[C320-list] Waeco Refrigerator Removal

[Jane & Ken]

If you think about refrigeration for a minute,  you realize that the hot air needs to go someplace----your home refrig. has a fan to move the warm air away.  no different on your boat----you need lots of air movement---the more the better.  Anything you can do to improve warm air removement will help the batteries.




________________________________
 From: "Sigmund Ancerewicz, M.D." <sancerewicz at comcast.net>
To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at Catalina320.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Waeco Refrigerator Removal
 

Jerry,
To remove the refrigerator 1st remove the underlying drawer.  Next remove the frame that it slides in. The screws that holds the unit can now be accessed from the bottom.  Not difficult at all.  I too had to install a vent in the bulkhead.

Sigmund
Knot on Call  #1129




________________________________
From: Utility Email <kswanson123 at comcast.net>
To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at Catalina320.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Waeco Refrigerator Removal


Jerry,

Our refrigerator was doing the same thing - running very warm, heating up the counter top. 

I contacted Catalina about it.  Gerry Douglas, the designer emailed me and called me about it.  He said that there should be a vent installed in the bulkhead between the refrigerator compressor (top back of unit) and aft cabin.  He said he would send me the vent grill.  Never received it, so I picked up a white one from the marine store.  Pretty cool to receive a call from the designer directly.

I installed a 4-inch vent in the bulkhead between the refer and aft cabin.  I made it a point to line up the vent directly opposite the fan to improve air flow.  Also made sure that the condenser fan on the refer was working properly and also cleaned out the condenser coils (they were dusty).  I recall that the refrigerator was attached to a plywood shelf that sat behind a lip hear the front and that the fridge assembly had to be lifted up and out to remove it. Make sure you protect the sink cabinet with padding or towels as the refrigerator will want to tip over once it is removed and it could possibly damage the cabinets.  Protect the oven door to. The refrigerator is a tight fit. I recall that there are some instructions for removal of the refrigerator on our C320 website.  They had photos as well. 

My refrigerator is running more efficiently  now that the coils are venting waste heat into our aft cabin through the 4-inch vent grill that I installed. 

Good luck.

Dave

Dave Swanson
S/V Emily Ann
2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
Mukilteo, Washington

On Jul 8, 2013, at 6:39 AM, Jerry Brown <jbrown01015 at outlook.com> wrote:

> Hi Jerry
> 
> I got my Waeco out after some fun this spring.  Drop me your email outside the list to jbrown03 at sympatico.ca and I will send you my number if you would like to call me.  It may be easier to explain things over the phone as there are some wrinkles.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Jerry Brown
> Indigo #1137
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Taylor
> Sent: Monday, July 8, 2013 9:32 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Waeco Refrigerator Removal
> 
> Has anyone tried to remove the Waeco refrigerator from its location?  I see nothing on the discussion list regarding this.  I cannot find what is holding it in place.  The operating manual states to remove four side blanking plugs and insert screws for installation. There are no screws on either side behind the blanking plugs.  My guess is that the lip of the corian counter top is holding it in!!  No screws on the back bulkhead.
> 
> It runs very hot and heats the corian up, resulting in melting of the ice in the icebox and heat going into the aft cabin.  There is no place for the heat to escape.  The manual suggests to clean the condenser frequently, but you cannot get to it.  They also recommend 2” of space around the unit for air circulation which is not there.  It uses a lot of power,  and runs the batteries down and will shut off at 10.4 volts.  Not a very good design or installation.  I would like to remove it to clean and maybe try something in its place.
> 
> Jerry
> Piper  #1128