cabin refrigerator

[richwit]

does anyone know what my options are to replace my cabin refrigerator. it was hell pulling it out of the cabin. i had to totally dissasemble it. it was a norcold de541. i want one that will fit through the cabin door in one piece. i have a '97 sndancer330 and they built the boat around the fridge. bad design flaw. i'm new to this but if anyone could help me out . thanks again, rich

 

[northern]

If you have 120 volt inverter and a few batteries you might want to look at bar friges. Have friend that replaced his under counter fridge with one. Happy with it $129 verses $1200 for 12 volt model

 

[skolbe]

The are numerous post specific to the 330 and replacing the fridge. It will fit. But I believe you will need to remove the door.

 

[alnav]

I found this in another place and it's tailored for your boat. Lots of folks have reported good results with Vitrifigo and this account says it fits without much disassembly. Looks like you've already done the first part but I'm including it for others to possibly reference:

"So, if you are replacing a Norcold 541 in a 330 Sundancer... Here's what you need to do.

1. Pull up your cabin table, and set it up front.
2. Remove the screws holding in your fridge. 3 per side
3. Slide out the fridge, unplug, remove 12v lines
4. Place the fridge on the floor where the table was.
5. You now have room to work behind it.
6. Disconnect the power supply box and remove.
7. Disconnect all coolant components, and move to the top.Do not cut the coolant lines (epa law)The back should be empty ... Everything removed
8. Remove the door for less weight.
9. Take a hammer and bend down sharp corners.
10. Wrap the fridge in a blanket,
11. It will slide out sideways.
12. Cleanup inside the cutout area, etc.
13. Cleanup the gunk on the edge of the cutout.
14. Order a Vitrifrigo C115iac
15. Order the larger flange (Vitrifrigo will dropship)Part # R128110.C (31 7/8" H x 25 1/8" W).This flange is designed for those of us replacing the DE#41 series, a tech guy told me.
16. When new fridge arrives, remove screws holding on flange.

Now is a good time to move the matching door panel to the new door, or you may want to wait until it's in the boat to protect it.

If you're replacing a DE-541, the new door is slightly larger than your old matching door panel. If you have a panel to match your interior, here's what you'll need to do.

Remove the bottom door trim. Slide out the included black panel. Bring it to Home Depot, or Lowes and have a matching piece cut to the same size of the most thin and best quality Lexan or other clear plastic available.

Clean your old door panel. Let Dry. Place the old panel on the door door. Now slide the new cut plastic over it in the edge slots to hold it in place. This works perfect.

The bottom of the old panel will be a little short, so I cut a little piece of black plastic to fill. You'll see what I mean.

17. Again, wrap the new fridge in a blanket, and it will easily fit in the door.
18. Install your new larger flange, connect power lines.
19. Slide in, attach screws, done.
20. If it has been on its side, wait 12 hours before turning it on.
21. Test it on 12vdc only, then on 115vac only. Then on both.

As an option, I added a little fan to the vent that goes to the head for some added cooling."

 

[mistercomputerman]

Geeeez...the only thing Al didn't do was show up at the guy's boat and put the new fridge in.

Good post.

 

[3fouroh]

I posted in another thread but I will post here too.

Just to follow up. I just replaced the DE441 in my 2000 Sea ray 340.
Vitrifrigo and the flange kit listed fit perfect.

Since they don't come with directions I will help on a few minor things.

When you get the Vitrifirgo there are two stock flange pieces that need removing. The big one that goes around the top and two sides. I think 9 screws and it comes off. Then there is a flat piece on the top with a couple of screws. All that comes off.

The new flange kit will will screw on to the fridge and when it is about lined up with the front you will see tiny predrilled holes you can run the screws to the top and sides flange piece in on mine they lined up.

However the piece on the bottom didn't line up with the predrilled pilot holes so I had to drill pilot holes. This is the most time consuming part. Just getting the top piece square up and drilling the holes in the bottom. Once it's good though it goes right in no problem. Just make sure you get the fridge squared up in the hole and you will have to drill new holes for the flange to screw to the boat.

Remember too if you put the fridge on it's side don't turn it on for 12 or 24 hours. (check the manual) So it's easiest to take all the stock trim off the fridge and assemble the new flange kit and get everything set up on deck. Then take the new flange off and drop it into the cabin you can wire up the DC and plug it in and wire tie up the slack in the cables, set it halfway in the hole then screw the flange kit back on, set it in, square it up and drill and screw in new mount holes.

Also you will need new wood screws. The ones I took out wouldn't work with the new flange because the old screws had some weird flare under the screw head so they wouldn't counter sink properly. So you may wanna pull a screw out prior to doing it and get some new ones at Home Depot.

So the tools needed are
Screw gun/philips head screwdriver
wire stripers and crimpers
2 butt connecters (for DC power)
nut driver (don't remember size but its to disassemble old fridge to get out the door)
small drill bits/drill
That's all I can remember.

Pretty simple job I did it in a couple hours.
If I had to do it again I could easily do it in an hour.