Refrigerator modification

mystery117

mystery117

.
Nov 7, 2006
25
Beneteau Moorings 503 Kemah
I'm redoing my refrigerator/freezer compartment - adding 1" insulation around the inside and I'd like to seal off the top of the refrigerator side and put a door on the front. I was told by one serviceman that "you can get a kit to do that." I've not been able to find one online. Anyone done this, heard of this, seen one that was done, know anything about doing it?
I've read up on +/- of have top loading to front door and the deciding factor for me, beyond the sheer convenience of being to have ready access to the whole compartment, is that opening a door and grabbing what you need will mostly just cause cold air loss. Cooling off some air requires very little BTUs. Cooling items removed from a compartment and then re stacked into the compartment often costs more BTUs to re-cool the items that have started to warm just being pulled out and put back in.
 
Kestle

Kestle

.
Jun 12, 2011
702
MacGregor 25 San Pedro
The front door is a trade off of efficiency for convenience. Since most cruisers have more time excess than power excess, they choose to keep the top loader.

Jeff
 
caguy

caguy

.
Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
I would imagine you would lose a lot of cold air when the front door is opened as opposed to the top door. The coldest part of any freezer is at the bottom.
 
C

Chief RA

.
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
When you get down on your knees to find what you want AFTER pulling stuff out to find it anyway, you will wish you had not done that! You should be happy with what you have and enjoy the improved insulation you have provided. Chief
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,345
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Chief's got a good point, but it all depends on how you use your boat. Adding insulation is good, but 1" will not really make a big dent unless you're using space age material. Richard Kollmann's refrigeration website has good info on that.

mystery, it's your boat, your choice, but most of us have found that prudent packing of the fridge results in a pretty good tradeoff between access and maintaining the "cool" in the box, which is completely wasted with a front loader. Many of us anchor out more than marina hop, so electrons become precious. If you're plugged in all the time, then it's fine.

I haven't heard of any "kit" ---- you'd have to buy a door and insulate it, or buy a fridge door pre-insulted and then have to design the box to accept the door. Many newer boats come with them, so you may get some ideas from those boats.

Good luck.
 
jen-and-fred

jen-and-fred

.
Oct 23, 2013
11
Catalina 380 ABYC
Do it. Our fridge has top and front door access, it is GREAT being able to get to your food and seeing what's there.
 
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