When is the best time to buy refrigerator’s?

[WV 320 Dancer]

Well it that time of year (finally hauled the boat out this past Friday) to start thing about all the things I need to do before spring. Biggest item on my list is I need to replace both original refrigerators on my 320 DA. Does anyone know if there are any times where the pricing is the best to pull the trigger? From cruising the old innerweb it looks like I am looking at $850.00 for the cockpit and $950.00 for the cabin. Going stainless adds to this price. I have looked over many of the posts on our forum and it looks like the one major point is try to avoid Norcold. Any suggestions or comments are welcome... Merry Christmas!!

 

[sbw1]

Norcold does have a poor reputation on this site, but I have owned three of them, each installed by SR on boats we purchased new. We never had a service call with any of them and they worked flawlessly. In my view the bad rap is not deserved. The issue with replacing fridges is finding one that fits the opening without spending a lot of money getting them in and out of the salon and on trim carpentry. If you can find a replacement that works easily from Norcold, that is likely your most economical approach regardless of any seasonal discounts you may pick up.

 

[Skip Boyer]

Not sure how your 320 is set up. I have had smaller boats that OEM was dual voltage frig. The currant boat is 110 only set up. I had to replace the frig on my 270 (no genny) and i opted to use a "dorm room" frig (110 only) from big box store and an inverter. If i was going to be away from the dock for an extended period of time i just unplugged from "wall" and pluggged into the inverter. Best i can remember.....frig and inverter where maybe $250. Might be an option to consider. I have also found that SOME items can be at a reduced rate if you can stay away from the Marine shops and maybe move more toward camping shops. Just my 2 pennies.

 

[stephens013]

Well it that time of year (finally hauled the boat out this past Friday) to start thing about all the things I need to do before spring. Biggest item on my list is I need to replace both original refrigerators on my 320 DA. Does anyone know if there are any times where the pricing is the best to pull the trigger? From cruising the old innerweb it looks like I am looking at $850.00 for the cockpit and $950.00 for the cabin. Going stainless adds to this price. I have looked over many of the posts on our forum and it looks like the one major point is try to avoid Norcold. Any suggestions or comments are welcome... Merry Christmas!!

Lots of ideas on what frig is best. I replaced a dual Norcool with straight 110 ac unit; had the inverter set up and all. In retrospect I would do OEM dual voltage unit. After all was said and done the price point was not that far apart. No mater what unit you replace be ready to learn how your boat is put together. In my case (400DA) the upper cabinet and stairs into the salon had to be removed and the refrigerator had to be disassembled in order to effect the swap.

Good luck

 

[bbwhitejr]

I have replaced both in the past year. Went with a NovaCool in the cockpit and stayed with the Norcold in the galley. I am with sbw1 on the Norcold. They get a bad rap here, but there are tons of them that have been installed in SR boats. My previous lasted almost 13 years so, with price and ease of install in mind, went back with the Norcold. They have the new Danfoss compressor and is extremely quiet. The NovaCool is a great unit as well. It is a little more than 1/2 the cf of the Norcold and with shipping, cost was slightly more. I also think you can get ones built on Monday or Friday and .......

As far as the best time, the only sales on them I have ever noticed were at West Marine. You might find someone with a Pro Card for WM and save some.

Bennett

 

[stephens013]

I have replaced both in the past year. Went with a NovaCool in the cockpit and stayed with the Norcold in the galley. I am with sbw1 on the Norcold. They get a bad rap here, but there are tons of them that have been installed in SR boats. My previous lasted almost 13 years so, with price and ease of install in mind, went back with the Norcold. They have the new Danfoss compressor and is extremely quiet. The NovaCool is a great unit as well. It is a little more than 1/2 the cf of the Norcold and with shipping, cost was slightly more. I also think you can get ones built on Monday or Friday and .......

As far as the best time, the only sales on them I have ever noticed were at West Marine. You might find someone with a Pro Card for WM and save some.

Bennett

That's the best thing to do, seeing if you can buy throw somebody that has a wholesale discount.
There was a place in Houston that was going to give me a 20% discount on one of the marine refrigerators. But that was contingent on my picking it up. Wish I could have made that happen. Bottom line; not a lot of discounts available for a one time purchase kind of deal. Least that was my experience

 

[Marksearay]

we just bought a Haier at big box, delivered and additional $20 for haul away the old one. payed $400. 120v only in stainless fit perfect. When they arrived of couse they freaked out. Said they couldnt get on a boat. we put 24in plywood through door to top of counter. I told them to get the new fridge and bring it down. When they arrived we had old out and on back of boat. Wife and I 10 min. I shamed them into bringing it in. They did and took old. Job done.