refrigerator insulation for a Catalina 36

[Cap'K]

I have a 1987 Catalina 36. I would like to insulate the refrigerator in the easiest & most efficient fashion. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[WHOOSH]

Cap''n, you have two basic directions you can go: either you can pull the counter off and rebuild the inside of the box from the outside, in...OR you can add to the existing insulation in one or more of the 6 sides. I chose to do the latter, one reason being that the next owner may prefer a different priority than I have (from 9 to 5 cu ft. but with 3x the efficiency), in which case s/he can just pull out what I installed.

I chose double foil-backed 1" isocyanurate foam sheet available at the time at Scotties (I think they are DOA now) and Home Depot. Easy to work with, closed cell foam, good R factor, very cheap. Don''t forget a vapor barrier on any sides you add to; getting a book to coach you on some of the issues might be helpful for you.

To finish off the interior, I lined all 5 sides (minus the top) with 3/16" PVC white sheet. Very pleasing to the eye, easy to clean, can be trimmed out with PVC trim (also at HD) using PVC cement to make waterproof joints, etc. A plastics specialist will have multiple choices of PVC and ABS sheet in stock, and will usually cut it down for you to take home, as well.

Good luck on the project!

Jack

[pjfsail]

Whoosh, can you explain installation of the vapor barrier. I have Kollman''s book on Marine Refrigeration (an excellent guide) and Adler/Barbour''s "The Box Book" (also an excellent guide and free for the asking). But, I''m still not clear on how to go about making the vapor barrier. Here''s what The Box Book says, "This is a plastic film which surrounds the insulation and protects it from outside moisture. Use PVC sheeting, Mylar, or even heavy duty Saran. Glue and/or tape all corners and overlapping joints watertite." This sounds like making a watertite envelop around all the insulation. It sounds like it is difficult to make it watertite. Any commets?

[GordMay]

Also see:
“Thinking Inside the Box” - by Skip Pond (Blue Water Sailing)
http://www.boats.com/boat-articles/Galley+Gear-120/Thinking+Inside+the+Box/2847.html

[pjfsail]

Gord, thanks for the website. You are always so helpful. But it still does not answer my question. Under the paragraph titled, "The BWS Conclusion." The author states, "Regardless of the insulating materials you choose, the basic fundamentals do not change. The box must be tight: do not allow any air to migrate from the outside to the inside. A 100 percent vapor (moisture) barrier must encapsulate the entire refrigerator box."
My problem is with how to "encapsulate the entire refrigerator box." Does the author mean, to encapsulate the insulation inside the box? I have more questions but I need to understand this first. Thanks again, Peter