Island Time 1,314 Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 Well, after 38 years, the fridge and freezer in Island Time is due for replacement. They are big (290ltrs), but the insulation is knackered. It now takes a lot of running to keep cold, and has greatly reduced hold over. Due to the time of year, and the lack of work at the moment, I've bitten the bullet. Below you can see removing the cabinet, how wet the insulation was, and how it looks,with the cabinet removed tonight .. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vivaldi 57 Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 Interesting project. Give us a yell if you need a hand. Presume you’ll use Oz-Frigde stuff again? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bad Kitty 329 Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 Satisfying project. No, not yet, after a whole lot of hard graft! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 850 Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 Following with interest, we have the same situation where the engine driven system is at end of life like many must be now. 44 years old, the copper lines are corroded, ongoing expensive repairs including hoses and rebuilt compressor and finally the last straw needing yet another re-gas and drier. We are definitely going electric its just how we go about it with options ranging from a cheap Jaycar box to an Ozefridge setup. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 365 Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 At least you have good access for the job, unlike so many boats (including mine) where the fridge/freezer is in the outer corner of the galley and you would have to destroy the whole galley to get at it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted June 9 Author Share Posted June 9 8 hours ago, marinheiro said: At least you have good access for the job, unlike so many boats (including mine) where the fridge/freezer is in the outer corner of the galley and you would have to destroy the whole galley to get at it. Yeah, still a fair bit of the mahogany timber had to be removed - partly why I put it off so long! Tried to get it out in as few pieces as I could, as I intend to reuse it... The counter top had to be demolished, so a new one to come, of course that won't match the sink top exactly, nor the heads benchtops. I'm sure the Admiral will want those done as well so they match again... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted June 18 Author Share Posted June 18 So the cabinets are coming along. Next I have to figure out how to do the lids and seals. The old ones were hinged, but only sealed on 3 sides, not along hinged edge. Anyone got any clever ideas about how to make a lid that seals properly and hinges? Maybe I'm over tired, I can't think of a good way right now! And thanks to Tony (ynot on here) for the insulation! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 850 Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 Heres a good job with some basic glassing skills https://www.pbo.co.uk/expert-advice/how-to-make-a-boat-fridge-step-by-step-78660 the lid Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank 185 Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 10 hours ago, Island Time said: So the cabinets are coming along. Next I have to figure out how to do the lids and seals. The old ones were hinged, but only sealed on 3 sides, not along hinged edge. Anyone got any clever ideas about how to make a lid that seals properly and hinges? Maybe I'm over tired, I can't think of a good way right now! And thanks to Tony (ynot on here) for the insulation! Nice work Matt, what is the white liner material ? looks like 6mm thk GRP or something similar ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 1,139 Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 Couple of ideas depending on the total design. Lift and swing hinge that allows the lid to lift 8 to 10mm before swinging up. This allows a seal that is in compression vertically, but not under shear when opening. Second option is a bifold design. This has a shorter shear and added advantage of less vertical height needed when opening. Third is to fillet the lid so the hinge seal sits against the side of the box instead of the top 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kaki anau 11 Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 Hi Matt, The solution I came up with when I rebuilt my fridge is I cut a square flange from 1.2mm 430 stainless steel and embedded that in the top of the fridge that receives the lid. I then cut a similar square flange for the lid. I fitted a standard magnetic fridge seal to the flange on the lid. The lid is hinged and seals on all four sides with the magnetic seal. I had the magnetic seal made to fit so there are no joins in the seal: Seal-A-Fridge: 0800 36 77 99 www.sealafridge.co.nz Although the seal holds the lid closed, I retained the original latch so the lid is latched closed (in case of roll-over). Note, the stainless needs to be 430, not 316 as 316 is not magnetic. I learnt this the stupid way Regards Kieran 2 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 On 19/06/2025 at 3:50 AM, Frank said: Nice work Matt, what is the white liner material ? looks like 6mm thk GRP or something similar ? Its 5mm Acrylic. Bit more progress today with a test fit before side on fridge and top on both 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted July 4 Author Share Posted July 4 Current state... coming along slowly... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarpeDiem 541 Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 How is your fridge cooled? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted July 6 Author Share Posted July 6 33 minutes ago, CarpeDiem said: How is your fridge cooled? Its an Ozefridge. Its air cooled until the condenser reaches 38 deg, then it swaps to water (fresh water, borrowed then returned to the tank). Uses eutectic tanks for holdover. Once finished, I hope to be back to one run per day, about 30% of the time in the tropics, less here in NZ... Does not really use the water cooling in NZ, except sometimes in mid summer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 142 Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 Is ozefridge electric compressor or boat motor driven? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarpeDiem 541 Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 2 hours ago, Island Time said: Its an Ozefridge. Its air cooled until the condenser reaches 38 deg, then it swaps to water (fresh water, borrowed then returned to the tank). Uses eutectic tanks for holdover. Once finished, I hope to be back to one run per day, about 30% of the time in the tropics, less here in NZ... Does not really use the water cooling in NZ, except sometimes in mid summer. I can't see a plate in the fridge? I assume that's the freezer with the plates in it? Do you have fans cooling the fridge from the centre holdover plate? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted July 6 Author Share Posted July 6 Nope. There will be a heat exchanger between fridge and freezer. Not yet installed. I'll post a pic when it is, but there are 2 50mm dia tubes between fridge and freezer. There will be a SS plate/cover over them on freezer side, and on fridge side a temp controlled fan takes air from top of fridge, blows it across the plate in freezer, returns it to fridge. There is no air exchanged between fridge and freezer, as that causes frosting. Basically the fridge runs as a parasitical load from freezer. So both cabinets from the one condenser... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted July 6 Author Share Posted July 6 1 hour ago, Guest said: Is ozefridge electric compressor or boat motor driven? Electric. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,314 Posted July 6 Author Share Posted July 6 Here is a pic of how the system works... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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