Refrigerator

billbalme · #1 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

I'm curious to know if our fridge is a standard layout or if it has been customized somehow.

Basically the layout is an Alder Barbour freezer box mounted aft in the rear half of the cold box. The front half is separated from the rear with a wall and a removable door (not in the picture).

The front section is cooled by overflow from the rear section and by active blowing of cold air from back section to front, using the second of two thermostat controls.

At some point in the fridge's history, the previous owner tried to beautify things a little by installing some plastic sheeting and using about 15 tubes of caulk! The whole thing is coming apart now and mold is ever present.
I'm thinking I should tear down the walls and start over with the main structure - probably using starboard. Does your fridge look as bad as ours?

I'm looking for suggestions on how best to clean up the fridge and make it so that it's easy to keep clean. The Admiral would love to have it lined with stainless - but I can't see how to do that - without incorporating lots more caulk! Is there a suitable paint that will withstand the environment and allow easy cleaning?

Thanks,

Bill
s.v. Toodle-oo!
PSC 37 #148

JiffyLube · #2 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

The easiest fix would be to remove as much of that caulking as possible, then use full strength bleach on the mold. Rinse off the bleach after its had time to kill the mold (a day), and re-caulk better than the PO. The box will better, but not as good as a complete redo.

billbalme · #3 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

How would one accomplish a "complete redo"?

niftynickers · #4 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

Bill,
On NiftyNickers I installed sheet aluminum,on the sides and front to aid in keeping the box clean.It's available form any hardware store and easily installed with contact cement.Good luck,
Chuck,S/V NiftyNickers

billbalme · #5 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

That's a great suggestion Chuck - thanks. Does the layout of your box look the same as mine? Just curious...

niftynickers · #6 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

Bill, the dimensions of the boxes are the same but I dont have the dividing wall that you have nor do I have the same refrig unit. We have a Technautics with a holding plate.Our freezer is a metal box attached to the holding plate and we use a length of PVC pipe with a biscuit fan to move the cold air in the box.
Good luck, Chuck ,S/V NiftyNickers

JiffyLube · #7 (**permalink**) 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by billbalme

How would one accomplish a "complete redo"?

I'd have to research a redo since I've never had that problem before. Maybe some else will provide a redo solution.