Measure twice cut once refrigerator and freezer replacement

[ttmott]

The DRW model of the Vitrifrigo refrigerator's bottom drawer opens right at floor level; there is probably less than 1/4-inch between the drawer and floor. Too low to have a rug over the hardwood flooring which we like to have.
So on close inspection there appeared room to add 1/2-inch plywood to the flooring under the refers and they will still fit in the existing holes. It's tight though; I had to lag the existing wood structure down to the fiberglass so the plywood was not only level and flat but also would allow clearance. Success!
For the side condenser coils I was able to open up the cabinet side so plenty of air can be circulated. I'll be coring several holes down to the laundry room to further enhance air flow. Now for the center supports, trim, and electrical. Some progress pics.

 

[ttmott]

Long day - they are installed. This was a tight fit; absolutely no play at all side to side. Left to do is mounting the power supplies and putting the power to them.
I'd give this a 7 out of 10 on difficulty and 10 out of 10 on body aches. Some detail pics of the cabinet modifications to ensure air flow behind the units.

 

[rlynch03]

Wow… what a project. I have had those Ref/Freezers out and in… a few times. And understand your aches.

Anxious to replace mine mainly to gain 12/120v but our fridge is getting worn out also. We do like the dedicated Ref and dedicated Freezer that we have. Works well for us.

Interested to see how you like the drawer units. I believe you are the first or second to replace both units on this site…

 

[Blueone]

Long day - they are installed. This was a tight fit; absolutely no play at all side to side. Left to do is mounting the power supplies and putting the power to them.
I'd give this a 7 out of 10 on difficulty and 10 out of 10 on body aches. Some detail pics of the cabinet modifications to ensure air flow behind the units.
View attachment 126383View attachment 126387 View attachment 126385 View attachment 126386View attachment 126384

Nice job !

 

[Shaps]

Long day - they are installed. This was a tight fit; absolutely no play at all side to side. Left to do is mounting the power supplies and putting the power to them.
I'd give this a 7 out of 10 on difficulty and 10 out of 10 on body aches. Some detail pics of the cabinet modifications to ensure air flow behind the units.
View attachment 126383View attachment 126387 View attachment 126385 View attachment 126386View attachment 126384

Really nice work @ttmott

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Good plan and great execution.

Good boat improvement too !

RWS

 

[rlynch03]

On to the Vitrifrigo drawer unit evaluation for fit -
I've got them in the shop up and running to verify they work before I install -
I think we can fit double what we could fit in the Subzero in the Vitrifrigo units simply due to the better utility of the drawers.

Tom - how will the drawer units offer more usable storage over the Open box SubZero style?

We pack our SubZero units full at the beginning of a week with chilled and frozen food for the trip. I will admit that some stuff packed in is a pain to get out when the fridge is full. I suppose the drawer units are easier to reach down into rather than squatting down to see what’s there. It seems though that more will be laying on top of each other or stacked in the drawer units?

Just curious as we have this upgrade in the future plans.

What do these drawer units cost?

Also thanks for all the great documentation, and helping all of us….

 

[ttmott]

Tom - how will the drawer units offer more usable storage over the Open box SubZero style?

We pack our SubZero units full at the beginning of a week with chilled and frozen food for the week long trips. I will admit that some stuff packed in is a pain to get out when the fridge is full. I suppose the drawer units are easier to reach down into rather than squatting down to see what’s there. It seems though that more will be laying on top of each other or stacked in the drawer units?

Just curious as we have this upgrade in the future plans.

What do these drawer units cost?

Also thanks for all the great documentation, and helping all of us….

What we found is that back ledge in the SubZero was not very useable due to the rack just above it. The adjustability of the racks are not good for height also. I suppose if that ledge in the back had a bit of a lip things would store better on it. The second comment I got from "high command" was the door storage was not very well spaced both vertically and horizontally to best utilize. We got good over time on sequencing things in and out for the long trips however. Your point on getting down on the floor to get things in and out is right on target; the drawers will eliminate these acrobatics. It's an age thing....
I believe organizing in the drawers will make more compact, useable, and accessible storage. The big thing in my mind is the capability to change each drawer from freezer to refrigerator. So when we start out on a trip we can have three of the four drawers configured as freezers then as we consume convert a freezer drawer to a refrigerator drawer for the thawed leftovers. It seems to me that a half-full freezer is wasted space.

 

[Tim Fila]

I find it’s easiest to open the laundry room hatch and stand in the basement when getting things off the bottom of the fridge!

 

[b_arrington]

Nice job, looks really good! I have a double reefer unit similar to yours in my galley, plus a single drawer freezer in my "basement". So far I like them too.

 

[Blueone]

Tom - how will the drawer units offer more usable storage….

I think I am close to replacing mine and I will seriously consider drawers but I am a bit skeptical if there is an advantage…. I am sure my wife will decide

 

[ttmott]

Done and powered up. Power supplies mounted below galley. There was enough length in the 120 V wiring to reroute the receptacle from behind the old refer's and locate below between the power supplies. I cut the European plugs off and installed the US type on the power supply cords. They came down in temperature quickly.

 

[rlynch03]

I find it’s easiest to open the laundry room hatch and stand in the basement when getting things off the bottom of the fridge!

Yep when I am packing the fridge for a long trip I do the same…

 

[ttmott]

Just got back from three weeks in the Exuma's. I have to say that the refrigerator/freezers exceeded our expectations. We were able to refrigerate / freeze easily double what we could stuff in the Sub Zero units. Plus, the access to the goods was far simpler. Cooling and freezing was quick and effortless with the Vitrifrigo units. The drawers even though heavy easily closed and actually pulled themselves closed and latched the last two or three inches. Very solidly build. I'm impressed and would recommend.

 

[Tim Fila]

I had heard many great things about the Vitrifrigo. I bought an ice maker and have had issues. Main one is that they don't have anyone to service it for me.

Tim

 

[b_arrington]

I had heard many great things about the Vitrifrigo. I bought an ice maker and have had issues. Main one is that they don't have anyone to service it for me.

Tim

I've also had very good experience with the Vitrifrigo drawer units. But like you have heard that their ice makers have problems. I was looking into one as it would fit in my available space, but was warned off by some others.

 

[ttmott]

I had heard many great things about the Vitrifrigo. I bought an ice maker and have had issues. Main one is that they don't have anyone to service it for me.

Tim

I have an Isotherm clear ice maker; it is supposed to make 40 pounds per day - that is "up to" 40 pounds per day. It struggles to simply keep the bin full even if ice isn't used. I love the clear cocktail ice but an a bit disappointed in the machine's capability.

 

[b_arrington]

I have an Isotherm clear ice maker; it is supposed to make 40 pounds per day - that is "up to" 40 pounds per day. It struggles to simply keep the bin full even if ice isn't used. I love the clear cocktail ice but an a bit disappointed in the machine's capability.

I had one of those too. By design the ice constantly melts as the bin is not cooled. If it’s located in a hot area (cockpit when in the Exumas, for example) the ice will melt faster.

I typically ran mine only when on board because it was always using water (because the ice was melting) and I didn’t want to drain the tank. So the bin was hot when I got to the boat and the ice melted faster. It would take a long time for it to get full. The white ice makers are noisy too, since they are constantly spraying water in the freeze plate.

All things considered, I would not select a clear ice maker. Good ice, but too many down sides for a boat.

 

[ttmott]

I had one of those too. By design the ice constantly melts as the bin is not cooled. If it’s located in a hot area (cockpit when in the Exumas, for example) the ice will melt faster.

I typically ran mine only when on board because it was always using water (because the ice was melting) and I didn’t want to drain the tank. So the bin was hot when I got to the boat and the ice melted faster. It would take a long time for it to get full. The white ice makers are noisy too, since they are constantly spraying water in the freeze plate.

All things considered, I would not select a clear ice maker. Good ice, but too many down sides for a boat.

It would certainty use a lot of water if not recycled back to the tank. I've had it for a couple of years now with water recirculated to the tank and find the water quality in the tank isn't compromised. But, yes the box isn't refrigerated and the ice continuously melts; maybe better box insulation; however, if the box was refrigerated the ice would not remain clear ice. I still like the machine but it's of no use other than cocktails.

 

[b_arrington]

It would certainty use a lot of water if not recycled back to the tank. I've had it for a couple of years now with water recirculated to the tank and find the water quality in the tank isn't compromised. But, yes the box isn't refrigerated and the ice continuously melts; maybe better box insulation; however, if the box was refrigerated the ice would not remain clear ice. I still like the machine but it's of no use other than cocktails.

Ah. Mine went to a drain and overboard.