New fridge anybody? (2001 A-28TE)

[Norseman]

The old, and I assume original, Norcold DC-440 works great, but thinking about replacing it with the latest version.
Why, if it works....?
Yeah, but I like to sleep at night:
Cruising with all male crews, as in my old buddies, I opt to sleep alone in the quarter berth while the other 2 guys share the big U-berth and they can snore and pass gas as much as they please.
My head in the quarter berth however is next to the old DC-440 fridge and it wakes me up with the start/stop/buzz/vibration cycle every 20-30 minutes.
Almost makes me climb into the animal house up front, but not quite.
OR I install a new, modern and quiet fridge: Looks like the Norcold NR-740 May be a direct replacement for the DC-440.
Still in the initial stages of this project, looking for others who have been through this.
Previous boat was a new Glacier Bay with a dealer installed SS fridge of the same size. Don’t remember the brand, but will stop by the dealer this week to find out, great quiet low-draw mini fridge, hoping it will fit in my DC-440 opening.
(Also looking at the dual power fridges but can’t see where I need 120 and 12 volts, if plugged in to shore power, the juice goes via the battery charger anyways and with a solar panel shore power is less important.)

[Tree]

I’ll be interested in what you find. I’d like to swap mine out because of the same reasons. Also the frame is starting to rust out - countless times I’ve repainted it black to keep the corrosion at bay. I also had to replace the shelves inside as the boat only arrived with one and that was nasty - made stainless ones which work well. I could re frame the fridge with stainless but is it worth it? I don’t know.

[Norseman]

I’ll be interested in what you find. I’d like to swap mine out because of the same reasons. Also the frame is starting to rust out - countless times I’ve repainted it black to keep the corrosion at bay. I also had to replace the shelves inside as the boat only arrived with one and that was nasty - made stainless ones which work well. I could re frame the fridge with stainless but is it worth it? I don’t know.

Ok, will keep you posted: This could happen soon, can’t put my cash in the market as it goes down every hour, every day and can’t save the cash in case I get Corona, good reason to blow money on the boat

[Nancy]

Dag,

That's amazing that your Nevercold - I mean Norcold - has survived this long especially in Florida. The one in our boat wasn't working when we bought it in 2012, and we immediately replaced with an Isotherm Cruise CR49. We replaced that fridge last summer (no fault of the fridge and no fault of ours - long story), and the Isotherm models have gotten more complicated as you'll discover when you start researching.

The closest and best and least expensive I found last year is the Cruise 49 Elegance Black - C049RBBAB71113AA - AC/DC, Black Door, Internal Anchoring System, 3-Sided Black Flange. Yes, the dual voltage unit was less expensive than DC only, and we connected only the DC side for the exact reasons that you mention. Current draw is 2.5A - less than its 2.7A predecessor and *way* less than your Nevercold.

The dimensions of the new fridge are slightly different than the old one. I'm especially happy that the freezer compartment now holds two of these little ice trays instead of only one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q ... UTF8&psc=1

As to dimensions, it might be wise to pull your existing fridge to check the depth especially where the hull curves reduce the depth of the opening at the bottom. I would hope that the Cruise 49 fits your 2001 cabinet the same as our 1995. We had to use a piece of 2x4 at the bottom front of the opening to lift the fridge slightly. That left a gap which we covered with a piece of teak. Someone more anal or maybe smarter might be inclined to put a vent there.

Do a forum search on "isotherm" and you'll find other threads. Here's a good one: http://www.albinowners.net/aog/viewtopi ... t=isotherm

Here are photos of our fridge:

refrigerator-1-07.12.19-1200.jpg

refrigerator-2-07.12.19-1600.jpg

[Norseman]

Wow, you are full of good news and good info as usual Nancy: Thx again. (Or I adopt you for future projects)
Looked at the link and will follow up, but as usual, the project gets a bit bigger as we go along, always..

[Nancy]

>>as usual, the project gets a bit bigger as we go along, always..<<

Yes, the old "as long as the fridge is out" routine. You won't believe the dirt back there. That's for starters. The first time ours was out, I replaced the galley faucet. I wish I'd bought new sinks at the same time even if we hadn't installed them. Can't find them anymore.

[Pitou]

I had the DC440 in my 2004 28TE and the cycling noise at night bothered me so much that I would just shut it down while sleeping. Nothing ever melted, but I'm in New England not sunny FLA.

Sold that boat in 2013 and now fast forward to my 2006 31TE and that came with dual Isotherm CR uints which are both AC/DC. I don't even hear these units and always on DC while on the hook and not a problem with my head right next to the galley fridge at night.

[catalina_mike]

This is what I installed. Works well... The beer is cold.
http://www.isotherm-parts.com/isotherm- ... 6deb492ada

[Norseman]

This is what I installed. Works well... The beer is cold.
http://www.isotherm-parts.com/isotherm- ... 6deb492ada

Great, looking at the exact same model now.

Got the old fridge out, lots of sawdust in there, must be from the factory.

BC55B859-3D2B-437A-9628-7F13B4B0BD1F.jpeg

Old fridge served us well, always cold, but a bit noisy.
Now on the way to it’s new home:

23EB234D-017D-4716-9C24-4BCEDAA47B60.jpeg

My local West Marine got the NR740SS in stock, great, should be a good fit.

8771D0E7-F119-4941-8806-AAC4EA46F116.jpeg

NOT, the hull slope requires the bottom of the fridge to slope up, like the old Norcold. The new 740 is square back there, bad news...

9D0929FC-549B-4B33-8FAF-35484BA6D99E.jpeg

The Isotherm are sloping however, maybe there is a God?

96E11000-D357-408F-BC2A-450E355A3856.jpeg

[Norseman]

. I had the DC440 in my 2004 28TE and the cycling noise at night bothered me so much that I would just shut it down while sleeping.

Yup, the exact same reason I am deep into this project.

Now made a few calls to find the 49 Elegance (silver)
Local dealer wants $1,262.00, about $185 less for a black one.
They also have some new surface SS that leaves no fingerprints for another $150 or so.
DC only slightly less expensive than AC/DC and I still don’t see any reason why I would wire up AC power when DC is all I need.
The dealer I talked to will give me 15-20% off for being a commercial charter boat, but they want to see a tax certificate. (Florida State Tax Excempt) No sales tax on charter boats in Florida however.
Will see if my Pro account at a West Marine will work for ordering a 49 Elegance instead.
May just do black for less money, not sure Silver or SS is important for this project, quiet running and cold beer is..

[Norseman]

Clicked around on the internet and found a better deal, then ordered before it went away:
Basically got the Silver (Elegance) fridge for a lot less than the black, but paying shipping.

685AD9E6-68F9-4A73-B0E8-1B58A5A6EEE7.jpeg

[Nancy]

Since you already ordered, I won't tell you how much I paid for the black CR49 Elegance last summer.
You're going to love that new fridge.

[Norseman]

Since you already ordered, I won't tell you how much I paid for the black CR49 Elegance last summer.
You're going to love that new fridge.

Ah, don’t be a tease: How much did you really pay?

[Nancy]

Not being a tease; just didn't want to torture you. $892 including tax and freight (Defender).
You got a great price on that silver unit. Good thing you didn't go for the Clean Touch SS as it's a flush-mount unit, likely making it too deep for the space.

[Norseman]

Not being a tease; just didn't want to torture you. $892 including tax and freight (Defender).
You got a great price on that silver unit. Good thing you didn't go for the Clean Touch SS as it's a flush-mount unit, likely making it too deep for the space.

Is the flange movable on your fridge?
The Norcold gives your the option for flush or proud installation, flange is movable.