1997 400 DA Refrigerator Replacement - what brands fit?

EKM

EKM

Active Member
Feb 4, 2007
674
Beach Haven, NJ
Boat Info
2000 420AC
Engines
Cummins 6CTA
My Norcold DE561 final died....was out in some rough water and when I got back in, it was dripping wet.

Anyway....assume its a leak as the compressor runs but no cooling.

Two choices are to attempt to fix it. I was thinking to remove the compressor, coils and evap unit and bring it to a repair shop

Or Buy a new one. From what I have read, you can not get the old one out without a sawzall.

Does anyone know what brand/model will fit thru the cabin door?

Thanks for any guidance you can provide....hope there is a solution that doesn't require remove the refrigerator box!
 
Look at the Vitrifrigo brand. I put one in mine and love it. More space, better compressor, quiet and has a light inside. They made a flange for mine that eliminated the need to frame around the opening in case the new fridge was a bit smaller.

The link below might help you to remove the old unit from your boat

http://s51.photobucket.com/user/Boater420/slideshow/
 
Hoping to find someone who has the same boat...the enclosure around the refrig make for a small passageway. Some replacements require removal of the enclosure and hoping to avoid this step.
Thanks,
Ed
 
I replaced ours this year with a Vitrifrigo. It wasn't fun but wasn't impossible. I removed both, in tact, through the opening. The old one had the doors removed. They BARELY fit and I snagged the vinyl in a couple spots. In hindsight I would've tried to protect the opening by either covering it with multiple layers of tape or wrapping a sheet around the fridges. Getting it up and out is FUN! Awkward and heavy!
I had to remove the fridge cabinet and stairs to get the room needed. The bottom step is screwed to the floor of the cabin. I had to peel back the carpet on the bottom riser to gain access to the screws. I then cut a piece of sheet metal to patch the hole for re assembly. I also had to cut a corner from the second steps run in order to slide the fridge cabinet forward and out. This was done by peeling the carpet and hand cutting. I glued the piece back on and re glued the carpet. I could go on and on detailing this so if you have any questions just ask.
As for the fridge I miss the old verticals aluminum handles. They were way more sturdy and more intuitive to use. The small horizontal plastic ones on the new one seem like they will have their day in a few years. The light is nice. I can barely tell its larger. It seems deeper.
I bought it locally for $1,400.
 
Wow.....hoping someone will chime in with a way to no dismantle the boat to get the new unit in....sawzall takes care of out!. What size did you install? What holds the refrig box in place and where does it separate from?
 
No other way to get the new one in unless you want to take it apart which I didn't wanna chance. I think it's a 8 cu ft? Once you take the old fridge and microwave out you will find a bunch of screws holding it in. Kinda just learned as I went. The cabinet around the fridge only will come out. The black edging at the top is held in with Christmas tree type fasteners and must very carefully be pryed up and off before cabinet removal. I have a couple pics but I cannot post to the forum for some reason.
 
Skuza said:
No other way to get the new one in unless you want to take it apart which I didn't wanna chance. I think it's a 8 cu ft? Once you take the old fridge and microwave out you will find a bunch of screws holding it in. Kinda just learned as I went. The cabinet around the fridge only will come out. The black edging at the top is held in with Christmas tree type fasteners and must very carefully be pryed up and off before cabinet removal. I have a couple pics but I cannot post to the forum for some reason.
Click to expand...

Amazing to have to get this far into ripping the boat apart to replace a refrig. How many house did it take to do this? Liking my cooler! Thanks for the instruction!
 
Replaced Norcold with a Vitrifrigo a couple of years ago. Took a full weekend, mostly because the Vitrifrigo is a bit deeper and required the cabinet to be built out 3/4 inch.
First pull old refer out of cabinet; it's a tight fit around the countertop trim.
Then remove hatch steps and that cover/vent under refer
Then remove that vinyl covered trim piece atop the refer cabinet (carefully pry up)
Then remove TV
Then remove refer cabinet
Wrap the doorway to protect the vinyl and gelcoat

The old one will fit through the doorway in one piece
The new one will fit through the doorway in one piece
Reassemble in reverse the above steps

Recommended mod - make that vent grill under the refer larger so more air can flow through the heat exchanger coils.

The hardest part is finding all of the screws to take things apart.
 
pulled the refrig out and brought in a dorm refrig until I figure this out. the dorm refrig is 20" wide and fits in easily. the Norcold needs to have the compressor and stuff removed from the back for it to fit out.

Was thinking of pulling the guts out and mounting it on some plywood...will look like a science project and see if it can be repaired. The compressor runs and the plate gets cold at the discharge but the whole plate is not cold. Can this unit be recharged?

What model fridge did you put in?
 
Did a little research...looks like a Nova Cool RFU 8220 will fit in with a depth of 19.5" - this is a 7.3cuft model. Nova Cool has a 9 cuft model w a depth of 23.75"....this requires removal of the refrig box. The Norcol DE 061 (7cuft) and the Vitrofrigo DP 2600 (8cuft) have the same 23.75" depth dimension.

Anyone have an experience with a Nova Cool unit?
Thanks,
Ed
 
Last edited:
Guess what...my norcold is back to cooling. Don't know why but its cooling...dodged the bullet for now.
 
Ed
My DE461 died last fall. They sold a kit that allowed you to replace all the guts, recycling only the box and the capacitor. Cost about $800 and I was able to do it inside the boat. On the 380, you have to remove the entire door mechanism to get it out (or take a sawzall to the fridge, which still leaves the problem of how to get the new replacement INTO the cabin).

Wondering if they make such a replacement part for the 561?

http://rvcoolingunit.com/DE-461-Norcold-Cooling-unit-Compressor-P77262.aspx
 
rondds said:
Ed
My DE461 died last fall. They sold a kit that allowed you to replace all the guts, recycling only the box and the capacitor. Cost about $800 and I was able to do it inside the boat. On the 380, you have to remove the entire door mechanism to get it out (or take a sawzall to the fridge, which still leaves the problem of how to get the new replacement INTO the cabin).

Wondering if they make such a replacement part for the 561?
http://rvcoolingunit.com/DE-461-Norcold-Cooling-unit-Compressor-P77262.aspx
Click to expand...
Hi Ron,
The short answer from RV cooling unit guys is no replacement available. If you pull the compressor and guts off the back the unit will/should fit thru the door. I had a small dorm refrig with a 19" depth down there with no problems.
Hope I don't need to replace but I now have a plan....Nova cool!
Regards,
Ed
 
Ed, if you typically run your gen while your away from the dock have you considered a dorm fridge that fills the space and pocket the extra $1100+/- you would have spent?
 
rondds said:
Ed, if you typically run your gen while your away from the dock have you considered a dorm fridge that fills the space and pocket the extra $1100+/- you would have spent?
Click to expand...
Once of the many nice thinks about my boat, dual voltage refrig when cruising. Typically never run my genny when cruising. Even at anchor, the refrig will last two days on batteries and to not hear the genny is priceless.
Regards,
Ed
 
Understood!
 
I have the 98 400 DA. I am happy your unit is working again, but........the nevercold will die in time. Mine did this year. I replaced it with the Vitrifrigo. This is a great product, and you will not be sorry if you get it. This site has numerous threads on this which are very helpful. I did not have to remove the cabinet or stairs. the sliding hatch needs to come out, but not a big deal. The new one fits perfectly with out a need for an edge. I did build an inner edge to make it fit a little tigher, but that was not tough. It is all hidden. I did scratch up the side of the vinyl a bit. It wasn't bad, but I am kinda hyper and will figure out how to repair it.
 
Pairadocs said:
I have the 98 400 DA. I am happy your unit is working again, but........the nevercold will die in time. Mine did this year. I replaced it with the Vitrifrigo. This is a great product, and you will not be sorry if you get it. This site has numerous threads on this which are very helpful. I did not have to remove the cabinet or stairs. the sliding hatch needs to come out, but not a big deal. The new one fits perfectly with out a need for an edge. I did build an inner edge to make it fit a little tigher, but that was not tough. It is all hidden. I did scratch up the side of the vinyl a bit. It wasn't bad, but I am kinda hyper and will figure out how to repair it.
Click to expand...

How did you get it out without removing the stairs and cabinet? What sliding hatch? Perhaps something changed from '97?
 
Boat Guy said:
How did you get it out without removing the stairs and cabinet? What sliding hatch? Perhaps something changed from '97?
Click to expand...
I too woulda liked to seen how he did it?? The way the cabinet for the fridge juts into the opening I don't see how it's possible? Removing the cabinet meant removing the stairs. Oh and try loading the fridge using stairs that are no longer secured...FUN!
 
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