Cockpit Ice Maker to Fridge Conversion

D

Dkarolak

New Member
Aug 6, 2015
8
Lake Saint Clair
Boat Info
2002 Sea Ray 360 Sundancer, 8.1's
Engines
Merc 8.1
2002 360DA. Boat has an ice maker but would like to convert it over to a cockpit fridge. I understand the factory fridges are Norcold. Has anyone done this and any tips would be appreciated.
 
Subscribed.......we don't use our ice maker, would love to turn it into an on-deck fridge and free up some space in the galley fridge.
 
Did this on my 36Db, replaced it with a norcold Ac/dc unit. I had to enlarge the opening a tad and run a DC line as the ice maker was 110vAc only. Added a breaker in the panel with an LED so I knew if I left it on before leaving the boat .pretty easy if your handy
 
I got a bar fridge 12DC and 110AC volt from WalMart for under $200 through their on line store. It does not have a compressor. We use it for vegetables and beer. It is wider than ice maker but might fit for you.
 
Your ice maker is 120 VAC. Easiest route is a dorm fridge. At less than $100 they are almost a throw away. Should be good for 3 years.
 
Problem with the 110vac only fridges are , you either can't open them while at anchor very much or you need to run your generator. With a dual voltage unit it runs off the house batteries .its a bit of an advantage.
 
I guess I am the minority. We had a cockpit fridge on the previous boat. It was not very big. This boat has the ice maker, which I now prefer, becausewe drink a lot of cocktails with ice, so the icemaker is my preference.
 
I'm thinking opposite as well, would like to replace the cockpit fridge with either a fold down trash bin or space to keep a small portable ice maker. 300da
 
Not a fridge but a trash area is a good idea. We put a 12" wide trash compactor on the boat and can go for 2 weeks and land up with 2 cubic feet of garbage. If you want a 12 volt fridge go to WalMart and look at their fridge. We have had ours for 2 years. Still working and no rust so far. On 90f days it is cool not cold. Info on it said it cools 40F from ambient.
We still use the ice maker but only when we are at dock or underway off the inverter that powered by house batteries that are charged by the engines.
 
question, arent you worried about using the ice cubes from the holding tank. after winterizing ? i drain mine a tank a few times but still kinda funny about drinking from or using ice cubes, thanks nick
 
aquaholic said:
question, arent you worried about using the ice cubes from the holding tank. after winterizing ? i drain mine a tank a few times but still kinda funny about drinking from or using ice cubes, thanks nick
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In the spring I sanitize the water system with bleach. I run several batches of ice through the maker with the bleach and then dump it. I try to keep fresh water in the tank, when making ice. I add an additive to the water each time I fill the tank and I run all of my water through a Boji water filter/softener.
 
A touch off topic, but I'm hoping someone who has worked the wirring can give some direction.... I have the cockpit fridge on my 2000 340da. Both the cockpit fridge and cabin fridge have no 12v power..... I'm not sure if there's a breaker somewhere (or something otherwise simple that I'm missing here...... thanks!
 
Ryanengr said:
A touch off topic, but I'm hoping someone who has worked the wirring can give some direction.... I have the cockpit fridge on my 2000 340da. Both the cockpit fridge and cabin fridge have no 12v power..... I'm not sure if there's a breaker somewhere (or something otherwise simple that I'm missing here...... thanks!
Click to expand...
Our 2000 260DA has separate breakers for the fridge in the DC and AC portions of the power panel. Perhaps your 340 does, too?
 
I was thinking the same thing. I just pulled my freezer because it was not working. I found out the fan was not working. I replaced the fan and now it is nice and cold...NOW. I wouldn't use it to make ice and drink, so what good would it be to me. Make it a frig,, I was thinking of replacing the thermostat with one from a frig. as long as it got up to above freezing and turns off were good. As for the power...It is 120v. I was thinking since it pulls 2.2A why not install a small inverter behind it and plug it into that when where on the mooring! a 400w Inverter should work and not draw too much. When you get back to the dock, plug it back into 120. The plug is right there anyway. Yes it's a pain in a way, but $1200 is also..
 
I went through the same math to replace my old uline icemaker..because it was only 14" wide and 23" high..it was nearly impossible to find a fridge to fit the hole. Ended up widening the cabinet hole by an inch and putting in a Wynter icemaker. Saved a thousand bucks and Looks and works perfectly. The admiral likes ice cold beer when we are cruising. Frig never gets cold enough. Put a beer in an icemaker basket thats powered off because we are underway...perfection! In this case my flag officer was right!

Two things to consider If you do replace it with a frig ....don't forget to plug the water line of course and, in my case, would have needed to run a DC line as my old icemaker was ac only.
 
Yeah.... I have separate breakers as well. In 120v, everything works great. But off of shore power or jenny, I've got nothing on the friges.
 
Havana Shamrock said:
Did this on my 36Db, replaced it with a norcold Ac/dc unit. I had to enlarge the opening a tad and run a DC line as the ice maker was 110vAc only. Added a breaker in the panel with an LED so I knew if I left it on before leaving the boat .pretty easy if your handy
Click to expand...
Hi Havana! Nice to e-meet you. I am also needing to run a DC line for my fridge, does this just entail running it to the batteries themselves?
 
First off, are you sure there is not a set of 12v wires in behind the unit near the 110v outlet or somewhere in the opening? Should be a hot and ground wire. If not, install a 12v breaker in your electronics cabinet in the salon and pull wires from the breaker to the rear of the fridge.

Bennett
 
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