Fridge advice.

[Ityl]

Our fridge has seen better days, due a major servicing or replacement. Coolant seems gone, thermostat fell apart, compressor starts showing the signs of corrosion.

I was wondering does it worth to hire someone to overhaul the system, when I get a fully functional -maybe more efficient(!) new built-in unit for $500?

[Midnightsun]

Personally I would look at new, it is 17 years old. A new fridge is going to be quite a bit more than $500 by the way.

[g36]

As mentioned a new 12v fridge is unfortunately an expensive thing. I would bite the bullet for a new 12v/120v fridge.

[Viper]

You can quadruple that number for a new one! Look at it this way though, you can easily spend more that $500 to get the current one up to snuff but you'll still be stuck with an old fridge where something else can go wrong a week later. Also consider that once you break into the refrigeration circuit, all bets are off IMO even with the best of techs and equipment/tools. Might last another 10 years but it might only last a month. Not worth throwing that kind of money at it only to have to potentially buy a new one later on anyway.

[Tireless]

I vote for replace the older fridge with a new one.

A big advantage to the newer fridges over the old, is they run quieter and use less power when running 12 volt. The admiral found any new fridges we have purchased to hold more product and the are colder, with equates to colder beer.

This is a no brainer for me, go new and have problem free cold beer for years.

Greg

[RGrew176]

I've been thinking that when my fridge dies I may just go with a regular 110 volt model that fits. When I was looking to buy my current Carver several boats I looked at had replaced the 12/120 volt dual models with regular refrigerators.

I haven't priced dual voltage refrigerators so I don't know how much they actually do cost.

[ColRon]

Rick, the previous owner of our Santego had replaced the original Norcold fridge with a Magic Chief refrigerator from Home Depot or Lowe’s. Basically doing the same that your considering. The Adminal hated it. It really didn’t fit and the PO had bungee corded up the back so that it wouldn’t tip over and fall out. We also lost several full fridges of food. Seems the rural electric company here at our marina has trouble keeping electricity every time a rain storm comes through. We purchased a Nova Kool 7 cu ft with a freezer on the bottom to replace it. It was a perfect fit in the cabinet opening, actually switches to 12volt if a/c power is lost and most importantly the Admiral loves it. With shipping from Minnesota to KY to cost $1800 and worth every penny in the admiral’s opinion.

[Viper]

The problem with a 120V AC only fridge is that you have no way of operating it on the hook unless you run a generator periodically. It's okay if the type of boating you do is from port to port as long as the trips don't run into hours long where perishable freezer items start thawing out. Ron also brings up a good point about AC power loss.

I suppose you can get around that by hooking up a small dedicated inverter and have it work off that permanently otherwise you have to unplug and plug between the two different sources or rig something up for remote switching. The inverter can't just be a cheapie, it should be a true sign wave if you want the compressor to last its expected lifetime. I had such a setup on a previous cabin cruiser, it worked fine but I eventually installed a full system unit when we had to keep turning on the generator every half hour for a couple of minutes to heat up baby formula in the microwave.

Some boats are factory equipped with 120 volt only units like Sub-Zero. Eventually an owner comes along in the boat's lifetime that prefers not running the generator all the time and pays to have a full system inverter installed which isn't cheap.

[RGrew176]

Source of the post Rick, the previous owner of our Santego had replaced the original Norcold fridge with a Magic Chief refrigerator from Home Depot or Lowe’s. Basically doing the same that your considering. The Adminal hated it. It really didn’t fit and the PO had bungee corded up the back so that it wouldn’t tip over and fall out. We also lost several full fridges of food. Seems the rural electric company here at our marina has trouble keeping electricity every time a rain storm comes through. We purchased a Nova Kool 7 cu ft with a freezer on the bottom to replace it. It was a perfect fit in the cabinet opening, actually switches to 12volt if a/c power is lost and most importantly the Admiral loves it. With shipping from Minnesota to KY to cost $1800 and worth every penny in the admiral’s opinion.

The fridge in my boat is the original. Not really sure how much longer it will run. While I am considering a regularr 120 volt unit I have not dropped the thought of getting a regular dual voltage marine refrigerator when the time comes. A lot of it will be determined by the timing of when the unit dies. This year I have budgeted to replace the 5 broken stanchions and possibly install the electronic ignition system. Hoping that nothing else needs attention or breaks down.

[Cooler]

Go new. I have had many friends get a rebuild and then buy new the next season. My fridge is 2 years old. Can't hear it run while sleeping, keeps things cold, ice frozen, and uses about 10% of the power the old unit used. Cost of mine was $1800.00. AC/DC marine grade. If you can get something for $500, let us all know where and what model. Would be a great find! er