Refrigerator Space

[joerun26]

The previous owner added an evaporator to the aft ice chest on our '87 35-III to use as a refrigerator. I'm looking for some suggestions (and hopefully pics) of well organized use of this space. I'm open to moving the evap to better accomodate additional insulation, shelfing etc.. Probably don't need all this space as a fridge either - just enough to handle a few days of food and goodies (the beer normally goes in the forward ice chest) .:)

The "before" picture is attached...

Thanks for any suggestions..
Joe
"Tenacious"

[treilley]

Our '85 35-3 has the evaporator on the port side of the space. There is another lexan shelf that goes along the stbd side of the IB. I plan on adding a few more shelves to help keep the space organized. I can post a photo if you like.

We use the forward IB for dry storage.

BTW, if you do not have long arms, stuff can disappear back into the aft sections of the IB.

[Loren Beach]

When considering the best use of the limited cubic space inside your ice box, remember that there are two kinds of evaporator plates - the flat kind and the box/enclosed kind. The later often have a hinged lid and can maintain frozen items inside.

The plate, whether straight or bent to go around a corner like we did for our IB, can also make cubes if you get the ice cube vertical tray that mounts against the face of it. We wanted the most "open range" area inside our IB and chose not to get the "box" evaporator version.

Since the refrigerant lines come precharged, one could, in theory, just interchange a box for a plate, or vice versa.
Re-routing the copper tubing is Very Fiddley Work, I would note, from experience gained in our installation! Some swearing will be involved.
:)
Loren
ps: Yup, I did have to mount the 'stat upside down to fit the chosen location...

[CoryBolton]

Our 35-III has the evaporator (flat plate Norcold) on the port side, and has an L shaped Lexan shelf running down the starboard side and aft. Even with the shelves things can go disappearing in there, and its on my list of things to do to come up with a better shelf configuration. I'll see if I can get a picture in a few days.

-Cory
E35-III #163

[Frank Langer]

Do these fridges need any kind of maintenance other than keeping them clean and odour free? I have a Norcold which looks similar to the pictures above, but no manual with it.
Thanks for any tips.
Frank.

[joerun26]

Thanks for the replys. Looks like the flat plates would serve my needs better, but I've also on a few occasions used the freezer. Tim and Cory - please post any pics if you can.

Thanks again..
joe

[jkm]

Make sure the compressor is well ventilated!

Doesn't hurt to insulate the box inside and if possible add insulation on the exterior.

John

[treilley]

Here are some photos. The top shelf is two pieces.

[Kim Schoedel]

When I did the conversion, I decided to utlilize that "very hard to reach space for shorter people" aft area of the aft IB. And we wanted to be able to keep a few items frozen like Dove Bars and meat. So we went with the freezer box with the lid and I mounted it in the V area angled up. This leaves the larger area of the box open for food. I kept the long shelf on the starboard and supported the aft end with a nice stainless steel mount. Had to remove the little aft end shelf.

We still use the small IB as an IB. Cold beer and pop on ice is a must on our boat.

I don't have any pic's but will try to get some next time at the boat.

[WBurgner]

What have people done to improve the insulation of the ice box/refrigurator? I do not see a what to add insulation to the exterior of the box. If added to the interior, what was used and how was it sealed to make it a surface that would be moisture proof and easy to clean?

[jkm]

Bill

Put insulation into the search box and you'll find numerous threads on improving the insulation.

John

[Kim Schoedel]

Joe, here are the Pic's of my conversion.

[joerun26]

Nicely done Kim ..

Thanks to you and all others for giving me some great ideas on better utilitization of my fridge space.

Joe

[Kim Schoedel]

You are welcome Joe. I had to put some thought into the placement of the freezer box. Very happy I placed it back into that V shaped area. It keeps the main area open and easier for us to get stuff in and out. It is hard to tell from the photo's but we can put a few things under the freezer box that we need to keep frozen or semi frozen for a couple of days. The rest of the large area stays at your typical refrigerator temp. We just use the small ice box forward of the stove for beverages and keep them cool with baged ice, blue ice and frozen water bottles. Got to have cold beer on ice. It is also handy to be able to leave some meat frozen in the freezer part when we are not at the boat.

[joerun26]

I should have included this with my original post, but Johns reply made me rethink. Where have you found to be the best compressor location. Mine in on a shelf tucked way back in the lazarette and I don't think the ventilation around it is sufficient. It cycles frequently and doesn't always deliver the desired performance. I had it checked for freon leaks, but tec didnt find any (also didn't comment on the compressor location).

Thanks again.
joe

[RON CARTER]

We were planning to install refrig last year in AZGARD, 35-3 1983, but somehow became involved in many days of cruising San Juan Islands, so will try again.. All the fotos have answered many questions for me except my concern for keeping bagged ice near to frozen in the refrig unit ? Whats your experience ? Will it keep reasonably well if placed next to or under either the flat plates or the bin type evaporator ?.... I am likely purchasing NovaKool as they are located in Vancouver area Thanks Ron

[Frank Langer]

Ron, we have a Norcold system (not Novacool), but ours will keep ice and other frozen items in a frozen state if we place them near the frozen plate. We have been very satisfied with our unit.
Frank.

[Loren Beach]

Ron, We were pleasantly surprised to find that a large plastic lidded container with about 8# of cubes poured into it still had most of them frozen after 5 days in our Frigoboat refrigerator.
I worried unnessesarily about how soon cubes would melt when the whole box is kept at 33 degrees...
:rolleyes:

As noted in the thread on installing our reefer, we have an L-shaped evaporator and no freezer, per se.

Sidebar: I should note that last summer I managed to overload the box with pop, beer and food... and this reduced circulation around the thermostat probe (that's our theory, anyway)... and broke three cans of diet coke... :cool:
After hearing what was probably not the first faint "whoosh" of a pop can rupture, I lifted the lid and found globs of frozen pop stuck to the inner lining in several places! Dumb luck that no other containers broke before we discovered the problem and turned down the thermostat.

That little reefer unit is really efficient!
:)

Loren

[RON CARTER]

Ron, we have a Norcold system (not Novacool), but ours will keep ice and other frozen items in a frozen state if we place them near the frozen plate. We have been very satisfied with our unit.
Frank.

Frank, I would like to go with Norcold instead of NovaKool, due to uprite design of compressor and fact that is is both DC and AC, and price is couple hundred less, but little concerned that only supplier locally is West Marine. Where did you purchase , and how old is unit ?? Regards Ron

[Frank Langer]

Ron,

Our Norcold refrigerator came with the boat when we bought it. Records left by the previous owner show that it was bought in 2000 but does not state where he bought it, though he lived in California.

However, this company is still in business and a search on their website will show locations of their service centres, where you could get additional information.

Sorry I can't help more.

Frank.

[Kim Schoedel]

Joe, I mounted the compressor/condensor on the lower shelf of the starboard lazerette. I couldn't really find a better spot for it especially since my boat was pre-wired from the factory for a/c and d/c refrigeration and the wires were already routed from the power panel to the Lazerette.

When we have some real hot weather 90-100, I run the engine exhaust fan from time to time if motoring. This helps to dump some hot air.

[WBurgner]

I am not sure of the E35 configuration, but on my E381 air for the compressor fan come through a teak grill in bulkhead near the back of the sink. This allows cooler air to flow over the heat exchanger. Can a similar opening be created on the E35 that allows cabin air to flow to the shelf in the lazerette?

[RON CARTER]

Our 35-III has the evaporator (flat plate Norcold) on the port side, and has an L shaped Lexan shelf running down the starboard side and aft. Even with the shelves things can go disappearing in there, and its on my list of things to do to come up with a better shelf configuration. I'll see if I can get a picture in a few days.

-Cory
E35-III #163
Cory. We have a 35-3 #127 in Pt Roberts Wa. that we are going to add refrig to large ice box. I am impressed with technology in Norcold, with swing motor compressor and auto switching AC/DC but keep hearing bad comments on them related to short life, noise , and efficiency ... How do you like your unit ? Can you keep frozen items near the plate, or do you operate as a large refrig, with no freezer area? Ron Carter

[joerun26]

Bill - I do have a access opening between my galley and the starboard lazarette (behind the sink similar to what you're describing). Opening it would allow some additional ventilation to the compressor. I could even put some forced air flow there when it gets really hot.

Thanks for the suggestion..
joe

[Bud H.]

Last year we decided to spend the money and put in a Waeco Coolmatic series 8o from West Marine in our E-35-2 Queenie. IMHO it was the best money we ever spent and if I had it to do over again it would have been the first upgrade I made after buying the boat. Over here in Eastern Washington the summers get hot, real hot. I used to haul out three frozen one gallon water bottles plus a ten pound bag of ice to cool the icebox on a typical weekend Friday through Sunday. I would usually have to buy another bag of ice Saturday afternoon and depending on when we were leaving another one on Sunday.
Last spring my friend Chuck and I installed the Waeco unit in about an hour and it has really done the job for us.
I bought a Rubbermaid plastic basket that sits on tiny legs on the floor of the fridge, I drilled a few hole into the bottom of the basket for drainage. When we get to the boat late Friday afternoon I fill the basket with waters, pop and beer and dump a 7lb bag of ice on top of them. With the Waeco on high for a couple of hours and then turned down a bit for the rest of the weekend everything stays nice and chilled and there is usually ice left in the basket when we go home Sunday afternoon.
To anyone who hasn’t installed one of these conversion kits I say “get er done!’. You won’t regret it.