New fridge anybody? (2001 A-28TE)

[Norseman]

The fridge needs to come in another 6 cm, or 2.4” for those of you in the colonies.
To meet the sloping hull it needs to elevate about 3 cm and that is with a Proud mount flange kit.
With a flush mount it have to go higher up?
Been filing away but lost interest in manual labor after the first beer.
Will sit on the porch sipping more beer and plan the fridge project further, if I get around to it..
Lazy days in Florida, love it.

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[Nancy]

Can you put a board underneath it to get the elevation you need? That's what we did. As for securing it, we're comfortable with just the screws in the flange. Seems very solid and seccure.

[Norseman]

Can you put a board underneath it to get the elevation you need? That's what we did. As for securing it, we're comfortable with just the screws in the flange. Seems very solid and seccure.

Yes, have to put a board underneath all 4 rubber feet, or lift the floor: Same thing, same result.
Will sort it out, all good.

[Norseman]

Making some kind of progress: Cut 1” of the top and filed a mm or two along the forward vertical lip.
Somehow the opening is crooked as also noted by a previous poster fitting a similar fridge, will hide it with a vent or something.
Now taking a beer break, used hand tools only, a hack saw blade and flat files. Great exercise in the 90 degree cabin, now a ball of sweat but the beer taste excellent..

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[dgetswet]

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

Hi,

You were able to fit the 49 in your refrigerator spot? I have a 2005 Flush Deck TE and when I measured it looks like it will not fit because the way the hull starts going up. Did you have to modify anything?

Don N

[Norseman]

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

Hi,

You were able to fit the 49 in your refrigerator spot? I have a 2005 Flush Deck TE and when I measured it looks like it will not fit because the way the hull starts going up. Did you have to modify anything?



Don N

(Not sure if you were responding to me or Catalina Mike?)

Yes, see pictures above: Have to cut a bigger opening as the new fridge is deeper and rides higher due to the sloping hull: I cut an inch, but it was not quite enough, now using a flat file to go up another few millimeters. Also have to elevate the floor as the installation manual specifies the box have to sit on it’s rubber feet.
Got side tracked today with something totally unrelated, but will continue the project tomorrow.

[Norseman]

Not much of an update, but here goes:
Been filing and trimming away at the opening, but not quite home yet: If the bottom of the fridge is all the way in to the flange, the top is now sticking out 4 mm, been about the same the last few days regardless how much I use muscles and flat/round files. The aft angled corner of the bottom/rear of the fridge bumps the hull because of the inner hull slope, hence I have to lift the whole thing, more filing...
Probably taken out 1 1/4” by now and still no cigar. Other posters doing the same project mentioned taking out 7/8”. Checked for difference in dimensions between the Elegance and the Cruise, found only 2 mm..
Will use an endoscope tomorrow and see behind the scenes if anything else is blocking back either upper front or lower back.
Stay tuned.

[WillieC]

Can you cut a rough profile of the fridge out of a piece of cardboard and stick it in the hole?

[Norseman]

Can you cut a rough profile of the fridge out of a piece of cardboard and stick it in the hole?

Probably should have done that, but being a stubborn square head I use the actual fridge, lift it up and push into the opening, eyeball the adjustment needed, cut or file, then do it again and again, 10 times a day, every day.
Making progress now, had to cut more of the upper lip off: This fridge is simply too deep and it will hit where the hull is sloping up:

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Therefore it has to go higher and higher to get it all the way in.
The little rubber feet in the back hits the slope also, and to simplify
I asked the technical director at Isotherm If it was okay to remove the rubber feet and instead put the fridge down on a flat floor with a rubber matting to dampen vibration. He answered back in the affirmative and stated they were more concerned about ventilation and air circulation: The Owners Manual states the fridge must rest on the rubber feet)

I removed the rubber feet and built up the floor with 2 pieces of 19 mm
starboard, then used Madame’s Yoga Matt for a soft layer between fridge and elevated floor.

Picture showing 1st layer of starboard flooring: Another piece was screwed down on top and moved slightly aft as the deepest point of the fridge now, without the feet, is the hinge bracket: It ain’t flush with the bottom of the fridge with the feet’s removed.

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Notice scuff-marks above upper right corner of floor: Aft right rubber footsie hitting while trying to fit and adjust the new fridge: Added liquid soap to make it slide better.
A bit more involved than I thought, but got all kinds of time, no rush..

[Norseman]

Second layer of 19mm starboard floor:

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Mama’s yoga matt getting a second life:

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[catalina_mike]

My memory is that I put runners in to slide it in on. I don't remember what thickness it was.

[Norseman]

Finally got it in, mounted and started up.

All good but more work than I had anticipated.
It is a bit crooked by 2mm, or 0.0787 inches for those in the colonies.
Quiet when running, all good.
I know that compressor very well: Converted 2 ice boxes to fridge and freezer on my last sailboat. (Added insulation on the inside of the boxes, installed vents and cooling for the compressor, oversized holding plate, Cool Blue system.)
Also added an hour meter. When I sold the boat, the compressor had 11,000 hours on it, 6 years later the compressor is still going strong, probably 15,000 hours by now.
BD 35 compressor, very impressive: It cooled my freezer compartment down to -18 Celsius, sitting for anchor in the Bahamas eating rock hard ice cream is a luxury.
For those with the same fridge, what setting on the thermostat do you use without freezing drinks but also making ice cubes in the little “freezer”?

[Norseman]

My memory is that I put runners in to slide it in on. I don't remember what thickness it was.

Interesting, you slide in and out on what, furniture sliders?
Still have the boat? Shoot a picture next time you slide it out..

[catalina_mike]

My memory is that I put runners in to slide it in on. I don't remember what thickness it was.

Interesting, you slide in and out on what, furniture sliders?
Still have the boat? Shoot a picture next time you slide it out..

I don't slide it in and out. Just put runners in lieu of a big piece of wood or trying to hit four spacers. To me it was easier to put runners and slide it in.

[Norseman]

. I don't slide it in and out. Just put runners in lieu of a big piece of wood or trying to hit four spacers. To me it was easier to put runners and slide it in.

Sounds good, but still trying to wrap my mind about sliders: What kind, where, how, etc.
I am done, so not a factor but got a curious mind..