Refrigerator repair or replace?

[gzibro]

I own a 2005 320 Sundancer.
I am in need of fixing or replacing the refrigerator in the cabin. It came with a norcold de0051. The fridge started acting up last season and isn't working now as I'm starting the new season.


Any suggestions for servicing it or replacing it? My wife would like a larger capacity fridge, but I'm not sure what the maximum size unit would be for the boat?


Please help.

 

[Escapade]

Our boat is a 2005 and late last year the beer froze up....
We pulled it out and took it to a Norcold service center. It was ( Hana Trailer ) an RV business. They replaced the controller module tested the unit with a thermometer for two days and held temperate. . The total cost was just under $300.
Very easy to take out and re-install.

 

[Boater420]

I replaced the DE0041 in our cabin last year with a Vitrifrigo. Besides getting a much quieter and efficient Danfoss compressor, I now have a light so I can see when I get up at night to get a drink. I thought about getting mine repaired but it was nearly 18 years old and had served what I felt to be its useful life.

 

[gzibro]

Thank you for writing. I'll try to locate a service shop.

 

[gzibro]

Thank you for writing. How did you size the new fridge? Did you cross reference the size online somewhere? Did you go bigger?

 

[gzibro]

I replaced the DE0041 in our cabin last year with a Vitrifrigo. Besides getting a much quieter and efficient Danfoss compressor, I now have a light so I can see when I get up at night to get a drink. I thought about getting mine repaired but it was nearly 18 years old and had served what I felt to be its useful life.

Thank you for writing. How did you size the new fridge? Did you cross reference the size online somewhere? Did you go bigger?​

​

 

[Skybolt]

To "Size" the frig you need to measure the space you have or will have if it gets modified. Example: I just had to replace mine, so I measured the maximum depth and the maximum height and the maximum width and then found one that would fit in those dimensions.

Your options may be limited by the fact of needing a 12v mode frig. If that is the case you might consider using a 125v converter and finding a 125v frig that fits. Otherwise your frig size will be limited.

 

[wellswa]

Thank you for writing. How did you size the new fridge? Did you cross reference the size online somewhere? Did you go bigger?​

I too replaced my Norcold last year with a Vitrifrigo in my 97' 330. It's also about 1 cubic foot bigger than the Norcold. No modifications are needed to the boat just buy the trim kit that is offered with it because the mounting flange on the new one is a little smaller than the opening.
Simple install and much quieter and brighter on the inside.

 

[Boater420]

Here is the model number I installed:
Vitrifrigo C115IBD4-F




The flange is Part # R128110.C


Here are the instructions I followed to do the install. Follow these and you'll have no problem. You will need someone to help lift it out of the hatch and the new one back down. I wrapped my old unit with truck straps to make a handle at the top so it was easier to lift out of the boat through the hatch.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/54129-cabin-refrigerator?highlight=vitrifrigo+flange+c11

 

[gzibro]

To "Size" the frig you need to measure the space you have or will have if it gets modified. Example: I just had to replace mine, so I measured the maximum depth and the maximum height and the maximum width and then found one that would fit in those dimensions.

Your options may be limited by the fact of needing a 12v mode frig. If that is the case you might consider using a 125v converter and finding a 125v frig that fits. Otherwise your frig size will be limited.

thanks for the tips!