ChrisInMaine
Member II
Considering adding refrigeration to our 35-3... does anyone have experience with this and is it worth it?
Thanks!
Thanks!
For a long time I contended that refrigeration was for sissies, block ice was fine, and the Royal Navy served warm rum.
But now that I have a refrigerator, I don't even know who that other me was.
I've had several people tell me that refrigeration will make my boat more comfortable. And, I'm sure I'll get around to it. I have two problems. 1. I can buy a LOT of ice for the price of the refrigeration conversion. 2. What do I put in my wife's cocktails when we use up the one small tray of ice I'll be able to make at a time? I can drink my Bourbon neat with no hardship. She won't be as forgiving.
I have one followup question... has anyone considered/tried removing the guts from an inexpensive small fridge and repurposing for a marine fridge? Seems like that could be a way to save a ton of money...
I have one followup question... has anyone considered/tried removing the guts from an inexpensive small fridge and repurposing for a marine fridge? Seems like that could be a way to save a ton of money...
And how did it all work? I also have an 84 E35-3 (171). Looking to make all kinds of modifications; this is one of the most importantI installed a Seafrost BD system on my 1984 E35-3. Boat still under shrinkwrap so cant really give you a good review yet. Should be able to give it a good test by 1st week in May... It was relatively simple to install. I ended up putting the compressor on a shelf inside the lazarette as it gets plenty of good airflow back there. I also added a second G27 deep cycle battery and ended up putting this in the stowage locker under the stb settee. This actually made it very easy to run the cables straight back from the laz. Of course the other part of this is that I am also going to be installing 2 x 100W rigid monocrystalline pv panels atop a new bimini. I have already pre-wired the controller which I also put inside the same locker where the 2nd battery is. I cant wait to see how it all works!
Hey, we're in Portland! Thanks for the advice!Totally worth it. We just replaced the P/O’s alder barbor unit with a new one, the old one had a leak. We didn’t reduce the size of the box like Matt did, though seeing that we might retrofit. Works great, seems to run about 50% duty cycle here in Maine at about 7amps. We power it with 200 watts of solar on the Bimini.
I prefer the alder barbor because it creates a small freezer which we leave ice in.
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