[C320-list] Remove & Replacing Front Loading Refrigerator

[Stephen Cox]

When I had my fridge out, I put in some decent size holes at the back of the footing plate to enable air to travel more freely up
the back of the fridge.  From memory, this allowed air to be pulled from the under floor area.

Stephen Cox
Tegwen #1141

> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list 
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of 
> Albert Kitten via C320-list
> Sent: Saturday, 4 February 2023 13:04
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Cc: Albert Kitten
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Remove & Replacing Front Loading Refrigerator
> 
> No worries. Note, the rubber feet spacings on the new fridge 
> will be different to the existing half drilled out current 
> holes in the footing plate.
> And the footing plate has to come out with the fridge until clear.
> I'm sure you have removed the bottom drawer already for 
> access to the 4 serews. Do consider the air flow in the new fridge.
> Enjoy.
> C32mk2
> 
> On Sat, 4 Feb 2023, 11:52 am Steven Snyder via C320-list, < 
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> 
> > Albert,
> >
> > Thanks for the info. We will review our options once we 
> have it out. 
> > We may go with the next size down Dometic as it will leave more 
> > clearance at the top.
> >
> > Steve Snyder
> >
> > On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 8:31 PM Albert Kitten via C320-list < 
> > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi,
> > > We went through the pain too. I carefully sanded about 
> 4mm off the 
> > > upper teak trim in front of the fridge and oiled the raw 
> surface later.
> > > Yes 4 screws and slide the fridge and plate as far as possible.
> > > I layed a 20 litre water container on the floor to support 
> > > everything as
> > it
> > > emerged. Lifted the fridge to the sink and manoeuvred the 
> thing out.
> > > We fitted a dometic :( which had a different rubber 
> footing spacing 
> > > and
> > had
> > > to change the holes in the plate to suit.
> > > Come summer it couldn't cool enough with a respectable duty cycle 
> > > and flattened the batteries. Got it checked and it worked 
> fine in the open.
> > > The dometic with smaller cooling fins draws air sideways 
> where the 
> > > waeco drew air from back to front. We enlarged the air vent but 
> > > still used excessive power.
> > > For us it was a disaster in summer.
> > > The dometic is now an expensive bar fridge at home.
> > > We put a slider in and fitted a 46 litre portable fridge freezer.
> > > Colder with less current draw and easy to remove.
> > > Not recommending this or the method but it's what we did.
> > > All the best,
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sat, 4 Feb 2023, 2:44 am Steven Snyder via C320-list, < 
> > > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > We have a 2007 320 Mark II. it has the original Waeco, front 
> > > > opening refrigerator, it looks like a dorm 
> refrigerator. It isn't 
> > > > holding temp below 47f so we have decided to replace it. Does 
> > > > anyone know how to do this? We removed the trim at the 
> front edge 
> > > > of the countertop and the
> > > trim
> > > > piece that attaches to the bottom shelf it sits on. I 
> can see what
> > looks
> > > > like a piece of wood which keeps the refrigerator from 
> rocking. It 
> > > > may
> > > may
> > > > be glued to the underside of the solid surfacing countertop and 
> > > > sits between the underside of the countertop and the top of the
> > refrigerator.
> > > We
> > > > can see the front legs sitting on a shelf. They are not counter 
> > > > sunk
> > into
> > > > the supporting shelf. There appears to be 1 - 2 mm of space 
> > > > between the wood strip and the top of the refrigerator.
> > > >
> > > > It is difficult to grab the bottom of the refrigerator 
> and pull it
> > > forward
> > > > and out. It appears stuck and are looking for 
> suggestions on how 
> > > > to
> > > remove
> > > > it.
> > > >
> > > > Steve Snyder
> > > > Norfolk, VA
> > > > Windcatcher. #1101
> > > > --
> > > > "To announce that there must be no criticism of the 
> President, or 
> > > > that
> > we
> > > > are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only 
> > > > unpatriotic
> > > and
> > > > servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
> > > >
> > > > - Theodore Roosevelt
> > > >
> > >
> > --
> > "To announce that there must be no criticism of the 
> President, or that 
> > we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only 
> > unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the 
> American public."
> >
> > - Theodore Roosevelt
> >