C and C Re-building Galley

[Ymenbuyboats]

I would like to rebuild the Galley in my C and C 29. I want to change the cooler to some sort of practical refrigeration and retrofit the stove area. Does any one have experience with this sort of project?
Thank you.

[KeelHaulin]

Yes; you can retro in a refrigeration unit to an older "Ice Box" system. There are several considerations; but the primary ones are adequate insulation, and an efficient refrigeration unit. A "cold plate" is a good way to add in a refrigerator to an older ice box because it is a self-contained cooling condenser that is designed to freeze and expend it's coldness over a long period of time. It works similarly to a regular refrigeration unit except that there is a water jacket around the evaporator that freezes and then melts as it absorbs the heat from the refrigerator compartment.

There are systems that use the water outside your hull for heat transfer to cool the refrigerant; you might want to consider that type of refrigiration system as it also tends to be more efficient than air-cooling the condenser side of the refrigeration unit.

For insulation you will want ~4" of closed cell foam or styrofoam around the interior of the refrigerator; including the top door. The size of your original ice box may ultimately dictate how much insulation you can add around it (unless you decide to build a refrigeration box/unit elsewhere).