Hey all - I am looking to add a refrigerator to my 1978 Catalina 30. I want to install a sell-contained (swing door) unit either 1.7 or 2.7CF. Isotherm makes a nice unit for about $800. I am having a tough time figuring out where to install the unit. I thought I would be able to remove the 2 draws on the port side/ aft section of the galley just inboard of the ice-box but that tight. Other ideas include installation where the stove is with a mount for my stove on top of the refrigerator. I have a 2 burner oringo installed into a custom cabinet I built. I could mount the top of the cabinet to the fridge and have the stove sit there. Any other ideas or thoughts? Thanks - Rob
Refrigerator - Catalina 30
- Thread starter Rob19574
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Where the Stove Is
Rob, Good question, because I have pondered this myself. I was considering the quarter berth for a fridge unit, but the entrance ladder would get in the way. I have seen photos of fridges installed in the nav. station above the batteries and in the well where the stove/oven is. The area where the stove/oven is makes the best sense. If you have a microwave and two burner stove thats all you really need and the stove can be mounted neatly on top of the fridge. Do a few searches, like on Yachttrader or Boattrader to view 30's for sale. Often, the interior photos will reveal a fridge installation in the galley. Bob Catalina 30 '88 Mark II
Rob, Good question, because I have pondered this myself. I was considering the quarter berth for a fridge unit, but the entrance ladder would get in the way. I have seen photos of fridges installed in the nav. station above the batteries and in the well where the stove/oven is. The area where the stove/oven is makes the best sense. If you have a microwave and two burner stove thats all you really need and the stove can be mounted neatly on top of the fridge. Do a few searches, like on Yachttrader or Boattrader to view 30's for sale. Often, the interior photos will reveal a fridge installation in the galley. Bob Catalina 30 '88 Mark II
Refrigerator
Rob: I was given a Norcold unit, which worked off of 12 volt or shore power. I could not pass up this unit and where I placed it was in the 2 drawer section you were thining about. It was a tight fit but I got it in. I built a platform for it to sit on and trimmed out the outside edges with molding. It looked like it was a factory built in. I kept the drawers in the event the new owner did not want the unit. I then used the ice box for drawer storage. The ice box was only good for melting ice anyway. I thought about using the stove area but I did not like the looks of the fridge there I had to do a little trimming of the insulataton on the ice box to get it to fit. Actually, it was a lot of work but I was very satisfied with the end result. Nothing like opening the hatch and reaching for a cool "tinney" (Aussie for beer).
Rob: I was given a Norcold unit, which worked off of 12 volt or shore power. I could not pass up this unit and where I placed it was in the 2 drawer section you were thining about. It was a tight fit but I got it in. I built a platform for it to sit on and trimmed out the outside edges with molding. It looked like it was a factory built in. I kept the drawers in the event the new owner did not want the unit. I then used the ice box for drawer storage. The ice box was only good for melting ice anyway. I thought about using the stove area but I did not like the looks of the fridge there I had to do a little trimming of the insulataton on the ice box to get it to fit. Actually, it was a lot of work but I was very satisfied with the end result. Nothing like opening the hatch and reaching for a cool "tinney" (Aussie for beer).
Don - what size refrig?
Thanks guys for he quick responses here. Don - Can I ask what size Norcold you installed? Was it the 1.7 cf?
Thanks guys for he quick responses here. Don - Can I ask what size Norcold you installed? Was it the 1.7 cf?
Refrig
Rob: I don't remember the size but I went to the Norcold site to see if I could recognized it and I think it was the AC/DC 2.7. I noticed in the picture that there appears to be a control panel on the top of the unit and that could be a problem as it would get in the way. The unit I had had the controls inside. Whatever size unit I had definately fit in the space of the 2 drawers. While sailing I powered the fridge with a 3 battery setup - 2group 30 house batts and one group 27 start batt. The start bat was for starting only. I used one house batt per day and charged them every day. That sytem worked fine for me.
Rob: I don't remember the size but I went to the Norcold site to see if I could recognized it and I think it was the AC/DC 2.7. I noticed in the picture that there appears to be a control panel on the top of the unit and that could be a problem as it would get in the way. The unit I had had the controls inside. Whatever size unit I had definately fit in the space of the 2 drawers. While sailing I powered the fridge with a 3 battery setup - 2group 30 house batts and one group 27 start batt. The start bat was for starting only. I used one house batt per day and charged them every day. That sytem worked fine for me.
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