Replacing the refrigerator?

stephens013

stephens013

Active Member
Oct 8, 2009
756
Ft Walton Beach, Fl
Boat Info
2001 510 Sundancer
1997 400DA Sundancer
1994 Chaparel 310 Signature
Engines
3196 Cat; 660 PHP
3116 Cat; 340 PHP

Seems my refrigerator is not cooling the way it use to. I read how there is a retro fit for new internals but that would be my last resort. Would much rather go with a nifty new unit. Now the hard part; getting the old unit out and more importantly the new unit into the cabin. Looks like there just ani't enough room. Has any one tackled this problem in a 1997 400DA or similar boat?

Ron
 
Most newer fridges, even Norcolds, are just a little taller. So in addition to getting the old one out keep in mind you may have to mod the opening to fit a newer style. I replaced my 20 yr old Nevercold with a Vitrifrigo from Defender. It was like $1600 or so shipped. It didn't have all the swing motors and coils on the back of it like the Norcold did so getting it into my Chris express was easier than getting the bad one out.

I would def recommend spending an extra couple hundred bucks and getting an Isotherm or Vitrifrigo over another Norcold.
 
Bummer; I was so hoping some one would slip in a trick of how they wrangled a frig up and down the entry way of a 400DA. Taking one out is no magic; take it out in pieces if necessary. It's getting the new unit installed with out disassembly that has me stumped.

Thanks all,
Ron
 
I changed one out in a 1989 340 without problems. Takes 2-3guys to haul it out. We put a new norcold in but had to trim it out W/ teak. Not a bad project.
 
I wish I had been observant enough to notice that the cooling capacity was diminishing. Instead, the total failure was a surprise and poorly-timed: peak-season with a calendar full of guests and trips.

I went with a new cooling unit. I guess I have no regrets, since it runs better than it had for a long time, but it's a bummer that the repair was so expensive and I still have the same old box.
 
Where did you find the cooling unit as I thought they were discontinued? My powerpack failed and I was looking for a replacement cooling unit to replace the guts. I ended up finding a powerpack so its back working again. During the "parts hunting stage" I put a dorm refrig in the aft cabin...worked great and no guests. Waiting for my next failure but running well now.
 
Getting the old box out is a pain and will require dismantling the working parts off the back and removal of the Norcold door. On my boat 460DA, I would also have had to remove the companionway slider (big job) to get the opening large enough to get a new box snaked down the companionway. To drop in a new Norcold 461 would require the same efforts for install. On my 460, I elected to just replace the sealed unit compressor and condenser while in place. Its $700 +- in parts, and a few hours labor. Its not a highly technical job, it just requires careful handling of the new parts and should be done with two people to avoid any crimping of copper lines.

If you decide to replace the entire box, make sure you plan carefully before you buy. The tear our and off the boat costs could be substantial.
 
EKM said:
Where did you find the cooling unit as I thought they were discontinued?
Click to expand...

I hadn't heard that, but a quick google search shows a 3rd party shop claiming that production of the DE561 cooling unit ceased in 2009. I guess I'm "lucky" that the stupid thing failed when it did?!
 
Finally got ticked off enough to replace the refrigerator. As mentioned before; the getting out was always the doable part; getting a new unit back down the passage way was something altogether different. The Sea Ray service guys sent me a nice service bulletin on how to remove the refrigerator. Basically you remove the steps; then the TV and then the refrigerator and then the refrigerator cabinet. Now you have 24 inches side to side on the entry way on the 400DA to move the frig in and out. It took me right at 3 hours to get everything sitting in the middle of my salon. Reassembly is more efficient once you have an idea how the Sea Ray guys put it together.

Now here are a few bits gouge one might find handy should any of you Dancer fellows want to tackle on such a project:
· Have a 24 inch Phillips screw driver handy. There is a #8 screw attaching the top tread on the port side. It is way back there against the aft cabin bulk head and you will need something more than a standard reach screw driver.
· On my boat there were three #8 stainless wood screws sunk down through the carpet to secure the tops of the treads to the up rights. Had a hard time finding the screw heads so I peeled back the carpet ever so gently. (I would have been able to reuse the carpet sections and go back to looking as before but I elected to redo the carpet while I was at it. Not one of my better moves. The finished product looks great but damn).
· The upholstery rim on top of the refrigerator cabinet has to be removed in order to slide the TV out of the cabinet. Nothing comes out of the TV enclosure until this trim piece is removed. This upholstered trim runs from the entry door along the top of the refrigerator cabinet to just by the port hole over the sink. It is basic wood construction held in by several plastic dowels. I was able to pry the whole thing up without damage. This upholstered trim piece will be the last part of the cabinetry to be reinstalled.
· Replacing the frig is a snap once you have the cabinet out of the way. Just takes a several strong hands and plenty of sturdy covers on anything you don’t want scuffed or ripped. That includes the inside corner of the helm seat and back rest. I draped an old tonneau cover off my Avalanche to protect the seat. Good thing I did. Getting the unit up or down the gang way is an awkward lift and it’s tough not to hit or scuff something.

I hound marine refrigerators are expensive; ridiculously overpriced. My best price for an AC/DC marine frig was a NorCool from West Marin at $1,364. A better choice of refrigerators is the Vitrifrico listing at $2,200. (Like that was going to happen.) My best quoted on a Vitrifrico unit was just under $1,500. All that being said; every marine refrigerator technician I talked to advised me to install a regular house refrigerator if at all possible. So I looked around and found an apartment sized, frost free unit and slapped it in the boat. I hooked up a DC inverter of ample size so I can still run the unit on DC while on the move. I did lose the front mounting flange that kept the original unit in place. In order to secure the new refrigerator I just shimmed the unit into the cabinet and sunk several #10 sheet metal screws through the top of the cabinet and into the sides of the refrigerator box. Painted the doors and what knot with appliance epoxy paint before instillation. I also added child proof latches so the doors would not come open while under way. Total cast is just over $500.
Well I am sure someone out there is just itching to convert their Nor Cool in to a sea anchor. Can’t say as I blame you.
Take care all
Ron
 
Can we see some pics?

I'm also curious what make and modem you purchased, everyone I have seen requires 5 inches of space on the sides and the back.

Thanks Gary
 
Put a Vitrifrigo in our boat 2 summers ago.Nothing to it just had to remove the doors.
Hardest thing to the whole job was realigning the cosmetic doors that cover the fridge.I had to have every seem perfect or it drove me crazy.

Good luck!
 
I am out of town for the next two weeks; will do the pictures then. I bought a Summit apartment size refrigerator. It fits the hole with room to spar. Just have to shim it up; secure and dress it out accordingly. I did have to move several water hoses that ran along the rear of the refrigerator enclosure so the unit could slide further into the cabinet. The hardest thing about this whole deal was getting the cabinetry out of the way. The refrigerator cabinet has to be removed on the 400 DA in order to have a clear shot at getting the unit through the door; in and out of the salon.
 
RE: Replacing the Refrigerator on a 380 DA
I have read many of the threads on this subject and really appreciated everyone's experience. I decided to invest the $1,349 and get a Norcold DE0061(R). There are other threads on how to remove and reinstall, and removal and reinstallation went a lot easier than I thought, if you take your time and be careful. But what I wanted to comment on here is that a lot of people mentioned that they were buying a Vitrifrigo frig because it uses a Danfoss compressor, well lo and behold the new (purchased 3/16) Norcold DE0061 also uses a Danfoss compressor. It's whisper quiet and works great with a lower amperage. The other feature I like is the improved door latches that close and lock without a separate latch, and the new unit has a drain line when defrosting the unit. IMO the new Norcold unit works great, and has been much improved over the older model.
 
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Has anyone replaced the refrigerator in a 1997-2000 370 EC? There seem to be a lot of options out there... but was hoping that someone could share a success story and help me narrow down the options :)

Thanks in advance!!
 
I'm bringing up an old thread....'cause I need to...haha

Ok, so please confirm the stairs and the cabinet need to be removed to get the refrigerator out even if you are not taking it out of the salon? I'm trying to see if I can just replace the compressor with the newer Danfoss...

Looking for options....I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts / stories.....Esp 400DA guys... Anyone in Annapolis area gone through this or "know a guy" that can help?
 
Boat Guy,
my new vitrifrigo from defender, came in Tuesday. I pulled the boat apart stairs and cabinet, and am going to try to switch them this weekend. Will have pictures and info by Monday.
 
Replaced with the Vitrifrigo two years ago and it's performed well. Seems the box insulation is much better than the Norcold and most importantly the freezer box is separate; the Norcold had a common freezer / refer compartment which promoted a lot of frost and simply had difficulty keeping the frozen food cold enough.
One thing is the Vitrifrigo has a deeper box and the cabinet frame needed to be built out 3/4".
 
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