450 Sundancer- Cockpit Refrigerator Replacement for Ice Maker??

[400 EC Michigan]

I have a 1997 450 Sundancer and am thinking of some possible upgrades / maintenance work this winter. One of the projects is exchanging the cockpit ice maker with a refrigerator. Has anyone replaced their icemaker in the cockpit with a marine refrigerator? Did you remove the doors and flush mount or keep the doors and mount behind the existing doors? What make and model did you use? f you had it to do over, would you do it again? I am looking at Dometic and Isotherm refrigerators and drawer units.

 

[fwebster]

Use the same make as your icemaker. The manufacturers all offer both an icemaker and a refrigerator made in the same case. Models have been upgraded several times since 1997, so don't get frustrated. Look up the measurements for the model you have then find the current matching refrigerator.

Remove the door to simplify things and to protect the door. From there, its just like a jig saw puzzle. Remove one part at a time until you can access the mounting screws. Then ease the box toward you and lift it up and out. This one isn't bad......its only a 2 Advil/3 Bandaid job.

 

[400 EC Michigan]

Frank-

I will have to call Raritan tomorrow since I do not find a refrigerator on their website that would be a direct replacement the existing Icer-ette ice maker. My initial hope was it would be that easy. More to follow.

By the way, this was our first season with the 450 and it is a great running boat. Hard to believe the fuel economy and performance with the 3126 engines. Everything I read on CSR prior to purchasing was true.

Bruce

 

[fwebster]

Well, did you doubt us?

Here is a Norcold that will fit and is AC/DC:

http://www.marinespecialists.com/norcold/de440/de440main.html



Honestly, the icemaker is one of the handiest things on our boat. You might try the icemaker a while and try to adjust......you could just like it.

 

[katricol]

We love having an icemaker, wouldn't want to be without one !

 

[endless seas]

My original ice maker was replaced this summer with another from u-line and its worth every penny in my opinion.We also took out the aft tv put in a slider shelf and a portable ice maker that produces ice every 7-9 minutes. Between the both I can produce 45 lbs of ice a day.We keep a large cooler in the cockpit under the table filled with water,sodas and such and it stays full of fresh ice all the time.
To note: we had a combo box on our 3560 Regal and it never kept drinks nearly as cold as the set up we have now.
I think through some research I found our new ice maker for around 800.00

Good luck.

 

[The Bill Collector]

We love having an icemaker, wouldn't want to be without one !

+1 :thumbsup: