Here is an artistic photo essay on the stock 1984 Ericson 381 factory refrigerator/icebox installation.
The Dometic was probably an option. There is a drain for ice water, which exits into the bilge at the compartment shown. (I have been told I ought to plug that, so cold air doesn't just drain into the bilge.) The acrylic shelves are edged with varnished teak, pretty high class as yacht iceboxes go. The lid articulates at center, allowing either side to be raised.
A design flaw in the lid was the indented pulls, which provide no grip. Owners make various corrections. My previous owner drilled through the lid foam and used long hardware-store bolts to attach a drawer pull. It works, although I find his choice of drawer pull to be lacking in emotion, and if I get around to it I will change it to a Rolls Royce hood ornament, or perhaps adapt my Congressional Medal of Honor, which is just lying in a drawer somewhere anyhow.
The Dometic draws about 3 amps when on. I don't know how often it has to run to keep 38 degrees day and night on battery power. The Dometic is always on at the dock, using power intermittently depending on the ambient temperature.
Drain at low point under Dometic
Removable drip tray under Dometic
Icebox drain to bilge (at right)
The Dometic was probably an option. There is a drain for ice water, which exits into the bilge at the compartment shown. (I have been told I ought to plug that, so cold air doesn't just drain into the bilge.) The acrylic shelves are edged with varnished teak, pretty high class as yacht iceboxes go. The lid articulates at center, allowing either side to be raised.
A design flaw in the lid was the indented pulls, which provide no grip. Owners make various corrections. My previous owner drilled through the lid foam and used long hardware-store bolts to attach a drawer pull. It works, although I find his choice of drawer pull to be lacking in emotion, and if I get around to it I will change it to a Rolls Royce hood ornament, or perhaps adapt my Congressional Medal of Honor, which is just lying in a drawer somewhere anyhow.
The Dometic draws about 3 amps when on. I don't know how often it has to run to keep 38 degrees day and night on battery power. The Dometic is always on at the dock, using power intermittently depending on the ambient temperature.
Drain at low point under Dometic
Removable drip tray under Dometic
Icebox drain to bilge (at right)
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