74 TriCab Fridge Replacement

upstatedon · Post by **upstatedon** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:55 pm

Looks like I can find a fridge about the same size to replace the original, how hard is it to remove old and bring new into boat?

Have you done this?

Thanks
Don

New to me 1974 Tricab.

WolfProperties · Post by **WolfProperties** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:05 pm

Nice boat, looks familiar.

I have the same galley layout as you. I also am replacing the fridge, but I am removing the oven and adding a 3/4 size there like the other tricabin layouts have.

I havent taken mine out yet, but it doesnt seem as there is much to it. I have the screws that mount it to the counter and thats all I could find.

upstatedon · Post by **upstatedon** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:09 pm

I agree that the fridge will come out of its resting place, but how hard is it to get out of the boat, the door ways are less than 20" wide??
Looks like a tight squeeze.
Maybe taking the door off the fridge would give us enough room?

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:04 pm

This last winter I removed the old bar sized fridge, installed a small apartment size fridge that I bought at a discount appliance store. It is I think 7 cubic ft., [versus 4 ft.Â²] ,A/C only, but significantly larger and has made a huge difference. It did require some basic woodworking skills and two afternoons freezing in the boat, under the shrink wrap. Although it is not DC, it was only 200 bucks compared to about 1200 for an AC/DC marine fridge. Things will stay frozen in the separate freezer for quite some time [not sure how long, hasn't been an issue yet, even went on a 12 day trip this year with it, worked great] .Have fun with your winter projects

Coralkong · Post by **Coralkong** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:50 pm

I know a guy who did just that.
Basically, the new one from Lowe's went in with the door off (the fridge door, that is), and the old one came out in little pieces.

He had to put some wood molding around the opening, but it looked great, and worked great, when he was done.

rickalan35 · Post by **rickalan35** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:30 pm

I had to take a rip saw (electric) and cut my old fridge up into pieces in order to get it out.

I pre-measured the width of the door jamb coming up into the salon from the rear bedroom and then went out and bought a new fridge from Best Buy and took the door off it in order to squeeze it thru the pre-measured door jamb. The new one is black and matches the stock cupboard trim and actually, because of new technology has more room than the original. Personally, I don't really want a full size fridge in there.

upstatedon · Post by **upstatedon** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:08 am

Rick

When you get a chance let me know what size fridge you put on yours.
Did you need to remove anything from the boat to slide the fridge in?

Thanks
Don

rickalan35 · Post by **rickalan35** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:14 pm

Don,

I measured both entranceways into the salon (back door down into the rear bedroom and up into the salon that way ......as compared to coming thru the cockpit and down the steps) In my '74 tri-cabin it was easier to remove the door between the rear bedroom and the salon and thereby gain about an extra inch.

Then after taking one final measurement of the width of the doorway, I shopped around until I found a black fridge at Best Buy that fit my dimension requirements (with the fridge's door removed.)

Took the new fridge to the marina, took the door off the fridge, took the door off the rear bedroom and then got some help to lug the new fridge into the boat. Then I replaced the fridge door and the bedroom doors.... voila.

The lack of egress makes us envious of the 44 foot Trojan motoryachts
that had a section of the roof pop off in order to remove stuff (like engines no doubt)

upstatedon · Post by **upstatedon** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:11 pm

I think I will just wait till spring now, soon I won't need a fridge to keep our things cold!