milk, when I forgot to turn it down after the initial cooling-process. Sorry to have to leave it behind to the new owners, but they insisted and I wanted to sell... Now I have a Super-cool device with cooling-plates inside the box powered by a battery and solar-cell - that's OK too, but not as flexible as the Lux-box. Toomas
In my previous boat I had the perfect solution made by Electrolux. It was powered with 12V, 220V and Propane - and it was portable. Smaller than the original ice-box in the H26, but quite sufficient for 2. I had ice-cubes to the eveningdrink and sometimes frozen milk, when I forgot to turn it down after the initial cooling-process. Sorry to have to leave it behind to the new owners, but they insisted and I wanted to sell... Now I have a Super-cool device with cooling-plates inside the box powered by a battery and solar-cell - that's OK too, but not as flexible as the Lux-box. Toomas
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toomas
Cooler
In my previous boat I had the perfect solution made by Electrolux. It was powered with 12V, 220V and Propane - and it was portable. Smaller than the original ice-box in the H26, but quite sufficient for 2. I had ice-cubes to the eveningdrink and sometimes frozen milk, when I forgot to turn it down after the initial cooling-process. Sorry to have to leave it behind to the new owners, but they insisted and I wanted to sell... Now I have a Super-cool device with cooling-plates inside the box powered by a battery and solar-cell - that's OK too, but not as flexible as the Lux-box. Toomas
In my previous boat I had the perfect solution made by Electrolux. It was powered with 12V, 220V and Propane - and it was portable. Smaller than the original ice-box in the H26, but quite sufficient for 2. I had ice-cubes to the eveningdrink and sometimes frozen milk, when I forgot to turn it down after the initial cooling-process. Sorry to have to leave it behind to the new owners, but they insisted and I wanted to sell... Now I have a Super-cool device with cooling-plates inside the box powered by a battery and solar-cell - that's OK too, but not as flexible as the Lux-box. Toomas
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Dean Eiland
Get an Igloo
Steve, I had the same problem and here is my solution. Like Toomas in the previous response, I got an AC/DC/propane portable unit. It is an Igloo Survivor unit. Cost about $450, West Marine use to have it. When you have shore power, plug it in. When on the water use the propane. It will go about two days on a $1.50 can of propane. It will also make a few ice cubes a day if you want. The only drawback is it will not fit in the ice chest area if the H26. My fix was to remove the first seatback cushion next to the galley and place it on the seat (tie it down or it will slide out when healed). I now use the old ice chest (without the lid) as a pantry for other food items. Happy sailing, Dean Eiland “Chateau de Vent”
Steve, I had the same problem and here is my solution. Like Toomas in the previous response, I got an AC/DC/propane portable unit. It is an Igloo Survivor unit. Cost about $450, West Marine use to have it. When you have shore power, plug it in. When on the water use the propane. It will go about two days on a $1.50 can of propane. It will also make a few ice cubes a day if you want. The only drawback is it will not fit in the ice chest area if the H26. My fix was to remove the first seatback cushion next to the galley and place it on the seat (tie it down or it will slide out when healed). I now use the old ice chest (without the lid) as a pantry for other food items. Happy sailing, Dean Eiland “Chateau de Vent”
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Ron Fraboni
No Igloo Survivor
Last year after Dean mentioned the Igloo Survivor, I went to West Marine and found that Igloo no longer makes the Survivor. Sounded like a great option for my H26, but is no longer available. I, too, would like to know if other propane refrig. are on the market. Thanks for any input.
Last year after Dean mentioned the Igloo Survivor, I went to West Marine and found that Igloo no longer makes the Survivor. Sounded like a great option for my H26, but is no longer available. I, too, would like to know if other propane refrig. are on the market. Thanks for any input.
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