I am planning to install a new refrigeration system in our 1987, hull #713 possibly using something other than the Adler/Barbour that came with the boat.
Two questions:
1. Has anyone had any experience with the Fridgoboat system that uses a keel cooler?
2. What size is the icebox? I looked around the 36IA site and found a discussion where someone said that Catalina says it is 5.75 cu ft. However, someone measured and found it to be closer to 15 cu ft.
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Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
I think it would be closer to the 5.75 cubic feet size. When you imagine 15 one foot square boxes, I know I couldn't cram them all in my frig. If someone doesn't pop up with an answer by the weekend, I'll make a point of measuring mine and reply with what I come up with. Just curious, why not an Adler Barbour unit?
Mike
Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA
Mike,
Thank you for the reply.
Good point about the 15 - 1 cu ft boxes. We just bought the boat late last fall and now it is buried under about 2 ft of snow. So I was trying to recall what the icebox looked like.
I wanted to see what else was out there in refrigeration systems. It appears that A/B may have not kept up with product improvements. For instance they now have fittings that can be removed without losing refrigerant. It is available for an increase of about $300. Fridgoboat was designed that way.
Also, the Fridgoboat uses water to remove heat and since water is a more dense fluid than air, it is more efficient. And a few years ago Practical Sailor reviewed it better than the A/B CU-100/ VD-151 and a Sea Frost system
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
Just investigated the Frigo Fridge at the Strictly Sail in Chicago. Can't speak from experience but the unit looks good and the Keel Cooler is a "Cool" add-on. The trade rags like this config and it just makes sense when it gets hot to let water help. Efficiency means a lot on the boat!
_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP
Harold,
The Strictly Sail show in Chicago is where I saw the Fridgoboat system as well. The efficiency and low energy use appealed to me. Plus since it does not use a fan, it is quieter.
There are 2 used A/B systems on E Bay and both say they are upgrading to a water cooled system. The Fridgoboat is appealing since a separate pump is not required and no water is brought into the boat.
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
[QUOTE=denniss616;7673]I am planning to install a new refrigeration system in our 1987, hull #713 possibly using something other than the Adler/Barbour that came with the boat.
Two questions:
1. Has anyone had any experience with the Fridgoboat system that uses a keel cooler?
2. What size is the icebox? I looked around the 36IA site and found a discussion where someone said that Catalina says it is 5.75 cu ft. However, someone measured and found it to be closer to 15 cu ft.[/QUOTE]
I had one installed in my new C375 in the factory icebox in October 2009. I love it. I recommend the digital thermostat. Also you have to pull the boat to install the heat exchanger on the bottom of the boat (drill a one inch hole through the hull for mounting).
Rod Tennyson
Thanx Ron. It is good to hear that it is working well for you. I was looking at the electronic thermostat as well. Despite the increased cost, it should last longer.
We are in West Michigan and the boat will be on the hard for a few more months allowing plenty of time to install the keel cooler.
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
[QUOTE=rodtennyson;7699]Also you have to pull the boat to install the heat exchanger on the bottom of the boat (drill a one inch hole through the hull for mounting).
Rod Tennyson[/QUOTE]
Glad to hear about this unit. My A/B has been running non-stop since I bought my boat in '99 (I like a coldie when I show up), so it can't last forever. Do I understand correctly that there is actually a heat exchanger unit mounted to the hull or just a through hull that brings water in to the unit? The reason I ask is that my PO installed a spare through hull fitting for a watermaker which is now just sitting doing nothing. It's about 3 feet inboard from the engine seawater inlet. I had considered plumbing it as an alternate seawater inlet (I overheated once with a clogged inlet and am paranoid). If all you need is a though hull, I could use that one, but if you actually have to mount something, guess I'd have to yank the boat.
Mike
Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA
Mike,
The keel cooler is installed through the hull and your spare opening may be ideal. I believe the hole needs to be 1 ½”. An important requirement is that the keel cooler and compressor need to be within 6 ft of each other. I think the lines to the evaporator are 9 ft long.
Their web site is: [url]http://frigoboat.com/home.html[/url] Check out the info. It looks like this is an energy efficient way to go. Frigo uses a size 35 or a size 50 compressor. A/B only offers the size 50. According to Practical Sailor that smaller size, which should fit a C36, has a higher level of performance.
One of the things that caught my attention at the Chicago Strictly Sail Show is that new boats are using this brand. The Catalina 375 and 455 both used the air cooled models. And two Island Packet models used the keel cooled models.
Dennis & Cindy
Defining Moment
1987 C36 #713
Holland, MI
[QUOTE=denniss616;7715]Mike,
The keel cooler is installed through the hull and your spare opening may be ideal. I believe the hole needs to be 1 ½”. An important requirement is that the keel cooler and compressor need to be within 6 ft of each other. I think the lines to the evaporator are 9 ft long.
Their web site is: [url]http://frigoboat.com/home.html[/url] Check out the info. It looks like this is an energy efficient way to go. Frigo uses a size 35 or a size 50 compressor. A/B only offers the size 50. According to Practical Sailor that smaller size, which should fit a C36, has a higher level of performance.
One of the things that caught my attention at the Chicago Strictly Sail Show is that new boats are using this brand. The Catalina 375 and 455 both used the air cooled models. And two Island Packet models used the keel cooled models.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, I'm going to look into it.
Mike
Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA
Friends of ours had a keel cooled fridge installed on their 37 Jeanneau. They thought it was great in general, only one drawback they found out by accident you can't run it out of the water, the keel cooler gets extremely hot, like smoking paint hot. Most likely would never be an issue though.
We fitted an Ozefridge to our first C375.
1. Firstly, the Catalina guy did not know what size freezer box was (even though it is in the manual, and I found it in 1 minute), so he guessed the wrong size - so ordered and fitted the wrong sized eutetic plate.
2. Then the experienced Catalina installers hooked it up incorrectly, breaking the copper tubing when installing it, wiring up the water pump without reading the manual - so getting it the wrong way around.
3. It came with a fresh water cooler - with a small pump taking water out of the water tank, through the heat exchanger and then back to the tank.
Of course they stuffed this up too....
Once the unit was replaced with the correctly sized unit, all has been good (the Ozefrige supplied did a terrific job).
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia