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bobfnbw · Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 75

Anyone rebuild their fridge box yet. If so what did you find when you pulled it apart? how much insulation, what kind, any rot under?
What kind of insulation did you use to replace the factory insulation ?
Anyone try vacuum panels?

My plan at some point is to entirely rebuild the box, using glacier bay vac panels (1"=R50) and frigoboat keel cooling 12v evaporator plate.

I also have a ice box in the starboard walkthru, and want to do the same there, with a freezer box.

I currently have a alder barber super cold maching air cooled under the sink, and expect it to not last to long there. The top sweats badly, and while the temps are good, I would not want to trust it for extended cruising.

Comments?

Bob

bobfnbw · Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 75

Ah what joys there are in demolition...
Today I took the sawzall to the refrigerator box. Cut it out like a cancer.
Only 2 inches at best of insulation on the top, a good 4 inches or so on the front, but the sides... only 3.
But imagine my suprise as I cut the bottom out and found.... a great big nothing. The middle of the box running athartships, was devoid of insulation.
Guess thats why the box sweated so much and couldn't keep a steady temp.

found pretty much the same shoddy construction techniques on the walk thru freezer as well.

I am redesigning the entire galley. I decided against the vac panels as to expensive, and haven't found anyone really that has them and thought they were worth the expense. I plan on using frigoboat compressors, either air cooked or keep cooled, haven't made up my miind on that yet.
The box will be built with 6" of isocyanurate insulation from home depot. A good vapor barrier of plastic and a mylar reflective coat on the outside. 2 Seperate boxes. A 16x18x21" freezer (~3.5cuft.) and a 48x16x24" fridge box (~7 cu.ft) that will narrow to 8" at the bottom.
Using digital thermostat either box can be a fridge or a freezer, although the larger one will not chill down as much. This will be useful when off the boat but leaving a small amount of food or drink aboard.
I also plan not reinstalling a propane stove. I will go with all electric cooking instead, using a convection microwave and a single 1800 watt induction cooktop. This can be powered off the inverter or a genset.
The propane will be used only for a gas grill.

In the meantime demolition continues.

_________________
E40 CC
"Sarah Clair"
Corpus Christi Texas