Fridge

Chris Murray · 10 July 2003, 19:03

Has anyone built a fridge underneath a pod seat? Could you please advise what equipment you used - e.g. did you build it from components or was it an "off the shelf" job?

Seems like a good idea to me!

Why do I think I shall regret asking this?

Cheers!

Chris.

Cookee · 10 July 2003, 20:24

I think mark Pascoe built one into the seat of an SR something, but all you need is a refrigeration unit (someone makes these for boats caravans etc) have a look at the yank ooooops american sites like www.westmarine.com - it's all 12 volts so it all works the same over here.

Bear in mind they use a lot of juice so you might want to wire it up to the ignition side of the system otherwise you'll have flat batteries!

Good luck and if you get it working can you cool down a couple of cans of draught Guiness for me?

Richard B · 10 July 2003, 20:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Cookee
can you cool down a couple of cans of draught Guiness for me?

You'll certainly be popular with a fridge on the RIB

crazyhorse · 10 July 2003, 21:27

You can get to the bottom of the fridge lark by using this web site and there links.

You might want to install a deep cycle battery seperate from your boat starting batteries.

Good luck see http://www.geocities.com/maringret/a...nResearch.html

thewavehumper · 10 July 2003, 21:36

Richard Ward from Solent Rib Charters has a fridge which he built into his Rib 'Hornet ' and what agorgeous RIB it is. I'll be talking with him tomorrows o I'll find out how he did it.

scm · 10 July 2003, 23:14

Chris,
All i did was wire in a 12v socket, £5. Same as the cig lighter in the car. Buy one of those cool boxs that you plug into the socket and cold drinks on the beach !!
I admit you have to use those ice packs in the box first but worked a treat for me as long as you do not forget to unplug from the socket or there could well be flat bty's.
Regards
Stuart

Jelly · 11 July 2003, 08:29

I know its a rag hanging mag but they do have some good stuff in there, like last months Practical Boat Owner - how to build your own fridge on your boat!!
Jelly

Chris Murray · 11 July 2003, 21:48

Thanks everyone!

I had a great fridge in my last boat. I still don't know how it survived 14 years of pounding - I thought that you weren't supposed to move fridges (domestic or otherwise) unless they had been switched off for a while.

I shall investigate the sites and your suggestions. Further input would, of course, be most appreciated.

Aries III WILL have a fridge! (and a "domestic" battery for everything except starting the engine.)

I think it's a good job that the larger modern engines have 50 or 60 amp alternators.

Chris.

jwalker · 12 July 2003, 00:03

A good number of years ago I had a fridge in a split screen VW which used water as the refridgerant. No power necessary. It never reached freezing but it did work well and was used for a 5 week tour of france with good results. They are probably still available - somewhere. The name was, O-so-cool. It was essentially a smallish aluminium case as the fridge interior, surrounded by a porous chalk material, surrounded by an aluminium case with a door. The top was open and contained a shallow well into which you poured water. The back was also open behind expanded aluminium mesh. The principle was that the chalk absorbed the water and became saturated. As the water evaporated it had to take heat from somewhere and the somewhere was the inside of the fridge. Once setup it just required a cup of water per day. Being a solid block, it was not fussy about how it was handled.