[C320-list] Fridge Fan

[Warren Updike]

Allan, I've not done this so I don't have practical experience; but, I read about installing a fan in a baffle fore/aft in the box.  This baffle might also have add'l holes in it that can be closed to control the temp in the port/refer side vs the stbd/freezer side.  In this way, people who have done this say they can store more frozen food and keep it frozen.  Such a baffle could be made from starboard.  I would still start out with a block of ice in the bottom under the freezer.  There is probably someone on this list who has done this.  Anyone??

I also read about such a fan in a baffle that had a thermostat to control it making it possible to set for a desired temp in the refer side of the box.  Then, you would probably want the fan to have it's own power independent of the compressor.  Wish I could remember where I read all this.

As for freezer ice build-up, I understand this is more a matter of the outside humidity and the movement of air between the inside of the box and the outside.  The higher the humidity the more ice build-up you'll get.  The tighter the seals, the better the insulation, and less opening of lids, the less ice build-up you will have.  Moving the air has, I think, more to do with distributing the temperature in side.  I'm not sure air movement will affect the ice build-up.  

Of course, an insulating cover under the lids will help.  We put our closed foam cockpit cushions on the fridge at other than meal times.  We don't normally sail with the aft part of the two part cushion on either side.  I've nearly killed myself by stepping on them.  We won't talk about the time I bone-headedly applied ArmorAll to the cushions.  It was like stepping on ice for about a month.  That's when we started sailing without the aft half.  Careful thought should normally preceed action.

Warren & Pattie Updike
C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
Chesapeake Bay