Cockpit refrigerator re-purpose?

MiamiAG

As you can see in the lower right of this picture, the cockpit refrigerator is broken. However, it has always been useless as it’s too small. Have anyone repurposed this area so that it is a space to fit a cooler?

thanks!

RiverRat232

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raybo3

@MiamiAG you want to replace a fridge with a cooler??? My fridge is ice cold and I load it with beverages. Plenty of room and dont have to worry about ice. 

YYZRC

I built a cabinet to replace my ice maker. You could just build a starboard box in place of the fridge. 

MiamiAG

raybo3 said:

@MiamiAG you want to replace a fridge with a cooler??? My fridge is ice cold and I load it with beverages. Plenty of room and dont have to worry about ice. 

Raybo3, yes. I have a fridge in the cabin that has some of our drinks. The outside fridge was never used because a cooler was typically the place were we had the barbecue meet and other items that simply wouldn't fit in the fridge.

MiamiAG

YYZRC said:

I built a cabinet to replace my ice maker. You could just build a starboard box in place of the fridge. 

Hmm, that's an idea. Did you frame the outside to make it neat? I haven't worked with starboard. How did you secure the corners?

YYZRC

I ran the 3/8” side panels long and made a corner out of 3/4”. The door is from boatoutfitters.com

LaRea

Working with Starboard is as easy as working with wood, except you can't use glue or nails -- only screws.  For cut edges that are exposed, there are techniques to give them the same pebbled finish as the face surfaces.

raybo3

MiamiAG said:

raybo3 said:

@MiamiAG you want to replace a fridge with a cooler??? My fridge is ice cold and I load it with beverages. Plenty of room and dont have to worry about ice. 

Raybo3, yes. I have a fridge in the cabin that has some of our drinks. The outside fridge was never used because a cooler was typically the place were we had the barbecue meet and other items that simply wouldn't fit in the fridge.

It's funny how people use "things" so differently. I put the drinks in the cockpit fridge because I don't want everyone going in and out of my cabin especially while I am underway. I put the food in the cabin fridge as that is larger. However I do not BBQ on my boat. Never have and never will. We prepare food at home or take boat to a restaurant. ......... Just say'n 

Dream_Inn

raybo3 said:

MiamiAG said:

raybo3 said:

@MiamiAG you want to replace a fridge with a cooler??? My fridge is ice cold and I load it with beverages. Plenty of room and dont have to worry about ice. 

Raybo3, yes. I have a fridge in the cabin that has some of our drinks. The outside fridge was never used because a cooler was typically the place were we had the barbecue meet and other items that simply wouldn't fit in the fridge.

It's funny how people use "things" so differently. I put the drinks in the cockpit fridge because I don't want everyone going in and out of my cabin especially while I am underway. I put the food in the cabin fridge as that is larger. However I do not BBQ on my boat. Never have and never will. We prepare food at home or take boat to a restaurant. ......... Just say'n 

You are so right.  I love to bbq on my boat.  I do agree, all drinks up top, food below.  I'll say, we've always had enough room down below for food, even 10 days of food!  And that's with two older kids.👍 We do use a cooler as well for the extended trips because I take gallons of Mai Tai and 1 gallon of rum punch.

mattie

Took our cockpit fridge out this spring, we never used it. Boat is rack stored - not plugged into shorepower.
Lucked out, it was a finished cabinet. Put some non skid flooring in there. Perfect for cooler, garbage can, etc.

mattie

If you do remove the fridge, bet you could have a swinging door installed over the opening. Stainless piano hinge on one side & latch on the other.
boatoutfitters.com.

MiamiAG

raybo3 said:

MiamiAG said:

raybo3 said:

@MiamiAG you want to replace a fridge with a cooler??? My fridge is ice cold and I load it with beverages. Plenty of room and dont have to worry about ice. 

Raybo3, yes. I have a fridge in the cabin that has some of our drinks. The outside fridge was never used because a cooler was typically the place were we had the barbecue meet and other items that simply wouldn't fit in the fridge.

It's funny how people use "things" so differently. I put the drinks in the cockpit fridge because I don't want everyone going in and out of my cabin especially while I am underway. I put the food in the cabin fridge as that is larger. However I do not BBQ on my boat. Never have and never will. We prepare food at home or take boat to a restaurant. ......... Just say'n 

Yup. We use the ice for drinks so I need to take ice in a cooler. It's amazing how much my family and friends use the ice during a day out at the sandbar. For us, and I think many by the number of BBQs out on sandbars, it's a tradition to cook sausages and burgers at the sandbar. Not sure if people just enjoy it, or all that BBQ smell, but it's a thing down here, at least with my crew.

Another thing is space. I have a 290ec and the cockpit area isn't large. I always have to put the cooler on the back seat and it just takes a lot of space there.

raybo3

@Dream_Inn...... lol too funny Mai Tai mix. You and your Mai Tai's. I bought a mix from my favorite Chinees restaurant and I love my watermelon Tai's. On my  342 I store most of my "beverages"  in the cabinet under the galley sink and V-berth. 

goalie59

MiamiAG, in my opinion if it holds only one beer and keeps it cold then it's doing it's job. 

MiamiAG

goalie59 said:

MiamiAG, in my opinion if it holds only one beer and keeps it cold then it's doing it's job. 

That's a bit of the point. It's broken at the moment and the question is whether to replace it or take the opportunity to repurpose.

Cableguy Greg

I love my cockpit fridge. I keep adult beverages in it along with dogs and brats in the freezer for easy access. I can't imagine not having one.

MiamiAG

Where do you guys keep your ice for the drinks?

MarkB

MiamiAG said:

raybo3 said:

@MiamiAG you want to replace a fridge with a cooler??? My fridge is ice cold and I load it with beverages. Plenty of room and dont have to worry about ice. 

Raybo3, yes. I have a fridge in the cabin that has some of our drinks. The outside fridge was never used because a cooler was typically the place were we had the barbecue meet and other items that simply wouldn't fit in the fridge.

If ever you do a longer trip (overnight) that second fridge will come in handy, to store perishables, while the other has drinks. Even if it is for the next owner ... think resale. I definitely would rather have a fridge there. Easy to replace (if you have $$).

YYZRC

I just ordered a replacement CRX-65 for my boat. Agreed with @MarkB - very useful for weekend trips plus resale. 

YYZRC

mattie said:

Took our cockpit fridge out this spring, we never used it. Boat is rack stored - not plugged into shorepower.
Lucked out, it was a finished cabinet. Put some non skid flooring in there. Perfect for cooler, garbage can, etc.

This pic perfectly illustrates why Rinker are priced well below competitors. Four Winns does a completely clean and gel coated cabinet including nicely mounted electrical. Rinker cuts a jagged hole and throws in a fridge. 

mattie

YYZ: Yaa, I was impressed. 
Before I yanked the fridge - I figured I'd be fabbing up some sort of shelving or base flooring. No need.

On the Rinker side - I do miss the long/deep garbage cans tho.

We don't overnight on our boat. Just a sweet dayboat. Sun, sand, tunes, swimming & refreshments.
Use those really nice Igloo Marine Extreme softside coolers for food & drinks. One good hardside cooler for ice. Never have we run out of ice or drinks.

MiamiAG

You guys are killing me. Looks like I'm telling the Admiral we're getting a new cockpit fridge!

aero3113

@MiamiAG , how’s the hard top project going? I tried looking for the thread but I can’t find it.

MiamiAG

aero3113 said:

@MiamiAG , how’s the hard top project going? I tried looking for the thread but I can’t find it.

Sorry, wasn't my project. Have never looked for a hard top.

Pat310

@aero3113 that was @oscar1 who was doing hard top I believe

aero3113

You right @Pat310 !! 

Liberty44140

We love our cruisers 390 but the single biggest thing we miss from our Rinker 342 is the cockpit fridge. We have the ice maker outside but no fridge and we can’t live without the ice maker since having that on the 342. Trying to figure out a place to add a fridge in the 390 cockpit. Having a cooler going outside all weekend works ok, but having a fridge is true my glorious. 

Handymans342

Lib, get a 110 volt cooler or a 12 volt cooler

Handymans342

https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/27433/best-12-volt-coolers

davidbrooks

I left one of those plugged into my suv one time overnight. Woke up to a dead battery.