PROJECT-A-PALOOZA!!! -- Cooler drawer

R

Ray

New member
We had the standard Norcold install under the co-pilot seat. It was loud and inefficient when compared to the Engel cooler from our other boat. I decided to take out the Norcold and make a slider to hold the Engel in the same place.

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After removing the Norcold fridge, I put in some "pantry slides" that go underneath, instead of alongside, the drawer. These are 22" versions and were rated at 75lbs.

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Here are the mating parts to the slides on the bottom of the drawer. They have a snap-in/out mechanism that make removal and installation really easy!

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When I measured the width of the opening and the width of the cooler, there were some spare inches left over. Not wanting any available space to go to waste, I made some shelves alongside to store cans for the cooler (one-out, one-in)! This is the drawer painted and almost finished.

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Here is the installed drawer with the trim installed. The pantry slides have a detent in the closed position, but it is not very strong. Because I had it lying around, I used a barrel bolt to secure it closed - I will likely change that at some point and make it something less "rustic".

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The AC and DC cords are looped and suspended up high to allow for full travel of the cooler drawer. I had to remove the lifting handle of the Engel to get a snug fit (not too pretty).

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Ready for action! The fully extended slides stop right at about 1/2" from the opposite side (whew! .....yes, I measured it that way) and allow full access to the cooler. I had previously move the lid hinges to the long side from the way the cooler came from Engel. I am not sure if this is the current production arrangement or not.

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Time to get in the water!
 
Great job! I like the extra soda can holders. Did you cut a couple round holes in the outboard area of the dinette seat for heat release from the compressor?

I like the top loading much better, and it can be a freezer when you want.
 
Well done! Can you share where you bought the pantry slides and what brand they are? There seem to be a gazillion available ranging from very cheap ($30) to seemingly very expensive (over $200). We need those for our under-galley storage, since we have a custom flat floor there that Andrew Custis had the Auburn C-Dory guys build for Daydream and Anna Leigh. I just pulled the Rev-a-Shelf slide-out baskets because the vinyl was peeling off the racks and the slides were getting rusty. This sure looks like the solution for that area.

Also what capacity is your Engle? We are looking at pulling our 2005 vintage Norcold power hog if (it runs all night, it nearly depletes the house batteries), which is mounted under the helm seat, and replacing it with the ARB 50 quart. Have some measuring to do of course. The ARB could also live in the cockpit. But if it fits in the same space, putting it where the Norcold is right now on a slide-out sure seems to be the way to go.

Thanks!
 
OOPS! Forgot to include the vents in the photos. Here they are. Used two four inch circular vents at the back where the coils are on the cooler when it is closed up. I put one facing forward and one aft, under the dinette table. It seemed to me that there were enough bilge openings and airways down low to allow plenty of cool air to replace the warm air exiting. I faced the louvers of the vents up so the heat could escape easier.

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The pantry slides I used were these (had to swallow hard on the cost :cry :cry):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3TBR0O

The Engel I have is a year 2000's vintage 35qt model. Not sure if all is the same dimension-wise with today's production unit(s).

Ray
 
Glad that we already installed a Norcold fridge in our boat last fall. Had I not done that, I would be trying to copy your creation. Nice work.

My hope is that this year sees more time spent using the boat and less fixing and improving it.
 
Nice idea and well executed. I like the efficient use of the "extra" space for things you will want to pop into the refrigerator when you (already) have it open - clever idea!

The only thing I see that makes me wonder is the "lack of security" on the extra cans, which will be exposed every time you open the drawer. Seems to me that in a seaway (or even an anchorage with a wake) those extra cans might go flying (?). That said, I'm sure you could easily devise something to make them more secure (or perhaps they already are and I'm just not seeing it - that's entirely possible).
 
Sunbeam,
From having an installation like this, but with a slightly bigger cooler/freezer, you do not open them in a sea way, or when the boat is rolling. We had a pin which kept the rack closed. If a freezer or cooler full of food gets momentum it will do a lot of damage. We kept tool and spare parts boxes along the side where he has the cans. Nothing went flying, because we didn't take a risk.
 
Right on Bob! We enjoyed that freezer/refrigerator on THATAWAY when we had it. The pin was essential as I found out the first time I failed to put it back in!

Charlie
 
thataway":1oq247tw said:
Sunbeam,
From having an installation like this, but with a slightly bigger cooler/freezer, you do not open them in a sea way, or when the boat is rolling.
Click to expand...

Aha, that explains it. I figured Ray had thought it through. I'm used to top-loading only in boats (the typical icebox built into the countertop on bigger boats, and the cooler-in-the-cockpit on the C-Dory). I do like to get into the cooler sometimes when underway, so I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever go to an Engel or similar.
 
Great Idea and a great looking end result. This should be the kind of thing the C-Dory factory should include in their optional equipment list. Thanks for sharing.
D.D.
 
Mark,
I have an Engel cooler, solid stuff and yes they have models that are refrigerate or freeze. I can't imagine why you can't do ice cube trays. I guess you need to take it slow and keep the water in the trays till they go hard. The model MT-45F-U1 has exterior dimensions of 25.5'' x 14.3'' x 20" high. Internal dimensions 15 x 10.8 x 16.4'' I think this model are in the 900 dollar range. I want to measure my seat box tonight when I get home from work. I would like to do this to our boat. Thanks again Ray!
D.D.
 
Will-C":1qgy2y7g said:
Mark,
I have an Engel cooler, solid stuff and yes they have models that are refrigerate or freeze. I can't imagine why you can't do ice cube trays. I guess you need to take it slow and keep the water in the trays till they go hard. The model MT-45F-U1 has exterior dimensions of 25.5'' x 14.3'' x 20" high. Internal dimensions 15 x 10.8 x 16.4'' I think this model are in the 900 dollar range. I want to measure my seat box tonight when I get home from work. I would like to do this to our boat. Thanks again Ray!
D.D.
Click to expand...
If you're worried about spillage from the trays, you can use sealed ice cube trays.
 
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