Livewell/fishbox to fridge/freezer

[Jeremyvmd]

So I've been looking at ways to make my boat more liveaboard friendly, what is sorely lacking is cold storage. Not looking for weeks at a time but being able to spend a week onboard without having to lug around a cooler would be nice. Soooo...I was thinking of converting either the live well or the center box in the transom to a freezer/fridge. I was wondering if anyone has done something similar and can lend their advice. This is a bit hypothetical as im not sure I want to take on that project, but can't hurt to ask.

[Russell]

The two fishboxes on either side of the cockpit get very warm from the engine heat. I only use them for storage. The large transom box keeps ice much longer and is where I put my fish. That is the one I would recommend if you can access it.
One of the people on my dock said he just puts a small home freezer in the rear of the cockpit and runs it off an inverter. Loaded with ice and frozen food it goes a long time before using a lot of electricity. He does this when going to the Bahamas and as he uses the food and ice he has room for fish to bring home.

[Jeremyvmd]

I was going to use the center compartment in the transom or the bait well to the starboard side. My deck boxes get very warm as well!

[RobS]

So I've been looking at ways to make my boat more liveaboard friendly,...

Add 3+ feet. It's inevitable...

[Chris & Dale]

I have a 1999 28 TE configured the same as yours and those two boxes on either side of the engine box are for storage and do get warm. We set ours up for cruising with a full enclosure for 1-2 week trips, max. We also looked and the live well and fish box as potential sources for additional storage but like noted above saw no way of actually getting at them to add the required insulation on the outside without cutting sections of the transom away. What we did do was replace the old Norcold fridge (died after 14 years) with an Isotherm C49 DC Fridge. Turns out that it holds a lot more beer than the old one....or when we cruise the beer goes in the cooler that sits just in front of the transom (cushion adds extra seat) and we can put right much food in the fridge. Of course we cruise from marina to marina (wife needs shore power & A/C-Heat) and have a tendency to try new eating establishments, thus precluding extensive refridgeration needs. Your cruising partner may buy into that concept as well, and you'll find it a lot easier. Besides, you may want to go fishing and the live well is great. I did a posting on the installation of the Isotherm should you choose to go that route. Good Luck!

[catalina_mike]

The original owner of my 28TE had a small refrigerator he put where the bolster step flips down. I believe he would not flip that down and stuck a small cube style refrigerator there.

[Jeremyvmd]

Im not really a live bait fisherman although I do a ton of fishing. I see a large freezer space in the live well as a good space to store bait as well (a few flats of butters take up some space!). It's all very hypothetical at the moment. I will look for you thread on the fridge swap as I feel like mine is dying anyway. Im actually pretty ok with cutting the inner transom skin to get to the box for insulation. We are fans of trying new eateries and do plan on mostly marina hopping but it would be nice to have the option, and sounds like it would be fairly unique on a 28!

[DougSea]

Reading this thread a bit late and knowing you're in the midst of far larger projects...

You could certainly look to:

A - Insulate the h*ll out of the center box with foam insulation. Probably not all that hard to do if you seal the bottom (of the transom void) and then drill a few strategic holes inside the box through which you inject the foam (Low expansion type)
B - Insulate / replace the top cover
C - Install a cold-plate(s) as often found on cruising sailboats.

I think this could work well.

[Alan_Douville]

I keep a large Yeti cooler on my 28 with a nice seat cushion that holds two people nicely. I fish and cruise so my bait and fish box is critical. Yeti holds ice and tons of food/drinks for days and gets us by. Now a refrigerated Yeti...that would be sweet,

[Jeremyvmd]

Reading this thread a bit late and knowing you're in the midst of far larger projects...

You could certainly look to:

A - Insulate the h*ll out of the center box with foam insulation. Probably not all that hard to do if you seal the bottom (of the transom void) and then drill a few strategic holes inside the box through which you inject the foam (Low expansion type)
B - Insulate / replace the top cover
C - Install a cold-plate(s) as often found on cruising sailboats.

I think this could work well.

That was kinda my thought. I don't really use that center box in the transom and I should be able to get decent insulation in there with expanding foam...

[catalina_mike]

When I installed my grab handle the box was already insulated. Get a mirror and look up by the rudder.

[Jeremyvmd]

I did look up there (lots of room when the rudder, fuel tank and raw water systems are removed). Lol. No insulation

[catalina_mike]

Well there you have it! Mine is a 99... HaHa

[RobS]

When I installed my grab handle the box was already insulated. Get a mirror and look up by the rudder.

Same here but I question the quality of the insulation install (likely thin and/or missing in spots) and it's overall effectiveness..